Sunrise Labs vs Planet Innovation: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Sunrise Labs (4.5/5) edges ahead of Planet Innovation (4.2/5) overall. Sunrise Labs is the better choice for electromechanical devices, fluidics and infusion. Planet Innovation is the stronger option for diagnostics companies in Asia-Pacific and the US. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Sunrise Labs vs Planet Innovation: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Sunrise Labs | Planet Innovation |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1992 | 2009 |
| HQ | Bedford, NH, USA | Box Hill, Victoria, Australia |
| Team size | 90–110 | 300–400 |
| Rating | 4.5 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Three decades of work on pumps, fluidics and motion-heavy medical systems where mechanics and firmware are tightly coupled | Diagnostics roots plus product and commercialization experience in Australia and the US |
| Pricing model | Time and materials, phased fixed project | Fixed project, time and materials |
| Min. engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | Embedded C/C++, RTOS, IEC 60601 | Embedded C/C++, Cloud (AWS/Azure), Microfluidics |
| Industries served | Drug delivery, Diagnostics & lab devices, Surgical & therapeutic devices | Diagnostics & lab devices, Digital health, Wearables & remote monitoring |
Sunrise Labs vs Planet Innovation: 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.
Planet Innovation
Planet Innovation was founded in Melbourne in 2009 by four diagnostics industry specialists: Eduardo Vom, Sam Lanyon, Stuart Elliott and Troy O'Callaghan. It is headquartered in Box Hill, Victoria, with a facility in Irvine, California, and employs roughly 300 to 390 people depending on the source. The company has focused on regulated medical devices since 2016 and works across diagnostics, medical devices, biotechnology and connected health, including some product ventures of its own.
Services and capabilities: Sunrise Labs vs Planet Innovation
| Capability | Sunrise Labs | Planet 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: Sunrise Labs vs Planet Innovation
| Framework / platform | Sunrise Labs | Planet Innovation |
|---|---|---|
| Embedded C/C++ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Embedded Linux | N/A | N/A |
| RTOS | ✓ | N/A |
| BLE | N/A | 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: Sunrise Labs vs Planet Innovation
| Criterion | Sunrise Labs | Planet Innovation |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | 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: Sunrise Labs vs Planet Innovation
| Dimension | Sunrise Labs | Planet Innovation |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Drug delivery, Diagnostics & lab devices, Surgical & therapeutic devices | Diagnostics & lab devices, Digital health, Wearables & remote monitoring |
| Best use cases | Developing an infusion pump or fluid management system, Rescuing a stalled electromechanical device program before verification | Developing a connected point-of-care diagnostic, Commercialization planning for an Australian medtech startup |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Sunrise Labs vs Planet Innovation: 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 |
| Planet Innovation | |
|---|---|
| + | Founders came from the diagnostics industry, and diagnostics is still its strongest area |
| + | Has launched products of its own, so it understands commercialization as well as engineering |
| + | Australian base offers time-zone coverage for Asia-Pacific clients |
| + | Irvine facility serves US clients locally |
| - | Runs its own product ventures, so ask how client work is prioritized |
| - | Less known in Europe |
| - | Headcount and certifications should be confirmed directly |
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 Planet Innovation?
A typical fit: developing a connected point-of-care diagnostic.
Diagnostics roots plus product and commercialization experience in Australia and the US. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Diagnostics & lab devices, Digital health, Wearables & remote monitoring.
Decision matrix: Sunrise Labs vs Planet Innovation
| 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 Planet Innovation (Not disclosed) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Sunrise Labs |
| 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 Planet Innovation
| Use case | Sunrise Labs fit | Planet Innovation fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Developing an infusion pump or fluid management system | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Rescuing a stalled electromechanical device program before verification | Strong | Limited | Sunrise Labs |
| Developing a connected point-of-care diagnostic | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Commercialization planning for an Australian medtech startup | Limited | Strong | Planet Innovation |
Verdict: Sunrise Labs vs Planet Innovation
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.
Planet Innovation (4.2/5) is worth a look if you need commercialization planning for an Australian medtech startup. If your situation matches that, Planet Innovation is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Sunrise Labs vs Planet Innovation FAQ
Is Sunrise Labs better than Planet Innovation?
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. Planet Innovation's strongest advantage: founders came from the diagnostics industry, and diagnostics is still its strongest area.
How do Sunrise Labs and Planet Innovation differ in pricing?
Sunrise Labs uses time and materials, phased fixed project pricing. Planet Innovation uses 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: Sunrise Labs or Planet Innovation?
Planet Innovation 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 Planet Innovation?
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. Planet Innovation's primary differentiator is: diagnostics roots plus product and commercialization experience in Australia and the US. They also differ in team size (90–110 vs 300–400), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Drug delivery, Diagnostics & lab devices vs Diagnostics & lab devices, Digital health).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.