What Simplexity Product Development does

Simplexity Product Development is a privately held product development engineering services firm headquartered in San Diego, California, founded in 2005 by Steve Mott and Minh Duong. The company provides multidisciplinary mechatronics engineering services—including mechanical, electrical, firmware, software, and systems engineering—from concept through production, targeting technology companies developing complex electromechanical products across robotics, biotech, medical devices, wearables, and consumer electronics. Its engineering teams operate under an ISO 13485:2016 certified quality management system, with proprietary tools for gear design, firmware analysis (RMA, static stack analysis, McCabe complexity), and sensor fusion algorithms (extended Kalman filters). Simplexity's customer roster includes HP, Microsoft, Illumina, Agilent, Valve/HTC, Bowflex (Nautilus), Dusty Robotics, and Opulus Beauty Labs, reflecting a B2B project-based services model.

The company's technology stack is built around integrated mechatronics: custom mechanical and PCBA design, FPGA development, EMC-compliant electrical architecture, firmware with advanced analysis tooling, instrument control software, and systems-level motion control optimization. Proprietary gear design tools and cross-disciplinary simulation capabilities are used to reduce BOM cost and part counts. Quality management is delivered through a 21 CFR Part 11-validated QMS with client-facing web portal access, and project execution uses Atlassian Cloud tools (Confluence, Jira, Bitbucket, Tempo). Engineers collectively hold 200+ patents.

Simplexity generates revenue through professional services billed on a project basis, with multi-year contracts and direct enterprise sales engagement. Pricing is custom-quoted per project based on scope and complexity, and is not publicly disclosed. The firm employs 51-100 staff across three West Coast offices (San Diego, Vancouver WA, Seattle), and operates exclusively as a B2B services provider—no consumer products, APIs, or software subscriptions. Customer segments are organized vertically (robotics/automation, biotech/life sciences, consumer electronics, medical devices, physical AI, commercial equipment), with each vertical supported by shared engineering disciplines. CEO Dorota Shortell has led the company since 2010, and the firm remains founder-controlled with no disclosed outside funding.

Name

Simplexity Product Development

Legal name

Simplexity Product Development

Website

https://simplexitypd.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Simplexity Product Development is a privately held, ISO 13485-certified mechatronics engineering services firm in San Diego, providing full-system product development—from concept through production—to technology companies in robotics, biotech, medical devices, wearables, and consumer electronics.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Engineering Services: Professional engineering services billed on a project basis. Services include full system product development, feasibility assessments, prototype development, integrated engineering team augmentation, design for manufacturing, and new product introduction support. Revenue is generated through project-based contracts with technology companies seeking product development expertise.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Simplexity Product Development is a B2B engineering services firm that delivers full-lifecycle multidisciplinary product development from concept through production for complex electromechanical systems. Services span mechanical, electrical, firmware, software, and systems engineering across practice areas including robotics and automation, biotech instruments, wearables, medical devices, consumer electronics, physical AI, commercial equipment, and test fixtures. The firm is ISO 13485:2016 certified and operates as a project-based engineering partner that augments or replaces in-house product development teams at technology companies.

Product overview

Simplexity Product Development is an ISO 13485:2016 certified product development engineering services firm offering comprehensive multidisciplinary engineering services. Rather than a single unified product, the company provides a portfolio of integrated engineering services organized around core offerings (Full System Product Development, Robotics and Automation, Biotech Devices, Wearables, Medical Devices, Physical AI, Commercial Equipment, and Test Fixtures) supported by foundational engineering disciplines (Mechanical, Electrical, Firmware, Software, Systems, Project Management, Manufacturing, Quality, Prototyping, and NPI). These services work together as a coordinated system—disciplines collaborate across the product development lifecycle from concept through production, with quality management and new product introduction ensuring design transfer to manufacturing. The company serves technology companies seeking to develop innovative products in robotics, consumer electronics, biotech, wearables, and medical devices.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Full System Product Development End-to-end product development engineering services from concept through production, integrating mechanical, electrical, firmware, software, and systems engineering for technology companies developing innovative products. For clients needing complete outsourced product development.
• Robotics and Automation Product Development Custom robotics and automation product development for autonomous mobile robots, industrial automation systems, robotic handling platforms, and AI-enabled robotic products. Includes custom subsystems, embedded firmware, and manufacturing-ready designs. For robotics companies facing system engineering talent constraints and needing to scale from prototype to production.
• Biotech Devices and Instruments Development Product development services for biotech instruments including library preparation instruments, IVD sample prep instruments, cell therapy manufacturing tools, liquid handling systems, point-of-care diagnostics, and high-precision fluidic systems. For biotech and life sciences companies needing full system development from feasibility through production.
• Wearable Product Development Body-worn product development for medical wearables, AR/VR headsets, fitness devices, and smart devices integrating sensors, low-power electronics, wireless connectivity, and miniaturized form factors. For technology companies developing connected wearable products.
• Medical Device Product Development Medical device design and development with ISO 13485:2016 certified quality management, covering surgical tools, drug delivery systems, catheter-based devices, home health devices, and medical wearables with regulatory compliance and design history file documentation. For medical device companies developing Class I-III regulated products.
• Physical AI Product Development Product development for AI-enabled devices, intelligent systems, computer vision products, and physical AI systems requiring seamless integration of electronics, sensors, firmware, connectivity, cloud software, and AI capabilities. For companies building AI products that need physical form factors.
• Commercial Equipment Development Product development for commercial equipment sold to businesses, including precision motion systems, sensing platforms, and advanced process controls with high-volume manufacturing expertise. For companies building equipment that incorporates precision motion, sensing, and advanced process controls.
• Test Fixtures and Tools Development Custom test tool development including product development test beds for prototype characterization, manufacturing quality control tools, and client-enabled manufacturing oversight tools. For clients needing custom test and quality systems.
• Product Simplification and Cost Reduction Engineering engagement focused on simplifying existing product designs to reduce Bill of Materials cost, lower part counts, and improve manufacturability. For companies with established products that need cost reduction without sacrificing reliability.
• Product Feasibility Assessments Engineering feasibility studies and technical risk assessments for proposed products, evaluating whether a product concept can be engineered to meet requirements within cost and timeline constraints. For companies in early product concept stages.
• Integrated Engineering Services Embedded engineering team augmentation providing additional multidisciplinary engineering capacity to clients' existing product development programs. For companies struggling to fill engineering roles or needing to scale teams quickly without full-time hires.
• Prototype Development and Optimization Prototyping services including proof-of-concept builds, pre-production prototypes, production-ready prototypes, 3D printing, machining, electrical prototypes, breadboard builds, and design optimization. For clients at the prototype stage needing to mature designs toward manufacturing.
• Product Quality Management Quality management services including requirements definition, verification activities, risk management, supplier management, software development compliance, and ISO 13485:2016 certified quality management system with 21 CFR Part 11 validated documentation tools. For clients needing regulated product development quality systems.
• Design for High Volume Manufacturing Engineering services for designing products for high-volume production including design for manufacturing (DfM), design for excellence (DfX) evaluations, process selection, tooling vendor selection, contract manufacturer selection and onboarding, and assembly documentation. For clients transitioning from low-volume to high-volume manufacturing.

Quantifiable outcome

• Manufacturing cost reduction through simplification
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments6 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

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• ARM InstituteminorOthersIndustry association membership demonstrating involvement in robotics and automation industry. The ARM Institute (Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing) is a collaborative partnership bringing together industry, academia, and government to accelerate robotics adoption in manufacturing.
• Automate.orgminorOthersIndustry association membership in the automation sector. Automate.org is dedicated to promoting automation and robotics industry growth through education, outreach, and advocacy.
• EtherCAT Technology GroupminorOthersIndustry association membership related to EtherCAT real-time Ethernet communication standard. Demonstrates expertise in industrial automation and real-time control systems using EtherCAT protocol.
• NSF InternationalminorOthersExternal auditor for ISO 13485:2016 quality management system certification. NSF International conducts regular internal and external audits of Simplexity's quality management system.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Starfish Medical: Medical device-focused product development firm based in Victoria, BC. Highly comparable in regulated medical device services, ISO 13485 quality systems, and full-system product development from concept through manufacturing.
• StarFish Engineering: Engineering services firm specializing in mechanical, electrical, and software product development. Comparable boutique-scale multidisciplinary services model serving medical, industrial, and consumer clients.
• LUNAR Design: San Francisco-based product design and innovation consultancy with mechanical, electrical, and software engineering capabilities. Comparable in multidisciplinary product development services for consumer and medical technology clients.
• Bresslergroup: Philadelphia-based product design and development consultancy serving medical, consumer, and industrial clients. Comparable in integrated mechanical, electrical, and software engineering services with similar firm size and project-based revenue model.
• Synapse Product Development: Seattle-based mechatronics and connected device product development firm. Directly comparable to Simplexity in scope (mechanical, electrical, firmware, software engineering), customer profile, and project-based services model across consumer, medical, and industrial markets.
• Whipsaw: Industrial design and engineering firm specializing in complex consumer, medical, and robotics products. Closely comparable in mechatronics depth and Silicon Valley client base, with similar multidisciplinary service offering.
• New Product Innovations (NPI): Boutique product development and engineering firm offering full-stack mechanical, electrical, and software design services. Comparable in firm size, West Coast positioning, and integrated mechatronics services for technology clients.

Others

• Flex (Flextronics): Global contract design, manufacturing, and supply chain company. Connected to Simplexity through the lineage of predecessor firm Product Design Group (acquired by Flextronics). Represents the larger-scale manufacturing and design services incumbent that boutique firms like Simplexity complement.

Broad incumbents

• Cambridge Consultants: Large UK-based engineering consultancy with deep mechatronics, wireless, and product development capabilities. Overlaps with Simplexity in technical depth but operates at much greater scale and global reach with broader service portfolio.
• frog (Capgemini Engineering): Global design and engineering consultancy, now part of Capgemini Engineering. Comparable in product design services across consumer and medical categories, but at far larger scale with brand-driven, design-led positioning versus Simplexity's mechatronics-led approach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/simplexitypd
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCJ9x4VHzVmqSjxSdDsJ6-vA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/simplexity-product-development-inc-
• Facebookfacebook.com/simplexitypd

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Simplexity Product Development