StarFish Medical vs Velentium: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
StarFish Medical (4.6/5) edges ahead of Velentium (4.5/5) overall. StarFish Medical is the better choice for startups needing design plus pilot manufacturing. Velentium is the stronger option for implantables and FDA cybersecurity submissions. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
StarFish Medical vs Velentium: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | StarFish Medical | Velentium |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 | 2012 |
| HQ | Victoria, BC, Canada | Katy, TX, USA |
| Team size | 201–250 | 51–250 |
| Rating | 4.6 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Medtech-only practice that can build clinical and early commercial units in its own certified clean room | Combines active-implantable engineering with a dedicated device cybersecurity team that prepares FDA premarket security documentation |
| Pricing model | Phased fixed project, time and materials | Fixed project, time and materials, manufacturing contract |
| Min. engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | ISO 13485 QMS, IEC 62304, ISO 14971 | Embedded C/C++, RTOS, BLE |
| Industries served | Diagnostics & lab devices, Surgical & therapeutic devices, Wearables & remote monitoring, Drug delivery | Implantables & neuromodulation, Surgical & therapeutic devices, Wearables & remote monitoring |
StarFish Medical vs Velentium: 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.
Velentium
Velentium was founded in 2012 and is based in Katy, near Houston, Texas. It designs, develops and manufactures active medical devices, including implantables and their programmers, and offers systems engineering, firmware, software, cybersecurity and CGMP manufacturing. Great Point Partners completed a growth recapitalization in 2021, the company sold its oil and gas division in 2023 to focus fully on medtech, and it took $15M in growth financing from Trinity Capital in 2024. Headcount estimates range from 51 to 250.
Services and capabilities: StarFish Medical vs Velentium
| Capability | StarFish Medical | Velentium |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Velentium
| Framework / platform | StarFish Medical | Velentium |
|---|---|---|
| Embedded C/C++ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Embedded Linux | N/A | N/A |
| RTOS | N/A | ✓ |
| BLE | N/A | ✓ |
| Cloud (AWS/Azure) | N/A | N/A |
| IEC 62304 | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISO 14971 | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISO 13485 QMS | ✓ | N/A |
| Qt | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: StarFish Medical vs Velentium
| Criterion | StarFish Medical | Velentium |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Manufacturing contract, Time & materials | Fixed project, Manufacturing contract, Time & materials |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: StarFish Medical vs Velentium
| Dimension | StarFish Medical | Velentium |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Diagnostics & lab devices, Surgical & therapeutic devices, Wearables & remote monitoring | Implantables & neuromodulation, Surgical & therapeutic devices, Wearables & remote monitoring |
| Best use cases | Taking a venture-backed device from proof of concept to clinical-trial units, Designing an optical diagnostic instrument with its consumable | Building a neurostimulator and its clinician programmer, Preparing the cybersecurity section of an FDA 510(k) or PMA |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
StarFish Medical vs Velentium: 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 |
| Velentium | |
|---|---|
| + | Cybersecurity is a full practice here, covering threat modeling, SBOMs, testing and postmarket monitoring |
| + | Experience with active implantable devices, one of the hardest device categories to engineer and certify |
| + | Can manufacture Class II and III devices after development, reducing transfer risk |
| + | Offers training on device cybersecurity, which helps client teams keep up after hand-off |
| - | Private-equity recapitalization and debt financing mean ownership priorities may shift over time |
| - | Smaller than the large consultancies, so very broad programs may stretch the team |
| - | Industrial design and human factors are not its main strength |
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 Velentium?
A typical fit: building a neurostimulator and its clinician programmer.
Combines active-implantable engineering with a dedicated device cybersecurity team that prepares FDA premarket security documentation. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Implantables & neuromodulation, Surgical & therapeutic devices, Wearables & remote monitoring.
Decision matrix: StarFish Medical vs Velentium
| 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 Velentium (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 Velentium
| Use case | StarFish Medical fit | Velentium 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 |
| Building a neurostimulator and its clinician programmer | Limited | Strong | Velentium |
| Preparing the cybersecurity section of an FDA 510(k) or PMA | Limited | Strong | Velentium |
Verdict: StarFish Medical vs Velentium
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.
Velentium (4.5/5) is worth a look if you need preparing the cybersecurity section of an FDA 510(k) or PMA. If your situation matches that, Velentium is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
StarFish Medical vs Velentium FAQ
Is StarFish Medical better than Velentium?
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. Velentium's strongest advantage: cybersecurity is a full practice here, covering threat modeling, SBOMs, testing and postmarket monitoring.
How do StarFish Medical and Velentium differ in pricing?
StarFish Medical uses phased fixed project, time and materials pricing. Velentium uses fixed project, time and materials, manufacturing contract 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 Velentium?
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 Velentium?
StarFish Medical's primary differentiator is: medtech-only practice that can build clinical and early commercial units in its own certified clean room. Velentium's primary differentiator is: combines active-implantable engineering with a dedicated device cybersecurity team that prepares FDA premarket security documentation. They also differ in team size (201–250 vs 51–250), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Diagnostics & lab devices, Surgical & therapeutic devices vs Implantables & neuromodulation, Surgical & therapeutic devices).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.