Invent Design Build

What Invent Design Build does

Invent Design Build is a UK-based new product development consultancy specialising in electronic and connected IoT hardware, founded by Derek Liddle in East Kilbride, Glasgow. The company delivers a three-stage service framework: INVENT (idea generation, planning, funding applications, and investor pitching with proof-of-concept samples), DESIGN (detailed design, prototyping, verification and validation), and BUILD (manufacturing transfer with assembly processes, test instructions and quality control). Core technical capabilities include electronics design in Altium, embedded software development in C/C++ and Python with test-driven development, industrial and mechanical design for manufacture, intellectual property management using Patsnap, and comprehensive regulatory approvals support covering Safety, EMC, Radio, Environmental, and CyberSecurity across UK, Europe, US, and global markets.

The business operates as a B2B professional services consultancy, generating revenue through project-based engagements with entrepreneurs, early-stage startups, SMEs, and manufacturers developing sensor-based IoT products, medical devices, wearables, smart home, agricultural technology, and energy management solutions. Notable engagements include taking eclateral's rapid diagnostic test system from concept to CE-ready in 18 months and supporting Greengage in securing collaborative Innovate UK funding. The company has demonstrated consortium-building capability through a COVID-19 Innovate UK win with Biaccon Ltd, University of Liverpool, University of Glasgow CVR, Octo, and European Circuits. Customer acquisition occurs primarily through industry reputation, referrals, content marketing via blog articles, and partnership with funding bodies.

The company is founder-owned and privately held with no institutional investment disclosed. Operating from a single UK office, it appears to be a small team anchored by Derek Liddle's 30 years of leadership experience at Honeywell and Zumtobel, with multiple industry-first products to his credit. The business model relies on direct client engagement with no disclosed pricing, retainer, or subscription arrangements.

Name

Invent Design Build

Legal name

INVENT DESIGN BUILD LTD

Website

https://inventdesignbuild.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Invent Design Build is a Glasgow-based product development consultancy providing end-to-end Invent-Design-Build services in electronics, embedded software, and mechanical design for entrepreneurs, startups, and SMEs developing sensor-based IoT products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Product Development Consulting

NAICS

Industrial Design Services (541420), Engineering Services (54133)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial/Product & Furniture Design (BPAHAKAM)

Keywords

• Product development consultancy
• Electronic product design
• IoT product development
• Prototype engineering services
• Embedded systems design

Headquarters

HQ city

Glasgow

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Professional Services - New Product Development: B2B consultancy providing end-to-end new product development services including invention support, design, prototyping, verification, manufacturing transfer, and product approvals. Revenue generated through project-based engagements with entrepreneurs, SMEs, and manufacturers developing electronic/IoT products.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Invent Design Build is a product development consultancy that helps entrepreneurs, SMEs, and manufacturers develop new electronic and IoT products from initial concept through to manufacturing transfer. Engagements are delivered through a structured three-stage model — Invent (idea generation and planning), Design (prototyping and verification), and Build (manufacturing transfer) — supported by specialist capabilities in electronics design, embedded software, industrial/mechanical design, approvals, and intellectual property management.

Product overview

Invent Design Build is a new product development consultancy offering a three-stage service: Invent (idea generation and planning), Design (prototyping and verification), and Build (manufacturing transfer). Their service portfolio includes Rapid Learning Cycles Consultancy, Intellectual Property Management, Electronics Design Services with IoT and sensor expertise using Altium, Embedded Software Services (C/C++ and Python), Industrial/Mechanical Design Services, and Approvals Support Services covering Safety, EMC, Radio, Environmental, and CyberSecurity compliance. The company specializes in developing reliable electronics products and software solutions, particularly in sensors and secure connected products for entrepreneurs, SMEs, and manufacturers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Invent

Quantifiable outcome

• Rapid diagnostic test system went from concept to CE-ready in 18 months (eclateral case)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Humble Film ProductionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional videography partnership providing visual material to help promote, inform and launch client products. Supports marketing and product launch activities for Invent Design Build clients.
• Biaccon LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovate UK COVID-19 competition winner. Biaccon is project lead for collaborative disinfection product development. Invent Design Build provides technical project management and embedded systems design support for the funded project.
• OctocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUser needs analysis and product design partner in the Innovate UK COVID-19 collaborative project. Industrial design and engineering team providing strategic design thinking and design-for-manufacture capabilities.
• University of Liverpool - Surface Science Research Centre (SSRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner providing surface-sensitive analytical and imaging experiments to track materials changes from UVC exposure and evaluate microbial viability for COVID-19 disinfection product.
• MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research (CVR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational centre of excellence in virology research providing experimental design, trials management and data analysis for COVID-19 disinfection product validation.
• European Circuits (ECL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISO9001 certified UK contract electronics manufacturer collaborating on design for manufacture, design for test, and box-build of prototypes for rapid progression to volume manufacturing.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Mott MacDonald: Large UK-headquartered engineering, management, and development consultancy. Overlaps in engineering services delivery but focused on infrastructure rather than consumer/industrial electronic product development.
• PA Consulting: Global innovation and engineering consultancy with broad technology, product, and digital capabilities. Overlaps with Invent Design Build in new product development but operates across a much wider portfolio of services and at greater scale.

Direct peers

• Plextek: UK-based electronic product design and consultancy specialising in sensor systems, RF/wireless, and embedded IoT design for defence, medical, and commercial clients. Comparable in deep sensor, radio, and embedded systems expertise.
• Cambridge Consultants: UK-headquartered product development and technology consultancy offering invention, design, and engineering services to startups and global corporations. Directly comparable to Invent Design Build in IoT/sensor product development, with a much larger multidisciplinary bench.
• Sagentia Innovation: UK-based technology and product development consultancy with strong medical, industrial and consumer electronics focus. Comparable in offering concept-to-manufacturing product development services to startups and large enterprises.
• IDC (Industrial Design Consultancy): UK product and industrial design consultancy delivering concept-to-manufacture design services across medical, consumer, and industrial sectors. Comparable in product-focused design and engineering integration.
• TTP (The Technology Partnership): UK product development and engineering consultancy creating new technology platforms and products across medical, industrial, and consumer markets. Closely comparable end-to-end product development model with deep electronics and sensor expertise.
• Wideblue: Glasgow-based product design and development consultancy covering industrial design, electronics, and optical engineering for medical, consumer, and industrial clients. Closely comparable Scottish peer with similar full-stack product development service.
• Tharsus: UK product design and engineering firm specialising in robotics, IoT, and autonomous systems, taking products from concept through to high-volume manufacture. Directly comparable in B2B product development with manufacturing-transfer capability.

Others

• Buro Happold: International engineering consultancy with strong presence in the UK. Tangentially comparable as a UK engineering services firm, but focused on buildings and infrastructure rather than electronic/IoT product development.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Invent Design Build