Addepto vs LeewayHertz: full comparison for 2026
Last updated: July 2026
Quick verdict
Addepto (4.3/5) edges ahead of LeewayHertz (4.2/5) overall. Addepto is the better choice for companies seeking a Forbes/Deloitte-recognized AI consultancy, provided they factor in post-acquisition integration risk.. LeewayHertz is the stronger option for enterprises that want AI consulting backed by a publicly traded management-consulting parent (The Hackett Group).. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Addepto vs LeewayHertz: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Addepto | LeewayHertz |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2018 | 2007 |
| HQ | Warsaw, Poland | San Francisco, California, United States |
| Team size | 50–100 | 200–300 |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Best for | Companies seeking a Forbes/Deloitte-recognized AI consultancy, provided they factor in post-acquisition integration risk. | Enterprises that want AI consulting backed by a publicly traded management-consulting parent (The Hackett Group). |
| Pricing model | Project-based, consulting retainer | Project-based, retainer |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Python, TensorFlow, AWS | Python, LangChain, Hugging Face |
| Industries served | FinTech, Manufacturing, Retail & E-commerce | FinTech, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Retail & E-commerce |
Addepto vs LeewayHertz: overview
Addepto
Addepto was founded in Warsaw in 2018 by Data Science enthusiasts Edwin Lisowski and Artur Haponik, delivering AI consulting and data-driven solutions recognized by Forbes, Deloitte, and the Financial Times. In December 2025, Addepto was acquired by KMS Technology, and prospective clients should confirm how delivery teams, pricing, and leadership continuity have changed post-acquisition. Reported employee counts vary from roughly 11–50 to 72, reflecting the transition period around the acquisition.
LeewayHertz
LeewayHertz was founded in 2007 by Akash Takyar and Viresh Bhathia and is headquartered in San Francisco, combining strategic AI advisory with engineering delivery and proprietary AI platforms. On September 23, 2024, LeewayHertz was acquired by The Hackett Group, a publicly traded management consulting firm, giving it access to Hackett's enterprise client relationships. Reported employee counts range from roughly 194 to 300, and as with any recently acquired firm, prospective clients should verify current team continuity.
Services and capabilities: Addepto vs LeewayHertz
| Capability | Addepto | LeewayHertz |
|---|---|---|
| Custom ML Models | ✓ | ✓ |
| Computer Vision | ✗ | ✗ |
| NLP | ✗ | ✗ |
| MLOps | ✗ | ✗ |
| Generative AI | ✓ | ✓ |
| AI Consulting | ✓ | ✓ |
Tech stack comparison: Addepto vs LeewayHertz
| Framework / platform | Addepto | LeewayHertz |
|---|---|---|
| TensorFlow | ✓ | N/A |
| PyTorch | N/A | N/A |
| AWS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Azure | ✓ | ✓ |
| Google Cloud | N/A | N/A |
| LangChain | N/A | ✓ |
| Hugging Face | N/A | ✓ |
| Kubernetes | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Addepto vs LeewayHertz
| Criterion | Addepto | LeewayHertz |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Project-based, Consulting retainer | Project-based, Retainer, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Addepto vs LeewayHertz
| Dimension | Addepto | LeewayHertz |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | FinTech, Manufacturing, Retail & E-commerce | FinTech, Healthcare, Manufacturing |
| Best use cases | Company wants an AI consultancy with independent press recognition for vendor due diligence., Client is comfortable evaluating a firm mid-acquisition and confirming continuity directly before signing. | Enterprise wants AI consulting from a firm now backed by a publicly traded management consultancy., Company needs generative AI or AI agent development with proprietary platform accelerators. |
| Typical project type | Project-based | Project-based |
Addepto vs LeewayHertz: pros and cons
| Addepto | |
|---|---|
| + | Press recognition from Forbes, Deloitte, and the Financial Times provides independent third-party validation beyond client testimonials. |
| + | Founder-led AI consulting model since 2018, prior to being acquired. |
| + | Now backed by KMS Technology's broader resources post-acquisition, which may add delivery capacity. |
| - | Acquired by KMS Technology in December 2025 — leadership continuity, pricing, and delivery-team stability during integration are unconfirmed. |
| - | Reported headcount varies significantly across sources (11–50 vs. 72), making current team size hard to pin down. |
| - | Recent acquisition means the company's standalone track record may not reflect how engagements are run going forward. |
| LeewayHertz | |
|---|---|
| + | 17 years of AI/software delivery history since 2007, well-established before its 2024 acquisition. |
| + | Now backed by The Hackett Group, a publicly traded management consulting firm, adding financial stability and enterprise client access. |
| + | Proprietary AI platform assets built pre-acquisition can shorten delivery timelines for common use cases. |
| - | September 2024 acquisition by The Hackett Group is recent enough that integration effects on pricing and delivery team stability are still unfolding. |
| - | Employee-count sources disagree meaningfully (194 vs. 300), so confirm current AI-delivery headcount directly. |
Who should choose Addepto?
Addepto is the right choice for companies seeking a Forbes/Deloitte-recognized AI consultancy, provided they factor in post-acquisition integration risk..
AI consulting boutique with third-party press recognition (Forbes, Deloitte, Financial Times), now part of KMS Technology.. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in FinTech, Manufacturing, Retail & E-commerce.
Who should choose LeewayHertz?
LeewayHertz is the right choice for enterprises that want AI consulting backed by a publicly traded management-consulting parent (The Hackett Group)..
AI consultancy now operating as a Hackett Group company, combining startup-era agility with public-company backing.. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in FinTech, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Retail & E-commerce.
Decision matrix: Addepto vs LeewayHertz
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Both offer fixed-price models |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | LeewayHertz |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Addepto (Not published) vs LeewayHertz (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | LeewayHertz |
| You need production MLOps support after model launch | Both offer MLOps support |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | Addepto |
Use case fit: Addepto vs LeewayHertz
| Use case | Addepto fit | LeewayHertz fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Company wants an AI consultancy with independent press recognition for vendor due diligence. | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Client is comfortable evaluating a firm mid-acquisition and confirming continuity directly before signing. | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Enterprise wants AI consulting from a firm now backed by a publicly traded management consultancy. | Limited | Strong | LeewayHertz |
| Company needs generative AI or AI agent development with proprietary platform accelerators. | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Fixed-scope ML build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Ongoing model retraining | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Addepto vs LeewayHertz
Addepto (4.3/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Machine Learning Development projects. AI consulting boutique with third-party press recognition (Forbes, Deloitte, Financial Times), now part of KMS Technology.. It is best for companies seeking a Forbes/Deloitte-recognized AI consultancy, provided they factor in post-acquisition integration risk..
LeewayHertz (4.2/5) is the better choice when enterprises that want AI consulting backed by a publicly traded management-consulting parent (The Hackett Group).. If your situation matches those criteria, LeewayHertz is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Addepto vs LeewayHertz FAQ
Is Addepto better than LeewayHertz?
Addepto (4.3/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Addepto is better for companies seeking a Forbes/Deloitte-recognized AI consultancy, provided they factor in post-acquisition integration risk.. LeewayHertz is better for enterprises that want AI consulting backed by a publicly traded management-consulting parent (The Hackett Group)..
How do Addepto and LeewayHertz differ in pricing?
Addepto uses project-based, consulting retainer pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. LeewayHertz uses project-based, retainer pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Addepto or LeewayHertz?
LeewayHertz is the larger team and typically the better enterprise-scale choice. For very large programmes, verify team size and compliance coverage directly with each company before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between Addepto and LeewayHertz?
Addepto's primary differentiator is: ai consulting boutique with third-party press recognition (forbes, deloitte, financial times), now part of kms technology.. LeewayHertz's primary differentiator is: ai consultancy now operating as a hackett group company, combining startup-era agility with public-company backing.. They also differ in team size (50–100 vs 200–300), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (FinTech, Manufacturing vs FinTech, Healthcare).
Last reviewed: July 2026. Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.