Rush River Research
Rush River Research Corporation is a private Minneapolis-based medical device research firm founded in 1984 that delivers project-based R&D services (mechanical/electrical design, epidemiology, testing, clinical studies, market placement) to medical device companies, physicians, and academic institutions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersMinneapolis, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Rush River Research does
Rush River Research Corporation is a privately held medical device research firm headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, founded in 1984 with 40 years of operating history. The company provides project-based research and development services to medical device companies, physicians, and academic institutions, building specialized teams per engagement to deliver mechanical and electrical design, epidemiology, testing, clinical studies, and market placement support. It emphasizes bringing ideas from concept to product, with explicit focus on improving healthcare for aging populations and children, using state-of-the-art electronics and materials.
The firm operates a B2B professional services model with project-by-project engagements and no publicly disclosed pricing. It does not sell a packaged product line; its revenue is generated through consulting and research contracts. Its go-to-market is direct relationship-driven, leveraging a publicly listed network of partners that includes Allina Health, University of Minnesota, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Gillette Children's, HealthPartners, Abilitech, Duke University, and Realityworks. The firm maintains a HIPAA-compliant privacy posture for handling health-related data in its R&D work and holds a Financial Conflict of Interest policy appropriate for federally funded research.
A newer line of work extends the firm beyond traditional device R&D: under a two-year NIH SBIR grant valued at approximately US$2 million, Rush River Research is partnering with Treatment.com Inc. (the U.S. subsidiary of Rocket Doctor AI Inc.) to develop a conversational AI tool that captures family health history through culturally responsive storytelling, with pilots targeting African American communities to improve early diagnosis, preventive care, and health equity. The firm has also received prior NSF funding (US$255,961 in April 2022), reflecting reliance on non-dilutive federal grants alongside commercial engagements.
Rush River Research firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Rush River Research
- Legal name
- Rush River Research Corporation
- Website
- https://rushriverresearch.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Rush River Research Corporation is a private Minneapolis-based medical device research firm founded in 1984 that delivers project-based R&D services (mechanical/electrical design, epidemiology, testing, clinical studies, market placement) to medical device companies, physicians, and academic institutions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Rush River Research is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Minneapolis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Rush River Research business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations
Revenue model
- Research Services: Provides research and development services to medical device companies, including design feedback, testing, clinical studies, and market placement. Revenue is generated through project-based consulting and research engagements.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Rush River Research product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Rush River Research is a medical device research firm that partners with medical device companies, physicians, and academics to take ideas from concept to product. It builds specialized project teams that deliver mechanical and electrical design, epidemiology, design feedback, testing, clinical studies, and market placement support using state-of-the-art electronics and materials, with a focus on improving healthcare for aging populations and children.
Product overview
Rush River Research is a medical device research firm with 40 years of experience offering a comprehensive suite of research services including mechanical and electrical design, epidemiology, and project management. They build specialized teams for each project to provide design feedback, testing, clinical studies, and market placement. The company also participates in an NIH-funded partnership with Treatment.com Inc. to develop AI-powered, culturally sensitive family health history diagnostic tools using conversational AI and storytelling approaches.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Medical Device Research Services
Companies that use Rush River Research
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Rush River Research technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability2 records
Rush River Research partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Treatment.com Inc. (Rocket Doctor AI Inc. subsidiary)coreRush River Research is partnered with Treatment.com Inc. (U.S. subsidiary of Rocket Doctor AI Inc.) for an NIH-funded AI-powered family medical history tool development. The two-year SBIR grant totals approximately US$2 million, with the platform using conversational AI and storytelling to capture family health history in a culturally responsive manner. Total program funding exceeds US$500,000 through May 31, 2027.
- Allina HealthminorLogo partner listed on the company website as part of Rush River Research's network of partners committed to improving healthcare devices.
- University of Minnesota (UMN)minorLogo partner listed on the company website as part of Rush River Research's network of partners committed to improving healthcare devices.
- Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA)minorLogo partner listed on the company website as part of Rush River Research's network of partners committed to improving healthcare devices.
- Gillette Children's HospitalminorLogo partner listed on the company website as part of Rush River Research's network of partners committed to improving healthcare devices.
- HealthPartnersminorLogo partner listed on the company website as part of Rush River Research's network of partners committed to improving healthcare devices.
- AbilitechminorLogo partner listed on the company website as part of Rush River Research's network of partners committed to improving healthcare devices.
- Duke UniversityminorLogo partner listed on the company website as part of Rush River Research's network of partners committed to improving healthcare devices.
- RealityworksminorLogo partner listed on the company website as part of Rush River Research's network of partners committed to improving healthcare devices.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Rush River Research competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- NAMSA: NAMSA is a medical device-focused contract research organization offering testing, clinical, and regulatory services. It is one of the most direct comparables to Rush River Research's medical device R&D and clinical study services for device manufacturers.
- MRIGlobal: MRIGlobal is an independent R&D organization with a life sciences and medical device practice. Comparable to Rush River in providing applied, multi-disciplinary contract research to government, academic, and industry clients.
Broad incumbents
- Battelle: Battelle operates one of the world's largest independent R&D organizations with a medical device and health sciences practice. Comparable to Rush River in providing multi-disciplinary applied research and engineering for medical devices at greater scale.
- Charles River Laboratories: Charles River Laboratories provides preclinical and clinical research services to medical device and pharmaceutical clients. Comparable in delivering contract research and laboratory services to medical product developers, though at significantly larger scale.
- Medpace: Medpace is a global clinical research organization with experience running clinical studies for medical devices and diagnostics. Comparable in clinical study execution for device clients, though broader in therapeutic scope and global in footprint.
- WuXi AppTec: WuXi AppTec offers contract R&D and laboratory testing services across medical devices and life sciences. Comparable in providing outsourced R&D and testing infrastructure to medical device companies, though at a much larger global scale.
- TÜV SÜD: TÜV SÜD provides medical device testing, certification, and regulatory services globally. Comparable to Rush River in delivering testing and compliance support for medical device manufacturers seeking market access.
- Eurofins Scientific: Eurofins operates a global network of medical device testing laboratories. Comparable in providing laboratory-based testing and characterization services to medical device developers.
- BSI Group: BSI Group offers medical device testing, certification, and standards-based compliance services. Comparable to Rush River's regulatory-facing testing and clinical support work for device manufacturers.
- Roper Technologies: Roper Technologies owns a portfolio of medical and life-sciences software and research tools businesses (e.g., vertical-market software for healthcare R&D). Comparable as an incumbent participant in the medical research and device engineering tooling space.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Rush River Research compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Rush River Research financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Rush River Research leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Rush River Research funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Rush River Research M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Rush River Research
What does Rush River Research do?
Rush River Research is a medical device research firm that partners with medical device companies, physicians, and academics to take ideas from concept to product. It builds specialized project teams that deliver mechanical and electrical design, epidemiology, design feedback, testing, clinical studies, and market placement support using state-of-the-art electronics and materials, with a focus on improving healthcare for aging populations and children.
Is Rush River Research a public or private company?
Rush River Research is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Rush River Research founded?
Rush River Research was founded in 1984. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Rush River Research based?
Rush River Research is headquartered in Minneapolis, United States, in the North America region.
How does Rush River Research make money?
One revenue line is on record: research Services.
Who are Rush River Research's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are NAMSA and MRIGlobal. Broad incumbents are Battelle, Charles River Laboratories, Medpace, WuXi AppTec, TÜV SÜD, Eurofins Scientific, BSI Group and Roper Technologies.
Does Rush River Research have an API?
No public API is recorded for Rush River Research.