What Phase Three Product Development does

Phase Three Product Development (P3PD) is a privately held US contract design firm founded in 2009-2010 and headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado, that specializes in microfluidics and medical device product development. The company delivers end-to-end engineering services spanning concept development, IP and regulatory strategy, rapid prototyping, verification and validation, and early-stage manufacturing, organized around an accelerated three-phase process (Feasibility/Prototype, Alpha, Beta). Its core technology differentiation rests on a proprietary toolbox of fluid movement architectures, a reusable on-the-shelf instrument platform that pairs with disposable cartridges, and on-site rapid prototyping facilities (3D printing, injection molding, CNC milling). The firm also offers an Engineering Diligence service line selling tiered technical reviews (quick memos to deep forensic engagements) to investors in AI, quantum, space, energy, aerospace, defense and robotics.

P3PD operates a B2B professional services model with a headcount of 1-10 employees, founder-owned by Kris Buchanan (CEO) and including family members Wil Buchanan (VP Engineering/General Manager) and Matt Buchanan (Director of Marketing Operations), supplemented by engineers drawn from Zimmer Biomet, Medtronic, Boston Scientific, Beckman Coulter and Dako. Pricing is project-based for product development work and tiered for diligence, with a custom retainer option. The customer base is a mix of early-stage life science startups (BMAX Medical, PFRx Pelvic Health, SteriO3), enterprise clients (Cytonome, COVID-19 diagnostic partner, digital microfluidics client), and grant-funded programs (a $37M DARPA-funded organ-on-chip collaboration with an Ivy League institution). Quality credentials include ISO 9001:2015 registration and ISO 13485 compliant design controls.

The company maintains a globally distributed presence with team coverage in Colorado (Fort Collins, Boulder, Denver), Los Angeles, San Diego, Boston, Europe and Auckland, and pursues channel partnerships with Innosphere Ventures Life Sciences Incubator and Parallel Fluidics. Revenue, funding history, and headcount growth metrics are not publicly disclosed, which constrains any external benchmarking. Strategic emphasis in recent periods has been on geographic expansion, productization of the on-the-shelf instrument platform, and extension into adjacent customer segments through the engineering diligence offering.

Name

Phase Three Product Development

Legal name

Phase Three Product Development, LLC

Website

https://p3pd.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Phase Three Product Development (P3PD) is a privately held US contract design firm specializing in microfluidics and medical device product development. It delivers end-to-end engineering services and an engineering diligence line for frontier-tech investors, serving startups, enterprises and grant-funded programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Collins

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Product Development Services: P3PD generates revenue through providing end-to-end product development services to biotech and medical device companies, from concept through early-stage manufacturing. Services include concept development, IP & regulatory strategy, prototyping, verification & validation, and engineering diligence.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Phase Three Product Development (P3PD) is a contract design and engineering services firm that develops microfluidics and medical device products for life science and biotechnology clients. It delivers end-to-end product development spanning concept development, IP and regulatory strategy, prototyping, verification and validation, and early-stage manufacturing under an accelerated three-phase process. The firm also offers independent engineering diligence services for investors evaluating frontier-technology ventures in AI, quantum, space, energy, aerospace, defense, and robotics.

Product overview

Phase Three Product Development (P3PD) is a product development services firm rather than a software product company. They offer a unified suite of services organized around a three-phase accelerated development process: People (matching engineering talent), Process (accelerated phased methodology), and Pricing (capital conservation). The core portfolio includes product development services, on-the-shelf technology solutions (pumps, valves, sensors, instrument platforms), engineering diligence for investors, concept development, IP and regulatory strategy, prototyping, verification and validation, and early-stage manufacturing. They specialize in microfluidics, medical devices, and biotechnology applications, with demonstrated expertise in cell sorting, organ-on-chip systems, point-of-care diagnostics, and consumable cartridge design.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Product Development Services Full-service medical device and biotechnology product development covering concept development, prototyping, IP and regulatory strategy, verification and validation, and early-stage manufacturing, delivered under an accelerated three-phase process for life science and medical device companies.
• Engineering Diligence Independent technical evaluation service for investors assessing AI, quantum, space, energy, aerospace, defense, and robotics investments, providing viability assessments, IP reviews, architecture and scalability analysis, prototype and lab validation, supply chain analysis, cybersecurity review, regulatory readiness checks, and quantitative risk scoring.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3-fold increase in intellectual property for Cytonome
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Ivy League Institution (Innovation Lab)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative development of organ-on-chip automated instrument integrating multiple human organs-on-chips. P3PD provided expertise in small volume sample handling and chip design. The collaboration secured $37M DARPA funding and resulted in groundbreaking drug testing technology.
• Innosphere Ventures Life Sciences IncubatorcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerP3PD founder Kris Buchanan met SteriO3 founder Dr. Steve Hughes through this incubator program. The relationship facilitated the SteriO3 ROSS M1 portable sterilizer development partnership.
• Parallel FluidicsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on sterilization guide for microfluidic medical devices. Parallel Fluidics contributed rapid manufacturing expertise with proprietary Transition Molding technology.
• DARPAflagshipOthersAwarded $37M grant for organ-on-chip project with Ivy League innovation lab partner. P3PD played instrumental role in securing this funding through technical expertise contribution.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/phase-three-product-development

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Phase Three Product Development