CMD MedTech vs Oxalis Design: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
CMD MedTech (4.2/5) edges ahead of Oxalis Design (4.1/5) overall. CMD MedTech is the better choice for small medical device programs needing close, senior-level regulatory support. Oxalis Design is the stronger option for small connected-device programs needing direct access to senior engineers. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
CMD MedTech vs Oxalis Design: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | CMD MedTech | Oxalis Design |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2016 | 2019 |
| HQ | Columbus, OH, USA | Bristol, UK |
| Team size | 13 | 2–10 |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Woman-owned small business built specifically around medical device systems, software, and regulatory support | Founder-led two-person leadership team focused solely on electronics and embedded firmware, no broader IT practice attached |
| Pricing model | Project-based medical device engineering engagements | Project-based electronics and embedded engagements |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | C, C++, Medical Device Software Standards | C, C++, RF Design |
| Industries served | Medical devices | Medical devices, Consumer electronics, Industrial |
CMD MedTech vs Oxalis Design: overview
CMD MedTech
CMD MedTech was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, with roughly 13 employees as of mid-2025. The firm specializes in medical device development, covering systems engineering, software and firmware, regulatory and quality support, and project management specifically for the FDA and international medical device approval processes. Its status as a woman-owned small business can matter for clients with supplier-diversity procurement requirements, and its small, focused team structure suits medical device programs that need close, senior-level attention rather than a large delivery organization.
Oxalis Design
Oxalis Design is a Bristol, UK electronics and embedded systems consultancy founded by Alex Turner and Alex Thornicroft, both experienced electronics and software engineers. The firm's stated scope covers electronics hardware and RF design, embedded software development, and connected-device development for medical, consumer, and industrial clients, from early concept through pilot builds and the transfer to production. As a small, cohesive team focused solely on electronics and embedded firmware rather than a broader product-design or general IT practice, it suits clients who want senior engineers directly on their project rather than layers of account management.
Services and capabilities: CMD MedTech vs Oxalis Design
| Capability | CMD MedTech | Oxalis Design |
|---|---|---|
| RTOS firmware development | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bare-metal & driver development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Secure boot / OTA firmware updates | ✗ | ✗ |
| MCU & platform migration | ✗ | ✗ |
| Connectivity & IoT protocols | ✗ | ✓ |
| Functional safety / compliance | ✓ | ✗ |
| Embedded AI / on-device inference | ✗ | ✗ |
| Firmware GUI development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Hardware co-design / board bring-up | ✗ | ✓ |
| Staff augmentation | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: CMD MedTech vs Oxalis Design
| Framework / platform | CMD MedTech | Oxalis Design |
|---|---|---|
| FreeRTOS | N/A | N/A |
| Zephyr | N/A | N/A |
| STM32 | N/A | N/A |
| ARM Cortex-M | N/A | N/A |
| Embedded Linux | N/A | N/A |
| BLE | N/A | N/A |
| MISRA | N/A | N/A |
| Secure Boot | N/A | N/A |
| AWS IoT | N/A | N/A |
| RISC-V | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: CMD MedTech vs Oxalis Design
| Criterion | CMD MedTech | Oxalis Design |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Project-based engineering with regulatory support | Project-based engineering, concept through pilot build |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: CMD MedTech vs Oxalis Design
| Dimension | CMD MedTech | Oxalis Design |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Medical devices | Medical devices, Consumer electronics, Industrial |
| Best use cases | Systems and firmware engineering for a medical device FDA submission, Regulatory-aware firmware development for a small medical device startup | RF and firmware co-design for a new connected consumer device, Medical device electronics and embedded firmware from concept through pilot build |
| Typical project type | Project-based engineering with regulatory support | Project-based engineering, concept through pilot build |
CMD MedTech vs Oxalis Design: pros and cons
| CMD MedTech | |
|---|---|
| + | Medical device development is the firm's sole focus, not one vertical among several |
| + | Woman-owned small business status can satisfy supplier-diversity requirements in enterprise and government procurement |
| + | Regulatory and quality support is built into the delivery process rather than treated as a separate service |
| + | Small team size gives clients direct access to senior engineers rather than being routed through account layers |
| - | 13 employees is one of the smallest teams on this list, which caps how many concurrent programs the firm can run |
| - | 9 years of operating history is shorter than several competitors with 20-plus years in medical device work |
| - | No published pricing or minimum engagement figure |
| Oxalis Design | |
|---|---|
| + | Founded and led directly by two working electronics and software engineers, giving clients direct senior-level involvement |
| + | Focus on electronics and embedded firmware exclusively, without a broader IT or general software practice diluting attention |
| + | RF design capability in-house means wireless connectivity work doesn't require a separate specialist vendor |
| + | Serves medical, consumer, and industrial clients from concept through pilot build and transfer to production |
| - | A team of 2 to 10 people limits capacity to a small number of concurrent client programs at any time |
| - | Publicly verifiable founding date and detailed case study history are limited |
| - | No published pricing or minimum engagement figure |
Who should choose CMD MedTech?
A typical fit: systems and firmware engineering for a medical device FDA submission.
Woman-owned small business built specifically around medical device systems, software, and regulatory support. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Medical devices.
Who should choose Oxalis Design?
A typical fit: RF and firmware co-design for a new connected consumer device.
Founder-led two-person leadership team focused solely on electronics and embedded firmware, no broader IT practice attached. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Medical devices, Consumer electronics, Industrial.
Decision matrix: CMD MedTech vs Oxalis Design
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Both offer fixed-price models |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: CMD MedTech (Not published) vs Oxalis Design (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Oxalis Design |
| You need staff augmentation or team extension | Neither; consider alternatives that offer staff aug |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | CMD MedTech |
Use case fit: CMD MedTech vs Oxalis Design
| Use case | CMD MedTech fit | Oxalis Design fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Systems and firmware engineering for a medical device FDA submission | Strong | Limited | CMD MedTech |
| Regulatory-aware firmware development for a small medical device startup | Strong | Limited | CMD MedTech |
| RF and firmware co-design for a new connected consumer device | Limited | Strong | Oxalis Design |
| Medical device electronics and embedded firmware from concept through pilot build | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Fixed-price build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Staff augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: CMD MedTech vs Oxalis Design
CMD MedTech (4.2/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Firmware Development projects. Woman-owned small business built specifically around medical device systems, software, and regulatory support.
Oxalis Design (4.1/5) is worth a look if you need medical device electronics and embedded firmware from concept through pilot build. If your situation matches that, Oxalis Design is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
CMD MedTech vs Oxalis Design FAQ
Is CMD MedTech better than Oxalis Design?
CMD MedTech (4.2/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. CMD MedTech's strongest advantage: medical device development is the firm's sole focus, not one vertical among several. Oxalis Design's strongest advantage: founded and led directly by two working electronics and software engineers, giving clients direct senior-level involvement.
How do CMD MedTech and Oxalis Design differ in pricing?
CMD MedTech uses project-based medical device engineering engagements pricing. Oxalis Design uses project-based electronics and embedded engagements pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: CMD MedTech or Oxalis Design?
Oxalis Design 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 CMD MedTech and Oxalis Design?
CMD MedTech's primary differentiator is: woman-owned small business built specifically around medical device systems, software, and regulatory support. Oxalis Design's primary differentiator is: founder-led two-person leadership team focused solely on electronics and embedded firmware, no broader IT practice attached. They also differ in team size (13 vs 2–10), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Medical devices vs Medical devices, Consumer electronics).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.