StarFish Medical vs Sagentia Innovation: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
StarFish Medical (4.6/5) edges ahead of Sagentia Innovation (4.1/5) overall. StarFish Medical is the better choice for startups needing design plus pilot manufacturing. 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.
StarFish Medical vs Sagentia Innovation: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | StarFish Medical | Sagentia Innovation |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 | 1986 |
| HQ | Victoria, BC, Canada | Harston, Cambridge, UK |
| Team size | 201–250 | 650+ (Science Group) |
| Rating | 4.6 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Medtech-only practice that can build clinical and early commercial units in its own certified clean room | Medical development backed by a listed science group that also runs a regulatory consultancy |
| Pricing model | Phased fixed project, time and materials | Time and materials, fixed project |
| Min. engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | ISO 13485 QMS, IEC 62304, ISO 14971 | Embedded C/C++, Robotics, Mechanical simulation |
| Industries served | Diagnostics & lab devices, Surgical & therapeutic devices, Wearables & remote monitoring, Drug delivery | Surgical & robotics, Drug delivery, Diagnostics & lab devices |
StarFish Medical vs Sagentia Innovation: overview
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.
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: StarFish Medical vs Sagentia Innovation
| Capability | StarFish Medical | 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: StarFish Medical vs Sagentia Innovation
| Framework / platform | StarFish Medical | Sagentia Innovation |
|---|---|---|
| Embedded C/C++ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Embedded Linux | N/A | N/A |
| RTOS | N/A | N/A |
| BLE | N/A | N/A |
| Cloud (AWS/Azure) | N/A | N/A |
| IEC 62304 | ✓ | N/A |
| ISO 14971 | ✓ | N/A |
| ISO 13485 QMS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Qt | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: StarFish Medical vs Sagentia Innovation
| Criterion | StarFish Medical | Sagentia Innovation |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Manufacturing contract, Time & materials | Consulting, Fixed project, Time & materials |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: StarFish Medical vs Sagentia Innovation
| Dimension | StarFish Medical | Sagentia Innovation |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Diagnostics & lab devices, Surgical & therapeutic devices, Wearables & remote monitoring | Surgical & robotics, Drug delivery, Diagnostics & lab devices |
| Best use cases | Taking a venture-backed device from proof of concept to clinical-trial units, Designing an optical diagnostic instrument with its consumable | Surgical robot subsystem development, Drug-device combination product engineering |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Consulting |
StarFish Medical vs Sagentia Innovation: pros and cons
| 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 |
| 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 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.
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: StarFish Medical vs Sagentia Innovation
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | StarFish Medical |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: StarFish Medical (Not disclosed) vs Sagentia Innovation (Not disclosed) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | StarFish Medical |
| 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: StarFish Medical vs Sagentia Innovation
| Use case | StarFish Medical fit | Sagentia Innovation fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taking a venture-backed device from proof of concept to clinical-trial units | Strong | Limited | StarFish Medical |
| Designing an optical diagnostic instrument with its consumable | Strong | Limited | StarFish Medical |
| Surgical robot subsystem development | Limited | Strong | Sagentia Innovation |
| Drug-device combination product engineering | Limited | Strong | Sagentia Innovation |
Verdict: StarFish Medical vs Sagentia Innovation
StarFish Medical (4.6/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Medical Device Development projects. Medtech-only practice that can build clinical and early commercial units in its own certified clean room.
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
StarFish Medical vs Sagentia Innovation FAQ
Is StarFish Medical better than Sagentia Innovation?
StarFish Medical (4.6/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. StarFish Medical's strongest advantage: every project is a medical device, so design reviews, risk files and documentation follow medtech practice by default. Sagentia Innovation's strongest advantage: active surgical robotics software and hardware hiring shows current work in that area.
How do StarFish Medical and Sagentia Innovation differ in pricing?
StarFish Medical uses phased fixed project, time and materials 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: StarFish Medical or Sagentia Innovation?
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 StarFish Medical and Sagentia Innovation?
StarFish Medical's primary differentiator is: medtech-only practice that can build clinical and early commercial units in its own certified clean room. 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 (201–250 vs 650+ (Science Group)), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Diagnostics & lab devices, Surgical & therapeutic devices vs Surgical & robotics, Drug delivery).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.