Building an in‑house AI team in the United States requires a hefty budget. Research into global software developer rates shows that North American developers cost about US$ 38–70 per hour, whereas equally skilled developers in Asia (India, China, the Philippines) earn roughly US$ 18–40 per hour. Another article notes that professional AI developers in North America typically charge US$ 60–150 per hour, while developers in India or Southeast Asia charge just US$ 20–50 per hour. This cost gap makes outsourcing to Asia or Latin America attractive for startups because it reduces expenses without sacrificing quality.
Outsourcing also gives startups access to experts experienced in building minimum viable products (MVPs) without hiring a large team. Below are some AI development companies worth considering for founders in the U.S.
<h2>1. Emveep – AI Partner with Asian Roots</h2>
Emveep is an <a href="https://aistartupdevelopment.emveep.com/">AI development company</a> based in Asia. Its website states that Emveep has more than 15 years of experience, has completed over 100 projects, is trusted by more than 100 startups and is supported by more than 50 developers. The company highlights its “AI‑driven workflows” and Asian talent to accelerate development, making it ideal for startups needing a fast MVP on a tight budget.
Key strengths: long‑standing experience building AI/ML‑enhanced applications for fintech, healthtech and SaaS; cost‑effective Asian team; clear remote communication. Founders get Silicon Valley quality without Silicon Valley pricing.
<h2>2. LeewayHertz – AI Pioneer from San Francisco</h2>
LeewayHertz, founded in 2007 and headquartered in San Francisco, is one of the first companies to build commercial apps for the iPhone. It has delivered more than 100 digital platforms for startups and large enterprises. Its AI portfolio spans machine learning, computer vision and large‑language‑model development. LeewayHertz even built a robotic tea‑maker that uses face recognition and AI to personalize recipes.
Key strengths: seasoned AI team focused on cloud‑native, scalable architecture; experience delivering domain‑specific solutions (manufacturing, healthcare, retail); service rates around US$ 50–100 per hour.
<h2>3. Markovate – Generative AI Specialists</h2>
Markovate was founded in 2015 and has offices in San Francisco, Toronto, Chicago and Gurugram. A 2025 press release reports that it employs more than 50 AI experts and has completed over 300 projects. Another technical blog notes that its team size ranges from 50–249 employees with an average rate of US$ 50–99 per hour. Markovate focuses on generative AI solutions, including ChatGPT integration, custom chatbots and Stable Diffusion implementations.
Key strengths: agile team experienced in generative AI; custom development and consulting services; ideal for startups seeking to adopt generative AI quickly while adhering to ethical and compliance standards.
<h2>4. Uptech – Product‑Focused AI &amp; ML Development</h2>
Uptech is an international software development company founded in 2016, with a team of about 90 people and more than 150 completed projects. It maintains a presence in Los Angeles alongside development centres in Eastern Europe. A post on Uptech’s blog highlights that AI development rates in developed countries such as the US or Western Europe average US$ 50–99 per hour, but outsourcing to Ukraine or Eastern Europe can reduce costs to US$ 25–49 per hour, effectively halving prototype costs.
Key strengths: expertise integrating AI/ML into mobile and web apps; a strong focus on user experience and product validation; suitable for founders needing a rapid AI MVP at competitive prices.
<h2>5. Rootstrap – Nearshore Consultancy with Rapid Delivery</h2>
Rootstrap is based in Los Angeles and has engineering hubs in Latin America. A 2025 article reports that it has helped launch more than 750 digital products and offers generative AI, custom LLMs, machine learning and computer‑vision services with rates around US$ 50–99 per hour. The company is known for building AI prototypes in 3–5 weeks and launching a version 1 in 10–14 weeks.
Key strengths: speedy, flexible development; nearshore model enabling real‑time communication; mix of senior engineers, data scientists and product strategists.
<h2>6. 10Pearls – Global Company with a “Double Bottom Line” Approach</h2>
10Pearls was founded in 2004 by brothers Imran and Zeeshan Aftab. It has grown into a global business with offices in the United States, Costa Rica, Colombia, the United Kingdom, Pakistan and Peru. 10Pearls offers AI and machine learning services, including generative AI, predictive models and AI integration. With teams across multiple time zones, it can provide 24/7 progress on projects and competitive pricing.
Key strengths: two decades of software‑development experience; portfolio of complex AI projects (e.g., 3D medical imaging analysis for cancer prediction); strong corporate culture focused on social impact.
<h2>7. Azumo – AI Agent Experts with a Nearshore Model</h2>
Azumo was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in San Francisco, employing 250–999 people. A company profile notes that Azumo also has offices in Argentina and offers rates of US$ 25–49 per hour. The firm specializes in AI‑agent development, computer vision, generative AI and fine‑tuning large language models. A case study shows that Azumo created an Alexa Skill for Discovery Channel using natural‑language processing.
Key strengths: end‑to‑end AI‑agent development; nearshore teams aligned with U.S. time zones; ideal for startups seeking sophisticated AI applications at reasonable cost.
<h2>8. MobiDev – AI Provider from Atlanta</h2>
According to IoT For All, MobiDev was founded in 2009 and has helped more than 400 businesses in the U.S., Canada and Europe build, modernize and scale their products. The company has offices in Atlanta (GA), Sacramento (CA) and Sheffield (England) and employs 201–500 people. MobiDev emphasises that 89 % of its engineers are mid‑level or senior and that it has provided high‑quality solutions since 2009.
Key strengths: broad experience in software and AI development; ability to integrate machine learning, computer vision and IoT; supports multiple industries through consulting and engineering services.
<h2>9. ThirdEye Data – AI and Big Data Specialists from San Jose</h2>
SoftwareWorld reports that ThirdEye Data is headquartered in San Jose, California, with 50–249 employees and was founded in 2010. The company provides AI, big‑data and cloud services at rates of US$ 25–49 per hour and has a minimum project cost of US$ 10,000. ThirdEye Data has over 14 years of experience and works with more than 80 enterprise clients. Other articles highlight its ability to integrate massive datasets across legacy and modern systems, enabling real‑time insights via AI‑powered analytics.
Key strengths: end‑to‑end services from AI strategy to implementation; multi‑industry portfolio (cybersecurity, education, logistics); ability to combine big data and AI for enterprise‑scale solutions at affordable prices.
<h2>10. ITRex Group – Enterprise‑Grade AI &amp; GenAI Provider</h2>
The ITRex “About” page notes that the company was founded in 2009, has delivered more than 600 solutions and serves over 200 clients. It employs more than 250 professionals—most with BS, MS or PhD degrees—and operates offices in Los Angeles, Warsaw and Kyiv. ITRex provides AI/ML, generative AI, data engineering and AI integration, focusing on enterprise solutions.
Key strengths: ability to embed AI throughout the development lifecycle; large, multinational team; delivers large‑scale AI solutions with high engineering standards.
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<a href="https://aiengineer.emveep.com/">Outsourcing AI development</a> offers U.S. startups access to world‑class talent at much lower costs. Developer rates in Asia and Latin America of US$ 20–50 per hour allow startups to build AI‑powered MVPs without burning through their runway. The companies highlighted above combine experience, technical expertise and flexible pricing models—whether through nearshore, hybrid or offshore teams. By selecting the right partner, founders can turn their AI ideas into market‑ready solutions quickly and cost‑effectively.

Why Outsourcing AI Development Appeals to Startups

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