What kinds of organisations does Fettle work with?

We work with organisations of all sizes — from founders and early-stage startups through to established brands and large corporations. Fettle co-founder Chris Irlam has run his own hardware startup, while Dan has led some of the largest product development programmes at Dyson and Elvie. That range of experience means we’re equally comfortable with a first prototype or global product development.

What makes Fettle different from larger consultancies?

You work directly with Dan and Chris throughout — not account managers who hand work to junior teams. We bring the depth of experience of a large consultancy with the focus and agility of a small, dedicated team.

Do you have experience with medical devices?

Yes, between us we have over ten years of hands-on medical device experience. Dan spent six years at Elvie as Design Manager, leading the Elvie Stride breast pump from concept to global launch, and has medical device experience from Dyson. Chris spent over four years as Principal Engineer at Elvie, delivering regulated consumer medical products from concept through to production. We understand both the engineering rigour and the design leadership that regulated product development requires.

What services does Fettle offer?

End-to-end product design and engineering, embedded team support, proof-of-concept development, and process optimisation. We specialise in electro-mechanical products, connected devices, medical devices, and design for manufacture.

Can you work alongside our existing in-house team?

Yes, this is one of the most common ways we engage. We can lead specific workstreams, provide senior technical review, or fill a capability gap while your team leads the project. We adapt to what works for you rather than requiring a fixed engagement model.

Do you sign NDAs?

Yes, we sign NDAs as standard before any detailed project discussions. We understand that your product concepts and technical details are confidential and treat them accordingly. If you’d like to discuss a project under NDA, just let us know when you get in touch.

Who owns the intellectual property?

All IP created during a project belongs to you, the client. This is standard in our project agreements. We retain no rights to designs, inventions, or technical work developed for your project.

How long does a typical project take?

It varies significantly depending on the product type, starting point, and regulatory requirements. A proof-of-concept can be completed in weeks, while a full consumer product development programme or a regulated medical device — which requires design controls, V&V, and regulatory submission — can take two years or more. We’ll give you a clear timeline estimate as part of any scoping conversation.