Orthogonal vs Sagentia Innovation: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Orthogonal (4.2/5) edges ahead of Sagentia Innovation (4.1/5) overall. Orthogonal is the better choice for SaMD and device companion apps. Sagentia Innovation is the stronger option for surgical robotics and combination products. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Orthogonal vs Sagentia Innovation: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Orthogonal | Sagentia Innovation |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1998 | 1986 |
| HQ | Chicago, IL, USA | Harston, Cambridge, UK |
| Team size | 11–60 | 650+ (Science Group) |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Agile delivery adapted to FDA-regulated software, focused on the app and cloud side of connected devices | Medical development backed by a listed science group that also runs a regulatory consultancy |
| Pricing model | Time and materials, dedicated team | Time and materials, fixed project |
| Min. engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | iOS, Android, Cloud (AWS/Azure) | Embedded C/C++, Robotics, Mechanical simulation |
| Industries served | Digital health, Wearables & remote monitoring, Diagnostics & lab devices | Surgical & robotics, Drug delivery, Diagnostics & lab devices |
Orthogonal vs Sagentia Innovation: overview
Orthogonal
Orthogonal is a Chicago software company founded in 1998 and led by founder and CEO Bernhard Kappe, with its office in the Merchandise Mart. It builds Software as a Medical Device (SaMD), digital therapeutics and the mobile and cloud software that connects to medical devices, working with venture-backed startups as well as established medtech and pharma companies. Directory listings describe ISO 13485 and HIPAA compliance and Class I–III experience. Team size estimates vary widely, from about 11 to 60 people.
Sagentia Innovation
Sagentia Innovation is owned by Science Group plc, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market. Its roots go back to 1986; the current business was formed in 2021 from Sagentia, OTM Consulting and Oakland Innovation. It is based at Harston Mill near Cambridge, with R&D facilities in Cambridge and Epsom, and its medical work covers devices, combination products and surgical robotics. Science Group employs more than 650 people across all its businesses.
Services and capabilities: Orthogonal vs Sagentia Innovation
| Capability | Orthogonal | Sagentia Innovation |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Orthogonal vs Sagentia Innovation
| Framework / platform | Orthogonal | Sagentia Innovation |
|---|---|---|
| Embedded C/C++ | N/A | ✓ |
| Embedded Linux | N/A | N/A |
| RTOS | N/A | 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: Orthogonal vs Sagentia Innovation
| Criterion | Orthogonal | Sagentia Innovation |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Dedicated team, Time & materials | Consulting, Fixed project, Time & materials |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Orthogonal vs Sagentia Innovation
| Dimension | Orthogonal | Sagentia Innovation |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Digital health, Wearables & remote monitoring, Diagnostics & lab devices | Surgical & robotics, Drug delivery, Diagnostics & lab devices |
| Best use cases | Building a mobile app that controls a Class II device, Developing a digital therapeutic for FDA clearance | Surgical robot subsystem development, Drug-device combination product engineering |
| Typical project type | Dedicated team | Consulting |
Orthogonal vs Sagentia Innovation: pros and cons
| Orthogonal | |
|---|---|
| + | Focused on regulated medical software for more than a decade |
| + | Publishes practical guidance on agile methods under FDA rules, a sign of real process experience |
| + | Strong on mobile apps that talk to devices over BLE |
| + | Small enough for direct access to senior people |
| - | No hardware or firmware design |
| - | Small team limits how many parallel workstreams it can staff |
| - | Team size data is inconsistent across sources |
| Sagentia Innovation | |
|---|---|
| + | Active surgical robotics software and hardware hiring shows current work in that area |
| + | Sister business TSG Consulting has a medical device regulatory team |
| + | Large owned R&D facilities in Cambridge and Epsom |
| + | About 30 years of medical device projects |
| - | Part of a listed group, so commercial priorities answer to public shareholders |
| - | Recent 2021 merger means the brand and teams are relatively new |
| - | Science Group headcount covers many businesses, so the medtech team size is unclear |
Who should choose Orthogonal?
A typical fit: building a mobile app that controls a Class II device.
Agile delivery adapted to FDA-regulated software, focused on the app and cloud side of connected devices. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Digital health, Wearables & remote monitoring, Diagnostics & lab devices.
Who should choose Sagentia Innovation?
A typical fit: surgical robot subsystem development.
Medical development backed by a listed science group that also runs a regulatory consultancy. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Surgical & robotics, Drug delivery, Diagnostics & lab devices.
Decision matrix: Orthogonal vs Sagentia Innovation
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Sagentia Innovation |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Orthogonal |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Orthogonal (Not disclosed) vs Sagentia Innovation (Not disclosed) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Orthogonal |
| 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: Orthogonal vs Sagentia Innovation
| Use case | Orthogonal fit | Sagentia Innovation fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building a mobile app that controls a Class II device | Strong | Limited | Orthogonal |
| Developing a digital therapeutic for FDA clearance | Strong | Limited | Orthogonal |
| Surgical robot subsystem development | Limited | Strong | Sagentia Innovation |
| Drug-device combination product engineering | Limited | Strong | Sagentia Innovation |
Verdict: Orthogonal vs Sagentia Innovation
Orthogonal (4.2/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Medical Device Development projects. Agile delivery adapted to FDA-regulated software, focused on the app and cloud side of connected devices.
Sagentia Innovation (4.1/5) is worth a look if you need drug-device combination product engineering. If your situation matches that, Sagentia Innovation is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Orthogonal vs Sagentia Innovation FAQ
Is Orthogonal better than Sagentia Innovation?
Orthogonal (4.2/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Orthogonal's strongest advantage: focused on regulated medical software for more than a decade. Sagentia Innovation's strongest advantage: active surgical robotics software and hardware hiring shows current work in that area.
How do Orthogonal and Sagentia Innovation differ in pricing?
Orthogonal uses time and materials, dedicated team pricing. Sagentia Innovation uses time and materials, fixed project pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Orthogonal or Sagentia Innovation?
Orthogonal 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 Orthogonal and Sagentia Innovation?
Orthogonal's primary differentiator is: agile delivery adapted to FDA-regulated software, focused on the app and cloud side of connected devices. Sagentia Innovation's primary differentiator is: medical development backed by a listed science group that also runs a regulatory consultancy. They also differ in team size (11–60 vs 650+ (Science Group)), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Digital health, Wearables & remote monitoring vs Surgical & robotics, Drug delivery).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.