Sunrise Labs vs Team Consulting: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Sunrise Labs (4.5/5) edges ahead of Team Consulting (4.3/5) overall. Sunrise Labs is the better choice for electromechanical devices, fluidics and infusion. Team Consulting is the stronger option for Inhalers, injectors and human-factors-heavy devices. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Sunrise Labs vs Team Consulting: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Sunrise Labs | Team Consulting |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1992 | 1986 |
| HQ | Bedford, NH, USA | Ickleton, Cambridge, UK |
| Team size | 90–110 | 140–190 |
| Rating | 4.5 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Three decades of work on pumps, fluidics and motion-heavy medical systems where mechanics and firmware are tightly coupled | Three decades of medical-only industrial design and human factors, especially for drug delivery |
| 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, Mechanical simulation, Usability engineering |
| Industries served | Drug delivery, Diagnostics & lab devices, Surgical & therapeutic devices | Drug delivery, Surgical & therapeutic devices, Diagnostics & lab devices |
Sunrise Labs vs Team Consulting: 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.
Team Consulting
Team Consulting began in 1986 as a general product development consultancy started by five former colleagues and has worked mainly in the medical sector since the early 1990s. It is employee-owned and based in a converted barn in Ickleton, near Cambridge, with somewhere between 140 and 190 staff depending on the source. Its best-known work is in inhaled and injectable drug delivery devices, where it combines industrial design, mechanical engineering and human factors.
Services and capabilities: Sunrise Labs vs Team Consulting
| Capability | Sunrise Labs | Team Consulting |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Team Consulting
| Framework / platform | Sunrise Labs | Team Consulting |
|---|---|---|
| Embedded C/C++ | ✓ | N/A |
| 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 | ✓ |
| Qt | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Sunrise Labs vs Team Consulting
| Criterion | Sunrise Labs | Team Consulting |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Team Consulting
| Dimension | Sunrise Labs | Team Consulting |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Drug delivery, Diagnostics & lab devices, Surgical & therapeutic devices | Drug delivery, Surgical & therapeutic devices, Diagnostics & lab devices |
| Best use cases | Developing an infusion pump or fluid management system, Rescuing a stalled electromechanical device program before verification | Designing a dry powder inhaler or autoinjector, Formative and summative usability studies |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Consulting |
Sunrise Labs vs Team Consulting: 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 |
| Team Consulting | |
|---|---|
| + | Medical and pharma work has been its main business for over 30 years |
| + | Human factors engineering is one of the strongest in the UK for drug delivery |
| + | Employee ownership supports long-term client relationships |
| + | Industrial design quality is high, which matters for patient-handled devices |
| - | Electronics and connected-device software are a smaller part of its work than mechanics and design |
| - | No manufacturing; transfer to a CM is required |
| - | UK rates and location may not suit US startups on tight budgets |
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 Team Consulting?
A typical fit: designing a dry powder inhaler or autoinjector.
Three decades of medical-only industrial design and human factors, especially for drug delivery. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Drug delivery, Surgical & therapeutic devices, Diagnostics & lab devices.
Decision matrix: Sunrise Labs vs Team Consulting
| 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 Team Consulting (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 Team Consulting
| Use case | Sunrise Labs fit | Team Consulting 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 |
| Designing a dry powder inhaler or autoinjector | Limited | Strong | Team Consulting |
| Formative and summative usability studies | Limited | Strong | Team Consulting |
Verdict: Sunrise Labs vs Team Consulting
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.
Team Consulting (4.3/5) is worth a look if you need formative and summative usability studies. If your situation matches that, Team Consulting is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Sunrise Labs vs Team Consulting FAQ
Is Sunrise Labs better than Team Consulting?
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. Team Consulting's strongest advantage: medical and pharma work has been its main business for over 30 years.
How do Sunrise Labs and Team Consulting differ in pricing?
Sunrise Labs uses time and materials, phased fixed project pricing. Team Consulting 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 Team Consulting?
Team Consulting 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 Team Consulting?
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. Team Consulting's primary differentiator is: three decades of medical-only industrial design and human factors, especially for drug delivery. They also differ in team size (90–110 vs 140–190), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Drug delivery, Diagnostics & lab devices vs Drug delivery, Surgical & therapeutic devices).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.