LeewayHertz vs ELEKS: full comparison for 2026
Last updated: July 2026
Quick verdict
LeewayHertz (4.2/5) edges ahead of ELEKS (3.7/5) overall. LeewayHertz is the better choice for enterprises that want AI consulting backed by a publicly traded management-consulting parent (The Hackett Group).. ELEKS is the stronger option for enterprises wanting AI/ML delivery from one of the oldest continuously operating engineering firms in Central/Eastern Europe.. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
LeewayHertz vs ELEKS: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | LeewayHertz | ELEKS |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2007 | 1991 |
| HQ | San Francisco, California, United States | Tallinn, Estonia |
| Team size | 200–300 | 2,100+ |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 3.7 / 5 |
| Best for | Enterprises that want AI consulting backed by a publicly traded management-consulting parent (The Hackett Group). | Enterprises wanting AI/ML delivery from one of the oldest continuously operating engineering firms in Central/Eastern Europe. |
| Pricing model | Project-based, retainer | Time & materials, managed engagement |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Python, LangChain, Hugging Face | Python, AWS, Azure |
| Industries served | FinTech, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Retail & E-commerce | Manufacturing, Healthcare, FinTech, Retail & E-commerce |
LeewayHertz vs ELEKS: overview
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.
ELEKS
ELEKS was established in 1991 and is headquartered in Tallinn, Estonia, with roughly 2,100+ employees operating from offices across the US, Canada, Germany, Ukraine, Poland, Switzerland, Japan, Croatia, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and the UK. The firm leverages AI/ML, Big Data, IoT, cloud, cybersecurity, and UX expertise, reporting more than 1,000 successfully delivered data-driven projects over its 30+ year history, and has received a 2024 Spring Clutch Global Award plus recognition on the Global Outsourcing 100 list. As one of the oldest firms in this list, ELEKS' AI/ML practice is one of several mature service lines rather than a standalone specialty.
Services and capabilities: LeewayHertz vs ELEKS
| Capability | LeewayHertz | ELEKS |
|---|---|---|
| Custom ML Models | ✓ | ✓ |
| Computer Vision | ✗ | ✗ |
| NLP | ✗ | ✗ |
| MLOps | ✗ | ✗ |
| Generative AI | ✓ | ✗ |
| AI Consulting | ✓ | ✓ |
Tech stack comparison: LeewayHertz vs ELEKS
| Framework / platform | LeewayHertz | ELEKS |
|---|---|---|
| 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: LeewayHertz vs ELEKS
| Criterion | LeewayHertz | ELEKS |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Project-based, Retainer, Dedicated team | Managed engagement, Time & materials, Staff augmentation |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: LeewayHertz vs ELEKS
| Dimension | LeewayHertz | ELEKS |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | FinTech, Healthcare, Manufacturing | Manufacturing, Healthcare, FinTech |
| Best use cases | 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. | Enterprise wants AI/ML delivery from one of the longest continuously operating engineering firms in the region., Manufacturing or fintech company needs a data-driven project delivered by a firm with 1,000+ prior deliveries. |
| Typical project type | Project-based | Managed engagement |
LeewayHertz vs ELEKS: pros and cons
| 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. |
| ELEKS | |
|---|---|
| + | 33+ years of continuous operation (since 1991) is among the longest track records of any firm in this list. |
| + | 1,000+ successfully delivered data-driven projects gives it an extensive AI/ML/data delivery pattern library. |
| + | 2024 Spring Clutch Global Award and Global Outsourcing 100 listing are independently sourced recognitions. |
| + | 2,100+ employees across 11 countries provide broad geographic delivery coverage. |
| - | AI/ML is one of several mature service lines (alongside Big Data, IoT, cybersecurity, UX) rather than the firm's primary identity. |
| - | Legal HQ in Tallinn, Estonia while origin and significant delivery capacity remains tied to Lviv, Ukraine — confirm contracting entity. |
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.
Who should choose ELEKS?
ELEKS is the right choice for enterprises wanting AI/ML delivery from one of the oldest continuously operating engineering firms in Central/Eastern Europe..
33+ years of operating history (since 1991) with 1,000+ delivered data-driven projects and Global Outsourcing 100 recognition.. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Manufacturing, Healthcare, FinTech, Retail & E-commerce.
Decision matrix: LeewayHertz vs ELEKS
| 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: LeewayHertz (Not published) vs ELEKS (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 | LeewayHertz |
Use case fit: LeewayHertz vs ELEKS
| Use case | LeewayHertz fit | ELEKS fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprise wants AI consulting from a firm now backed by a publicly traded management consultancy. | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Company needs generative AI or AI agent development with proprietary platform accelerators. | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Enterprise wants AI/ML delivery from one of the longest continuously operating engineering firms in the region. | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Manufacturing or fintech company needs a data-driven project delivered by a firm with 1,000+ prior deliveries. | Limited | Strong | ELEKS |
| Fixed-scope ML build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Ongoing model retraining | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: LeewayHertz vs ELEKS
LeewayHertz (4.2/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Machine Learning Development projects. AI consultancy now operating as a Hackett Group company, combining startup-era agility with public-company backing.. It is best for enterprises that want AI consulting backed by a publicly traded management-consulting parent (The Hackett Group)..
ELEKS (3.7/5) is the better choice when enterprises wanting AI/ML delivery from one of the oldest continuously operating engineering firms in Central/Eastern Europe.. If your situation matches those criteria, ELEKS is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
LeewayHertz vs ELEKS FAQ
Is LeewayHertz better than ELEKS?
LeewayHertz (4.2/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. LeewayHertz is better for enterprises that want AI consulting backed by a publicly traded management-consulting parent (The Hackett Group).. ELEKS is better for enterprises wanting AI/ML delivery from one of the oldest continuously operating engineering firms in Central/Eastern Europe..
How do LeewayHertz and ELEKS differ in pricing?
LeewayHertz uses project-based, retainer pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. ELEKS uses time & materials, managed engagement 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: LeewayHertz or ELEKS?
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 LeewayHertz and ELEKS?
LeewayHertz's primary differentiator is: ai consultancy now operating as a hackett group company, combining startup-era agility with public-company backing.. ELEKS's primary differentiator is: 33+ years of operating history (since 1991) with 1,000+ delivered data-driven projects and global outsourcing 100 recognition.. They also differ in team size (200–300 vs 2,100+), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (FinTech, Healthcare vs Manufacturing, Healthcare).
Last reviewed: July 2026. Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.