inFact

What inFact does

inFact Limited is a privately held, Christchurch, New Zealand-based product design and engineering consultancy founded by Nigel Sharplin around 2000 and operating with approximately 15 multi-disciplinary staff. The firm specialises in translating scientific research and novel concepts into engineered, commercially viable products for enterprise clients, government research institutes, and universities. Over 25 years, inFact has delivered more than 500 projects across MedTech, forestry and environmental monitoring, industrial IoT, marine, aerospace, and consumer healthcare, earning international design recognition including Good Design Awards, Best Awards (NZ), and Red Dot Design Awards.

The company's core capabilities span six service areas: Product Design, Embedded Firmware Design, Electronics Hardware Design, Cloud & App Services, New Product Introduction, and Product Compliance. Engineering work is executed through a proprietary 7-Stage Development Process running from user insights to production. Technical differentiation is concentrated in ruggedised, low-power, long-life wireless mesh sensor systems, demonstrated by the FlowLab platform (co-developed with Scion, 1,700+ sensors across nine forest catchments, 390M+ data points) and a portfolio that includes the Aeroqual Ranger Dust handheld air-quality monitor, HydroMetrics GW50 nitrate sensor, PiP DigiSense and PiP PeopleSense IoT devices, the CCN-8 SoftDrive conveyor controller for Atrax, and UAV-mounted electroantennogram sensors for insect pheromone detection.

inFact operates a professional services revenue model, billing clients on a project-by-project basis with negotiated fees tied to scope and complexity, supplemented by longer-term co-development engagements such as the Wellcome Leap SAVE NZ$10M MedTech programme. The go-to-market is primarily sales-led and reputation-driven — anchored on 25 years of repeat enterprise clients (Trimble, Aeroqual, HamiltonJet, TLJones, Atrax), research institute partnerships (Scion, Lincoln Agritech, University of Auckland), and selective participation in international trade events (Inter Airport Munich, EU Horizons) to support client partners and source new pipeline. The firm is founder-owned with no disclosed venture capital, private equity, or corporate parent, and has received only small recurring R&D co-funding grants from New Zealand government agency Callaghan Innovation.

Name

inFact

Legal name

inFact Limited

Website

https://infact.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

inFact Limited is a Christchurch, New Zealand-based product design and engineering consultancy with approximately 15 staff that translates scientific research into commercial products for enterprise, government, and research clients across MedTech, environmental monitoring, industrial IoT, and aerospace sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Christchurch

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Product Design and Engineering Consultancy: inFact provides design, develop, and build professional services including strategic design advice, product design, embedded firmware, electronics hardware, cloud and app services, new product introduction, and product compliance. Revenue is generated through project-based consulting engagements, ranging from initial feasibility through to production-ready engineered products.
2. Technology Co-Development: inFact partners with science providers and clients to co-develop new technologies (e.g., FlowLab with Scion, Wellcome Leap SAVE diagnostic MedTech), contributing engineering expertise to bring deep technology out of the lab into commercial products.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

inFact is a multi-disciplinary product design and engineering consultancy that transforms scientific research and innovative ideas into commercially viable, production-ready products. The firm provides end-to-end capabilities spanning product design, embedded firmware, electronics hardware, cloud and app services, new product introduction, and product compliance, operating on a project-based consultancy model.

Product overview

inFact Limited is a technology innovation, design and engineering consultancy that operates as a single unified offering rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The company specializes in transforming scientific research into commercial products through a multi-disciplinary approach. Their core service portfolio includes Product Design, Embedded Firmware Design, Electronics Hardware Design, Cloud and App Services, New Product Introduction, and Product Compliance. They work across diverse sectors including MedTech, environmental monitoring, industrial equipment, and consumer products. Notable products they have developed include Flow Lab (forest hydrology wireless monitoring system), Aeroqual Ranger Dust (cloud-connected air quality monitoring), HydroMetrics GW50 (groundwater nitrate sensor), PiP DigiSense and PiP PeopleSense (IoT monitoring devices), MotoLure Dispenser (predator detection for conservation), Hitman HM220i (log stiffness measurement), CCN-8 SoftDrive (airport conveyor control), and Cyborg Portable EAG (UAV-mounted pheromone detection). The company emphasizes sustainable technology development and bringing science from lab to market.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Product Design Multi-disciplinary product design service using a well-proven 7 Stage process to manage the development cycle from user insights through to production, delivered to enterprise clients and research institutions.
• Embedded Firmware Design Design of embedded software and firmware for microcontrollers and embedded systems including ARM-based platforms (ST and Nordic), with experience in communication networks such as Sigfox, LoRaWAN, NB-IOT, CATM1, and satellite communications.
• Electronics Hardware Design Electronics hardware design services including system architecture designs, prototype development, and production-ready hardware solutions for industrial, environmental, and consumer applications.
• Cloud and App Services Cloud platform and application development services connecting physical products to cloud backends with real-time data collection and analytics capabilities for IoT and connected device products.
• New Product Introduction Comprehensive service guiding products from feasibility and design innovation through development to production launch, including manufacturing readiness and supply chain coordination.
• Product Compliance Services ensuring products meet regulatory and compliance requirements for target markets, supporting clients in navigating certification pathways for industrial, MedTech, and consumer products.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully delivered over 500 product design and engineering projects over 25 years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Atrax GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025inFact has an ongoing product design and innovation partnership with Atrax Group, designing and innovating products for baggage weighscale technology and conveyor control systems. Atrax operates in 149 countries supplying airport check-in equipment. inFact attended Inter Airport Munich trade event with Atrax to support them on the front line.
• University of Auckland (Team Windsor)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025inFact Innovation, led by Paul Roberts and Dr Willy Wang's lab team at UoA, developed a diagnostic device and low-cost consumable for measuring post-operative stress in patients, as part of the NZ$10M Wellcome Leap SAVE funded programme. Team Windsor was headed by Professors Dr John Windsor and Dr Anthony Philips at UoA.
• NASAminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025International partnerships including with NASA are set to expand FlowLab's reach and help develop global understanding of forest-water dynamics. This represents emerging international collaboration for forest monitoring technology.
• EU Horizons (Sintetic and Digimedfor)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025inFact participated in the EU Horizons funded Sintetic and Digimedfor Dissemination event in Vallombrosa, Italy. Fibre-Gen's HM220i log stiffness measures are being integrated via the Hitman Sync App into a large forest-wide dataset. Three years of developments and trials were shared as part of this European programme.
• University of EdinburghminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025The Wellcome Leap SAVE programme culminating demonstrations of three years of clinical studies and deep technology development took place at the University of Edinburgh. Dr Willy Wang and the lab team at UoA developed the science over 12 years.
• AeroqualcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022inFact collaborated remotely with Aeroqual to develop the Aeroqual Ranger Dust cloud-connected handheld device for air quality monitoring. inFact delivered the Linux-based platform, ruggedised handheld case design, particulate sensor head, and EOL test system, implemented into production with a local Christchurch contract manufacturer.
• Foot Science InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020inFact developed the Formthotics V20 Heater to improve usability and performance for Foot Science International's entry to the US market.
• Scion (Bioeconomy Science Institute)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Scion partnered with inFact to co-develop FlowLab, a bespoke monitoring system for forest environments. The system combines environmental sensors into a unified telemetry system using a wireless mesh network for real-time data collection in challenging terrain. The collaboration successfully deployed over 1,700 sensors collecting 390+ million data points across New Zealand forests from 2019-2024. Scion and inFact are now developing a second-generation version of FlowLab with growing interest from commercial forestry and regional authorities.
• Lincoln AgritechcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Lincoln Agritech and inFact collaborated to bring HydroMetrics GW50 to market - a low-cost, highly ruggedised deep well optical sensor capable of measuring nitrate concentrations in groundwater in real-time. inFact provided product design, engineering, and commercialisation expertise.
• Harris Home FiresminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019inFact used Design Thinking to develop the Woodsman SERENE ultra-low emissions burner (ULEB), uncovering key customer insights and unmet stakeholder needs along the value chain for inner-city living heating solutions.
• UniServices (Auckland)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019inFact and Auckland's UniServices collaborated approximately 10 years ago to create an innovative trade show stand to visualise and sell Halo IPT wireless power technology. WiTricity subsequently commercialised the technology, including BMW 530e production charge pad.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• frog (Capgemini Engineering): Global design and engineering firm (now part of Capgemini) offering industrial design, mechanical and electronics engineering, and digital services. Closely matches inFact's blend of design, embedded systems, and product compliance work for connected products.
• Synapse: US-based product innovation firm delivering hardware, software, and connected-product design and engineering services. Comparable to inFact for IoT/sensor product development and multi-disciplinary engineering engagement model.
• IDEO: Global product design and innovation consultancy offering multi-disciplinary design, engineering, and brand services across consumer, industrial, and MedTech sectors. Most direct comparator to inFact's design-led, end-to-end product development model.
• Smart Design: Global product design and innovation consultancy with multi-disciplinary teams delivering industrial design, mechanical and electronics engineering, and brand strategy. Comparable in scope and tier of clients served to inFact.
• NewDealDesign (Accenture Song): Design and engineering consultancy (acquired by Accenture Song) with strong IoT, hardware, and connected-product practice. Directly comparable for end-to-end product development from concept through manufacturing.
• Map Project Office: London-based product design and engineering consultancy operating across industrial design, embedded electronics, and software for connected products. Closely comparable multi-disciplinary capability and project mix.
• Whipsaw: Boutique industrial design and engineering firm focused on connected hardware, IoT, and consumer electronics. Closely aligns with inFact's hardware/firmware/cloud stack and award-grade design profile.
• fuseproject: Award-winning product design and brand consultancy led by Yves Béhar. Comparable to inFact in bringing consumer-grade design rigour and engineering depth to industrial and IoT products.
• Teague: Long-established design and innovation consultancy with deep experience in industrial design, electronics, and product strategy. Comparable end-to-end design consultancy serving enterprise clients in industrial and consumer sectors.
• Manual: Boutique design and engineering firm combining industrial design, electronics, and software to deliver connected products. Comparable end-to-end design services and MedTech-adjacent project profile to inFact.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/inFactLtd
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/inFactLtd
• Facebookfacebook.com/inFactLtd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/infact-limited

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about inFact