Gemmo vs DEPT: full comparison for 2026
Last updated: July 2026
Quick verdict
Gemmo (4.0/5) edges ahead of DEPT (4.0/5) overall. Gemmo is the better choice for companies wanting a structured, staged AI engagement, from opportunity discovery through implementation and optimization. DEPT is the stronger option for large enterprise brands needing ML-driven marketing personalization at global scale. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Gemmo vs DEPT: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Gemmo | DEPT |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2014 | 2015 |
| HQ | Dublin, Ireland (AI Lab in Milan, Italy) | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Team size | 11–50 | 1000+ |
| Rating | 4.0 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Best for | Companies wanting a structured, staged AI engagement, from opportunity discovery through implementation and optimization | Large enterprise brands needing ML-driven marketing personalization at global scale |
| Pricing model | Fixed-price discovery engagement, dedicated team | Retainer, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | $15K | $75K |
| Primary tech stack | Python, Scikit-learn, AWS | Python, GCP, AWS |
| Industries served | Sustainability, Manufacturing, Enterprise, Public Sector | Retail, Media, Enterprise, E-commerce |
Gemmo vs DEPT: overview
Gemmo
Gemmo AI, founded in 2014 by Dr Luca Marchesotti and headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is a boutique AI firm with an additional AI Lab in Milan, Italy. Gemmo blends strategic AI consulting with hands-on technical implementation through a structured engagement model: AI Pathfinder for opportunity discovery, followed by AI Implementation and AI Optimization phases. The firm won Best Application of AI in Sustainability at the 2023 AI Awards for a noise-source-identification API, per company website; independently unverifiable.
DEPT
DEPT, founded in Amsterdam in 2015, has grown into a global digital agency with over 4,000 digital specialists across more than 30 offices on five continents, backed by the Carlyle Group. DEPT's AI-enabled marketing technology platform, Ada, and its Engineering practice deliver machine learning-driven personalization, growth, and data engineering work for major brands including Google, TikTok, and eBay. As a large, private-equity-backed marketing and engineering agency, ML and AI here sits within a much broader full-service offering rather than being the firm's sole focus.
Services and capabilities: Gemmo vs DEPT
| Capability | Gemmo | DEPT |
|---|---|---|
| ML model development | ✓ | ✓ |
| Computer vision | ✗ | ✗ |
| NLP | ✗ | ✗ |
| Generative AI / LLM integration | ✗ | ✓ |
| MLOps | ✗ | ✗ |
| AI strategy consulting | ✓ | ✓ |
| Staff augmentation | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Gemmo vs DEPT
| Framework / platform | Gemmo | DEPT |
|---|---|---|
| Python | ✓ | ✓ |
| TensorFlow | N/A | ✓ |
| PyTorch | N/A | N/A |
| AWS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Azure | ✓ | N/A |
| Kubernetes | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Gemmo vs DEPT
| Criterion | Gemmo | DEPT |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | $15K | $75K |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Dedicated team | Retainer, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Accessible | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: Gemmo vs DEPT
| Dimension | Gemmo | DEPT |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Sustainability, Manufacturing, Enterprise | Retail, Media, Enterprise |
| Best use cases | Structured AI opportunity discovery for a company new to AI adoption, Sustainability-focused AI applications such as noise or environmental monitoring | ML-driven marketing personalization at global brand scale, Enterprise data engineering supporting a large media or retail platform |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Retainer |
Gemmo vs DEPT: pros and cons
| Gemmo | |
|---|---|
| + | Structured, staged engagement model reduces risk of open-ended AI consulting scope creep |
| + | Dual Dublin and Milan presence gives coverage across two distinct European markets |
| + | Award recognition for a real-world sustainability application at the 2023 AI Awards, per company website |
| + | Founder-led boutique structure keeps senior AI expertise close to client engagements |
| - | Small team size of 11 to 50 limits capacity for large, multi-workstream enterprise programmes |
| - | Founded in 2014 with a public track record still smaller than more established European AI consultancies |
| - | Award and case-study claims are self-reported and not independently verifiable |
| DEPT | |
|---|---|
| + | Global scale of over 4,000 specialists across 30-plus offices, unmatched by any other firm on this list |
| + | Proprietary AI-enabled marketing technology platform, Ada, with proven enterprise brand clients |
| + | Carlyle Group backing provides financial stability for very large, long-term programmes |
| + | Named clients include Google, TikTok, KFC, and eBay, indicating enterprise-grade delivery capacity |
| - | ML and AI sits within a much broader marketing and full-service digital agency offering, not a dedicated ML practice |
| - | High minimum engagement size, inaccessible for startups or small businesses |
| - | Enterprise agency structure means less specialized, boutique-style ML research depth |
Who should choose Gemmo?
Gemmo is the right choice for companies wanting a structured, staged AI engagement, from opportunity discovery through implementation and optimization.
Structured three-phase engagement model of Pathfinder, Implementation, and Optimization, rather than an open-ended consulting retainer. Minimum engagement starts at $15K. Works best with clients in Sustainability, Manufacturing, Enterprise, Public Sector.
Who should choose DEPT?
DEPT is the right choice for large enterprise brands needing ML-driven marketing personalization at global scale.
Proprietary AI marketing platform, Ada, and global scale of over 4,000 specialists across 30-plus offices, unmatched by any other firm on this list. Minimum engagement starts at $75K. Works best with clients in Retail, Media, Enterprise, E-commerce.
Decision matrix: Gemmo vs DEPT
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Gemmo |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Gemmo |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Gemmo |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Gemmo |
| You need staff augmentation or team extension | Neither; consider alternatives that offer staff aug |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | Gemmo |
Use case fit: Gemmo vs DEPT
| Use case | Gemmo fit | DEPT fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Structured AI opportunity discovery for a company new to AI adoption | Strong | Limited | Gemmo |
| Sustainability-focused AI applications such as noise or environmental monitoring | Strong | Limited | Gemmo |
| ML-driven marketing personalization at global brand scale | Limited | Strong | DEPT |
| Enterprise data engineering supporting a large media or retail platform | Limited | Strong | DEPT |
| Fixed-price build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Staff augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Gemmo vs DEPT
Gemmo (4.0/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Machine Learning Development projects. Structured three-phase engagement model of Pathfinder, Implementation, and Optimization, rather than an open-ended consulting retainer. It is best for companies wanting a structured, staged AI engagement, from opportunity discovery through implementation and optimization.
DEPT (4.0/5) is the better choice when large enterprise brands needing ML-driven marketing personalization at global scale. If your situation matches those criteria, DEPT is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Gemmo vs DEPT FAQ
Is Gemmo better than DEPT?
Gemmo (4.0/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Gemmo is better for companies wanting a structured, staged AI engagement, from opportunity discovery through implementation and optimization. DEPT is better for large enterprise brands needing ML-driven marketing personalization at global scale.
How do Gemmo and DEPT differ in pricing?
Gemmo uses fixed-price discovery engagement, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of $15K. DEPT uses retainer, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of $75K. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Gemmo or DEPT?
Gemmo 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 Gemmo and DEPT?
Gemmo's primary differentiator is: structured three-phase engagement model of pathfinder, implementation, and optimization, rather than an open-ended consulting retainer. DEPT's primary differentiator is: proprietary ai marketing platform, ada, and global scale of over 4,000 specialists across 30-plus offices, unmatched by any other firm on this list. They also differ in team size (11–50 vs 1000+), minimum engagement ($15K vs $75K), and primary industries served (Sustainability, Manufacturing vs Retail, Media).
Last reviewed: July 2026. Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.