Markovate vs ELEKS: full comparison for 2026
Last updated: July 2026
Quick verdict
Markovate (4.1/5) edges ahead of ELEKS (3.7/5) overall. Markovate is the better choice for companies wanting AI agent or chatbot development led by an executive with enterprise AI leadership background (AT&T, IBM).. 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.
Markovate vs ELEKS: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Markovate | ELEKS |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2015 | 1991 |
| HQ | San Francisco, California, United States | Tallinn, Estonia |
| Team size | 50–100 | 2,100+ |
| Rating | 4.1 / 5 | 3.7 / 5 |
| Best for | Companies wanting AI agent or chatbot development led by an executive with enterprise AI leadership background (AT&T, IBM). | Enterprises wanting AI/ML delivery from one of the oldest continuously operating engineering firms in Central/Eastern Europe. |
| Pricing model | Project-based, dedicated team | Time & materials, managed engagement |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | LangChain, OpenAI API, Python | Python, AWS, Azure |
| Industries served | Healthcare, Retail & E-commerce, FinTech, Travel & Hospitality | Manufacturing, Healthcare, FinTech, Retail & E-commerce |
Markovate vs ELEKS: overview
Markovate
Markovate was founded in 2015 and is led by CEO Rajeev Sharma, an AI veteran with 18+ years of experience who previously led AI initiatives at AT&T and IBM. Headquartered with a San Francisco address (some sources cite Toronto as an operating base), the company has grown to roughly 51 employees, including 50+ engineers described as 'certified AI engineers' (per company website), delivering custom AI agents, chatbot development, and cloud services for healthcare, retail, fintech, SaaS, and travel clients. Its small team size makes it a boutique play best suited to scoped generative AI or agent projects rather than large-scale programs.
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: Markovate vs ELEKS
| Capability | Markovate | ELEKS |
|---|---|---|
| Custom ML Models | ✓ | ✓ |
| Computer Vision | ✗ | ✗ |
| NLP | ✗ | ✗ |
| MLOps | ✗ | ✗ |
| Generative AI | ✓ | ✗ |
| AI Consulting | ✗ | ✓ |
Tech stack comparison: Markovate vs ELEKS
| Framework / platform | Markovate | ELEKS |
|---|---|---|
| TensorFlow | N/A | ✓ |
| PyTorch | N/A | N/A |
| AWS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Azure | N/A | ✓ |
| Google Cloud | ✓ | N/A |
| LangChain | ✓ | N/A |
| Hugging Face | N/A | N/A |
| Kubernetes | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Markovate vs ELEKS
| Criterion | Markovate | ELEKS |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Project-based, Dedicated team | Managed engagement, Time & materials, Staff augmentation |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Markovate vs ELEKS
| Dimension | Markovate | ELEKS |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Healthcare, Retail & E-commerce, FinTech | Manufacturing, Healthcare, FinTech |
| Best use cases | Company wants an AI agent or chatbot built by a team led by a former enterprise AI executive., Healthcare or fintech startup needs a scoped generative AI project from a small, focused vendor. | 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 |
Markovate vs ELEKS: pros and cons
| Markovate | |
|---|---|
| + | CEO's 18+ years leading AI initiatives at AT&T and IBM brings genuine enterprise AI leadership experience to client engagements. |
| + | Focused service scope (AI agents, chatbots, generative AI) rather than a broad, diluted general-consulting offering. |
| + | Serves a wide industry spread (healthcare to travel) despite small team size, suggesting adaptable delivery patterns. |
| - | At roughly 51 employees, capacity for multiple concurrent large engagements is limited. |
| - | HQ location is inconsistently reported (San Francisco vs. Toronto across sources) — confirm the contracting entity directly. |
| - | "50+ certified AI engineers" claim on a 51-person total headcount is a company claim worth verifying during vendor due diligence. |
| 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 Markovate?
Markovate is the right choice for companies wanting AI agent or chatbot development led by an executive with enterprise AI leadership background (AT&T, IBM)..
CEO brings direct enterprise AI leadership experience (AT&T, IBM) rather than a purely technical or agency background.. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Healthcare, Retail & E-commerce, FinTech, Travel & Hospitality.
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: Markovate 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 | Markovate |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Markovate (Not published) vs ELEKS (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Markovate |
| You need production MLOps support after model launch | Both offer MLOps support |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | ELEKS |
Use case fit: Markovate vs ELEKS
| Use case | Markovate fit | ELEKS fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Company wants an AI agent or chatbot built by a team led by a former enterprise AI executive. | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Healthcare or fintech startup needs a scoped generative AI project from a small, focused vendor. | Strong | Limited | Markovate |
| 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: Markovate vs ELEKS
Markovate (4.1/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Machine Learning Development projects. CEO brings direct enterprise AI leadership experience (AT&T, IBM) rather than a purely technical or agency background.. It is best for companies wanting AI agent or chatbot development led by an executive with enterprise AI leadership background (AT&T, IBM)..
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
Markovate vs ELEKS FAQ
Is Markovate better than ELEKS?
Markovate (4.1/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Markovate is better for companies wanting AI agent or chatbot development led by an executive with enterprise AI leadership background (AT&T, IBM).. ELEKS is better for enterprises wanting AI/ML delivery from one of the oldest continuously operating engineering firms in Central/Eastern Europe..
How do Markovate and ELEKS differ in pricing?
Markovate uses project-based, dedicated team 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: Markovate or ELEKS?
Markovate 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 Markovate and ELEKS?
Markovate's primary differentiator is: ceo brings direct enterprise ai leadership experience (at&t, ibm) rather than a purely technical or agency background.. 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 (50–100 vs 2,100+), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Healthcare, Retail & E-commerce vs Manufacturing, Healthcare).
Last reviewed: July 2026. Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.