Sunrise Labs vs Delve: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Sunrise Labs (4.5/5) edges ahead of Delve (4.0/5) overall. Sunrise Labs is the better choice for electromechanical devices, fluidics and infusion. Delve is the stronger option for user research and industrial design for medtech. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Sunrise Labs vs Delve: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Sunrise Labs | Delve |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1992 | 2021 |
| HQ | Bedford, NH, USA | Madison, WI, USA |
| Team size | 90–110 | 200–500 |
| Rating | 4.5 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Three decades of work on pumps, fluidics and motion-heavy medical systems where mechanics and firmware are tightly coupled | Design research and industrial design depth from two long-established US studios |
| Pricing model | Time and materials, phased fixed project | Time and materials, phased fixed project |
| Min. engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | Embedded C/C++, RTOS, IEC 60601 | SolidWorks, Usability engineering, Rapid prototyping |
| Industries served | Drug delivery, Diagnostics & lab devices, Surgical & therapeutic devices | Wearables & remote monitoring, Surgical & therapeutic devices, Consumer products, Industrial |
Sunrise Labs vs Delve: overview
Sunrise Labs
Founded in 1992 by MIT-trained engineers, Sunrise Labs is a privately held product development firm that now operates from Bedford, New Hampshire, with a Boston-area office added in 2022. Its work concentrates on electromechanical medical devices: infusion and fluid handling, diagnostics instruments and therapeutic systems that combine motors, sensors, electronics and embedded software. Directory listings put the team at roughly 90 to 100 people. Sunrise Labs handles development and design transfer and does not run its own volume manufacturing.
Delve
Delve is a product design and innovation firm headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, with studios in Boston, Philadelphia and San Francisco. Trinity Hunt Partners bought it in 2021 and merged it with Philadelphia's Bresslergroup (founded 1970), and the combined business now operates under the Delve name and later acquired digital design firm altr. Its team is estimated at 200 to 500 people. Delve says it designed and engineered the Dexcom G6 continuous glucose monitor (per company website; independently unverifiable), and medical devices are a large share of its work alongside consumer and industrial products.
Services and capabilities: Sunrise Labs vs Delve
| Capability | Sunrise Labs | Delve |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Sunrise Labs vs Delve
| Framework / platform | Sunrise Labs | Delve |
|---|---|---|
| Embedded C/C++ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Embedded Linux | N/A | N/A |
| RTOS | ✓ | 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 | N/A | N/A |
| Qt | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Sunrise Labs vs Delve
| Criterion | Sunrise Labs | Delve |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Time & materials | Consulting, Fixed project, Time & materials |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Sunrise Labs vs Delve
| Dimension | Sunrise Labs | Delve |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Drug delivery, Diagnostics & lab devices, Surgical & therapeutic devices | Wearables & remote monitoring, Surgical & therapeutic devices, Consumer products |
| Best use cases | Developing an infusion pump or fluid management system, Rescuing a stalled electromechanical device program before verification | Industrial design and user research for a wearable, Human factors work on a home-use device |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Consulting |
Sunrise Labs vs Delve: pros and cons
| Sunrise Labs | |
|---|---|
| + | Deep experience with infusion, fluid handling and other electromechanical systems that most software-led firms avoid |
| + | Engineers who own mechanics, electronics and firmware sit on the same team, which helps with system-level risk analysis |
| + | Long track record with US medtech clients and FDA submission support |
| + | Mid-sized team means senior engineers stay visible on projects |
| - | No in-house volume manufacturing; design transfer to a CM is part of every plan |
| - | US-only footprint and Northeast US rates put it at the higher end on cost |
| - | Less suited to software-only or SaMD projects |
| Delve | |
|---|---|
| + | Strong user research and industrial design, important for patient-worn devices |
| + | Multiple US studios |
| + | Public wearable CGM experience |
| + | Bresslergroup brings a long patent and design-award record |
| - | Private-equity owned since 2021 and built through mergers |
| - | Medical is a large share, but consumer and industrial work compete for attention |
| - | ISO 13485 certification was not confirmed in our research |
Who should choose Sunrise Labs?
A typical fit: developing an infusion pump or fluid management system.
Three decades of work on pumps, fluidics and motion-heavy medical systems where mechanics and firmware are tightly coupled. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Drug delivery, Diagnostics & lab devices, Surgical & therapeutic devices.
Who should choose Delve?
A typical fit: industrial design and user research for a wearable.
Design research and industrial design depth from two long-established US studios. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Wearables & remote monitoring, Surgical & therapeutic devices, Consumer products, Industrial.
Decision matrix: Sunrise Labs vs Delve
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Sunrise Labs |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Sunrise Labs (Not disclosed) vs Delve (Not disclosed) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Delve |
| 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: Sunrise Labs vs Delve
| Use case | Sunrise Labs fit | Delve fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Developing an infusion pump or fluid management system | Strong | Limited | Sunrise Labs |
| Rescuing a stalled electromechanical device program before verification | Strong | Limited | Sunrise Labs |
| Industrial design and user research for a wearable | Limited | Strong | Delve |
| Human factors work on a home-use device | Limited | Strong | Delve |
Verdict: Sunrise Labs vs Delve
Sunrise Labs (4.5/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Medical Device Development projects. Three decades of work on pumps, fluidics and motion-heavy medical systems where mechanics and firmware are tightly coupled.
Delve (4.0/5) is worth a look if you need human factors work on a home-use device. If your situation matches that, Delve is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Sunrise Labs vs Delve FAQ
Is Sunrise Labs better than Delve?
Sunrise Labs (4.5/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Sunrise Labs's strongest advantage: deep experience with infusion, fluid handling and other electromechanical systems that most software-led firms avoid. Delve's strongest advantage: strong user research and industrial design, important for patient-worn devices.
How do Sunrise Labs and Delve differ in pricing?
Sunrise Labs uses time and materials, phased fixed project pricing. Delve uses time and materials, phased fixed project pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Sunrise Labs or Delve?
Delve 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 Sunrise Labs and Delve?
Sunrise Labs's primary differentiator is: three decades of work on pumps, fluidics and motion-heavy medical systems where mechanics and firmware are tightly coupled. Delve's primary differentiator is: design research and industrial design depth from two long-established US studios. They also differ in team size (90–110 vs 200–500), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Drug delivery, Diagnostics & lab devices vs Wearables & remote monitoring, Surgical & therapeutic devices).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.