Lemberg Solutions vs StarFish Medical: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Lemberg Solutions (4.8/5) edges ahead of StarFish Medical (4.6/5) overall. Lemberg Solutions is the better choice for connected and smart medical devices, one engineering team. StarFish Medical is the stronger option for startups needing design plus pilot manufacturing. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Lemberg Solutions vs StarFish Medical: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Lemberg Solutions | StarFish Medical |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2007 | 1999 |
| HQ | Lviv, Ukraine (offices in Hamburg, Germany; London, UK; Kraków, Poland) | Victoria, BC, Canada |
| Team size | 200+ | 201–250 |
| Rating | 4.8 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Owns PCB design, firmware, embedded Linux, IoT backend and edge AI under one roof, so device and cloud are designed together | Medtech-only practice that can build clinical and early commercial units in its own certified clean room |
| Pricing model | Fixed project, time and materials, dedicated team | Phased fixed project, time and materials |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | Embedded Linux, RTOS, FPGA | ISO 13485 QMS, IEC 62304, ISO 14971 |
| Industries served | Wearables & remote monitoring, Diagnostics & lab devices, Digital health, Automotive, Energy, Logistics | Diagnostics & lab devices, Surgical & therapeutic devices, Wearables & remote monitoring, Drug delivery |
Lemberg Solutions vs StarFish Medical: overview
Lemberg Solutions
Founded in 2007, Lemberg Solutions builds both hardware and software, and has offices in Lviv, Hamburg, London and Kraków. For medical device teams it covers electrical engineering, firmware, RTOS and embedded Linux development, FPGA programming, GUI work, connectivity and IoT, edge AI and cybersecurity, so one vendor can own the device electronics, its embedded code and the cloud or mobile side that talks to it. Healthcare is one of its core industries alongside automotive, energy and logistics, and named clients include Astronics, Caltech, Ferno, Cellink and Bosch Rexroth. The company holds ISO 27001 and ISO 9001 certification and runs its own hardware lab. It does not manufacture finished devices at volume and does not obtain regulatory clearance on a client's behalf; it supplies the engineering documentation the client's regulatory team needs.
StarFish Medical
StarFish Medical was founded in Victoria, British Columbia, by Scott Phillips (the company gives 1999; some directories list 1998). It works only on medical devices, covering design, development and low-volume manufacturing in ISO 13485 certified facilities, and reports around 230 staff across Victoria, Toronto and Irvine (per company website; independently unverifiable). In November 2024 it acquired Omnica Corporation, a California medical device design firm, which added a larger US West Coast presence. Victoria remains the headquarters and its largest site.
Services and capabilities: Lemberg Solutions vs StarFish Medical
| Capability | Lemberg Solutions | StarFish Medical |
|---|---|---|
| Electronics & PCB design | ✓ | ✓ |
| Firmware & embedded software | ✓ | ✓ |
| SaMD & companion apps | ✗ | ✗ |
| Connected devices & IoT | ✓ | ✗ |
| Industrial design & human factors | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mechanical engineering | ✗ | ✓ |
| Device cybersecurity | ✓ | ✗ |
| Regulatory & QMS support | ✗ | ✓ |
| Manufacturing & scale-up | ✗ | ✓ |
Tech stack comparison: Lemberg Solutions vs StarFish Medical
| Framework / platform | Lemberg Solutions | StarFish Medical |
|---|---|---|
| Embedded C/C++ | N/A | ✓ |
| Embedded Linux | ✓ | N/A |
| RTOS | ✓ | N/A |
| BLE | ✓ | N/A |
| Cloud (AWS/Azure) | ✓ | N/A |
| IEC 62304 | N/A | ✓ |
| ISO 14971 | N/A | ✓ |
| ISO 13485 QMS | N/A | ✓ |
| Qt | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Lemberg Solutions vs StarFish Medical
| Criterion | Lemberg Solutions | StarFish Medical |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Consulting, Dedicated team, Fixed project, Time & materials | Fixed project, Manufacturing contract, Time & materials |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Lemberg Solutions vs StarFish Medical
| Dimension | Lemberg Solutions | StarFish Medical |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Wearables & remote monitoring, Diagnostics & lab devices, Digital health | Diagnostics & lab devices, Surgical & therapeutic devices, Wearables & remote monitoring |
| Best use cases | Building a connected wearable or home-monitoring device with a companion app and cloud backend, Adding edge AI or computer vision to an existing diagnostic instrument | Taking a venture-backed device from proof of concept to clinical-trial units, Designing an optical diagnostic instrument with its consumable |
| Typical project type | Consulting | Fixed project |
Lemberg Solutions vs StarFish Medical: pros and cons
| Lemberg Solutions | |
|---|---|
| + | A single team covers electronics, firmware, cloud, data and AI, which cuts the hand-offs that usually slow connected-device programs |
| + | Partnerships with NXP, Microchip and STMicroelectronics give early access to silicon support and reference designs |
| + | ISO 27001 and ISO 9001 certified, with security designed into the product rather than bolted on before release |
| + | In-house electronics lab shortens prototype loops and lowers R&D risk before a design freeze |
| + | All intellectual property transfers to the client, and the cooperation model can be consulting, team extension or full product development |
| + | Practical edge AI and computer vision experience for devices that need on-board inference |
| - | No in-house mass production, so a separate contract manufacturer is needed once the design is ready to scale |
| - | Does not obtain FDA or CE certification for clients; it provides technical documentation and engineering support for the client's own submission |
| - | Not ISO 13485 certified per the information reviewed, so buyers should confirm how it works inside their own medical QMS |
| StarFish Medical | |
|---|---|
| + | Every project is a medical device, so design reviews, risk files and documentation follow medtech practice by default |
| + | Prototype and pilot production happen in its own ISO 13485 facility, avoiding an early transfer to a contract manufacturer |
| + | The Omnica acquisition adds Southern California capacity for US clients |
| + | Multidisciplinary teams cover industrial design, mechanics, electronics, software and human factors |
| - | Volume manufacturing beyond pilot quantities still needs a larger contract manufacturer |
| - | North American cost base makes it more expensive than Eastern European or Asian engineering teams |
| - | The Omnica integration is recent, so cross-site processes are still settling |
Who should choose Lemberg Solutions?
A typical fit: building a connected wearable or home-monitoring device with a companion app and cloud backend.
Owns PCB design, firmware, embedded Linux, IoT backend and edge AI under one roof, so device and cloud are designed together. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Wearables & remote monitoring, Diagnostics & lab devices, Digital health, Automotive, Energy, Logistics.
Who should choose StarFish Medical?
A typical fit: taking a venture-backed device from proof of concept to clinical-trial units.
Medtech-only practice that can build clinical and early commercial units in its own certified clean room. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Diagnostics & lab devices, Surgical & therapeutic devices, Wearables & remote monitoring, Drug delivery.
Decision matrix: Lemberg Solutions vs StarFish Medical
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Lemberg Solutions |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Lemberg Solutions |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Lemberg Solutions (Not published) vs StarFish Medical (Not disclosed) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Lemberg Solutions |
| You need staff augmentation or team extension | Neither; consider alternatives that offer staff aug |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | Both may offer discovery engagements |
Use case fit: Lemberg Solutions vs StarFish Medical
| Use case | Lemberg Solutions fit | StarFish Medical fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building a connected wearable or home-monitoring device with a companion app and cloud backend | Strong | Limited | Lemberg Solutions |
| Adding edge AI or computer vision to an existing diagnostic instrument | Strong | Limited | Lemberg Solutions |
| Taking a venture-backed device from proof of concept to clinical-trial units | Limited | Strong | StarFish Medical |
| Designing an optical diagnostic instrument with its consumable | Limited | Strong | StarFish Medical |
Verdict: Lemberg Solutions vs StarFish Medical
Lemberg Solutions (4.8/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Medical Device Development projects. Owns PCB design, firmware, embedded Linux, IoT backend and edge AI under one roof, so device and cloud are designed together.
StarFish Medical (4.6/5) is worth a look if you need designing an optical diagnostic instrument with its consumable. If your situation matches that, StarFish Medical is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Lemberg Solutions vs StarFish Medical FAQ
Is Lemberg Solutions better than StarFish Medical?
Lemberg Solutions (4.8/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Lemberg Solutions's strongest advantage: a single team covers electronics, firmware, cloud, data and AI, which cuts the hand-offs that usually slow connected-device programs. StarFish Medical's strongest advantage: every project is a medical device, so design reviews, risk files and documentation follow medtech practice by default.
How do Lemberg Solutions and StarFish Medical differ in pricing?
Lemberg Solutions uses fixed project, time and materials, dedicated team pricing. StarFish Medical uses phased fixed project, time and materials pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Lemberg Solutions or StarFish Medical?
StarFish Medical is the larger team and typically the better enterprise-scale choice. For very large programmes, verify team size and compliance coverage directly with each company before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between Lemberg Solutions and StarFish Medical?
Lemberg Solutions's primary differentiator is: owns PCB design, firmware, embedded Linux, IoT backend and edge AI under one roof, so device and cloud are designed together. StarFish Medical's primary differentiator is: medtech-only practice that can build clinical and early commercial units in its own certified clean room. They also differ in team size (200+ vs 201–250), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Wearables & remote monitoring, Diagnostics & lab devices vs Diagnostics & lab devices, Surgical & therapeutic devices).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.