Centric Consulting vs Launch Consulting: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Centric Consulting (4.0/5) edges ahead of Launch Consulting (3.9/5) overall. Centric Consulting is the better choice for US mid-size firms wanting governed, practical AI adoption. Launch Consulting is the stronger option for microsoft-centric companies on the US West Coast. The right choice depends on the size of your program, your budget, and whether you want the same firm to build what it recommends.
Centric Consulting vs Launch Consulting: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Centric Consulting | Launch Consulting |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 | 2005 |
| HQ | Dayton, USA | Bellevue, USA |
| Team size | 1,400 | 500–1,000 |
| Rating | 4.0 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Practical AI adoption with acceptable-use policies and centers of excellence for mid-size firms | AI-first operating-model work with Microsoft-based builds and nearshore delivery |
| Pricing model | Consulting fees per engagement; rates not published | Consulting fees; rates not published |
| Min. engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | Azure, Microsoft Copilot, AWS | Azure, Microsoft Copilot, Power BI |
| Industries served | Insurance, Healthcare, Financial services, Manufacturing, Retail | Healthcare, Retail, Technology, Financial services |
Centric Consulting vs Launch Consulting: overview
Centric Consulting
Centric Consulting was founded in 1999 with a remote workforce and is headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, with about 1,400 employees in the US and India. Its AI practice writes acceptable-use policies for generative AI tools, sets up AI centers of excellence, and builds custom solutions, with ready-made accelerators for insurance and healthcare. Expect practical adoption help for mid-size firms more than grand strategy.
Launch Consulting
Launch Consulting Group was founded in 2005 and is based in Bellevue, Washington, with offices in Buenos Aires and Hyderabad. The Planet Group, owned by Odyssey Investment Partners, bought it in 2022 and later merged its Strive and Future State consultancies under the Launch brand. A managing director of AI, appointed in 2023, leads its "AI first" practice, which covers strategy, data work, and Microsoft-based builds. Its strongest base is Fortune 1000 clients in healthcare, retail, and technology.
Services and capabilities: Centric Consulting vs Launch Consulting
| Capability | Centric Consulting | Launch Consulting |
|---|---|---|
| Readiness assessment | ✓ | ✗ |
| Use-case prioritization | ✗ | ✗ |
| TCO / ROI modeling | ✗ | ✗ |
| AI governance & EU AI Act | ✓ | ✗ |
| Build vs. buy advice | ✗ | ✗ |
| Audit of live AI programs | ✗ | ✗ |
| Change management | ✓ | ✓ |
| Can build what it recommends | ✓ | ✓ |
Frameworks and platforms: Centric Consulting vs Launch Consulting
| Framework / platform | Centric Consulting | Launch Consulting |
|---|---|---|
| EU AI Act | N/A | N/A |
| GDPR | N/A | N/A |
| NIST AI RMF | N/A | N/A |
| AWS | ✓ | N/A |
| Azure | ✓ | ✓ |
| Google Cloud | N/A | N/A |
| Databricks | N/A | ✓ |
| Snowflake | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Centric Consulting vs Launch Consulting
| Criterion | Centric Consulting | Launch Consulting |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Strategy & roadmap engagement, Readiness assessment, Delivery team | Strategy & roadmap engagement, Delivery team |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Centric Consulting vs Launch Consulting
| Dimension | Centric Consulting | Launch Consulting |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Mid-market to enterprise | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Insurance, Healthcare, Financial services | Healthcare, Retail, Technology |
| Best use cases | Writing a generative AI acceptable-use policy and rolling out Copilot safely., Setting up an AI center of excellence in an insurer. | AI-first operating-model plans for Microsoft-centered companies., Copilot and Azure AI rollouts after a strategy phase. |
| Typical project type | Strategy & roadmap engagement | Strategy & roadmap engagement |
Centric Consulting vs Launch Consulting: pros and cons
| Centric Consulting | |
|---|---|
| + | Acceptable-use policies and AI centers of excellence are standard deliverables |
| + | Industry accelerators for insurance and healthcare shorten the first project |
| + | Change management and staff training sit inside the same engagement |
| + | Priced and staffed for mid-size US companies |
| - | Limited reach outside the US and India |
| - | Less suited to research-heavy or novel model work |
| - | Rates and minimums are not published |
| Launch Consulting | |
|---|---|
| + | Focus on operating-model change, beyond tools alone |
| + | Nearshore delivery from Buenos Aires keeps build costs down |
| + | Strong Microsoft stack experience for Copilot and Azure programs |
| + | Years of data platform work for Fortune 1000 clients |
| - | Private equity owned since 2022, with three firms merged under one brand |
| - | Mostly built around Microsoft technology |
| - | Smaller international footprint than the global firms |
Who should choose Centric Consulting?
A typical fit: writing a generative AI acceptable-use policy and rolling out Copilot safely.
Practical AI adoption with acceptable-use policies and centers of excellence for mid-size firms. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Insurance, Healthcare, Financial services, Manufacturing, Retail.
Who should choose Launch Consulting?
A typical fit: AI-first operating-model plans for Microsoft-centered companies.
AI-first operating-model work with Microsoft-based builds and nearshore delivery. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Healthcare, Retail, Technology, Financial services.
Decision matrix: Centric Consulting vs Launch Consulting
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| Your board wants a costed, sequenced roadmap within a quarter | Neither lists cost modeling; ask for a sample roadmap |
| You already run AI that is missing its targets | Neither offers a separate audit; ask for a scoped review |
| Regulators will ask how each AI system is governed | Centric Consulting |
| AI will change roles and processes for many staff | Both run change management |
| You want the strategy firm to build the result too | Both can deliver after the strategy |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Centric Consulting (Not disclosed) vs Launch Consulting (Not disclosed) |
| You need a large team across many countries | Centric Consulting |
Use case fit: Centric Consulting vs Launch Consulting
| Use case | Centric Consulting fit | Launch Consulting fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Writing a generative AI acceptable-use policy and rolling out Copilot safely. | Strong | Limited | Centric Consulting |
| Setting up an AI center of excellence in an insurer. | Strong | Limited | Centric Consulting |
| AI-first operating-model plans for Microsoft-centered companies. | Limited | Strong | Launch Consulting |
| Copilot and Azure AI rollouts after a strategy phase. | Limited | Strong | Launch Consulting |
Verdict: Centric Consulting vs Launch Consulting
Centric Consulting (4.0/5) is the stronger overall choice for most AI Strategy Consulting projects. Practical AI adoption with acceptable-use policies and centers of excellence for mid-size firms.
Launch Consulting (3.9/5) is worth a look if you need copilot and Azure AI rollouts after a strategy phase. If your situation matches that, Launch Consulting is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Centric Consulting vs Launch Consulting FAQ
Is Centric Consulting better than Launch Consulting?
Centric Consulting (4.0/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Centric Consulting's strongest advantage: acceptable-use policies and AI centers of excellence are standard deliverables. Launch Consulting's strongest advantage: focus on operating-model change, beyond tools alone.
How do Centric Consulting and Launch Consulting differ in pricing?
Centric Consulting's pricing: consulting fees per engagement; rates not published. Launch Consulting's pricing: consulting fees; rates not published. Any hourly bands shown come from Clutch, not a published rate card, so a scoping call is still needed for a project quote.
Which is better for enterprise: Centric Consulting or Launch Consulting?
Centric Consulting is the larger team and typically the better enterprise-scale choice. For very large programmes, verify team size and compliance coverage directly with each consultant before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between Centric Consulting and Launch Consulting?
Centric Consulting's primary differentiator is: practical AI adoption with acceptable-use policies and centers of excellence for mid-size firms. Launch Consulting's primary differentiator is: AI-first operating-model work with Microsoft-based builds and nearshore delivery. They also differ in team size (1,400 vs 500–1,000), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Insurance, Healthcare vs Healthcare, Retail).
Verify all details directly with each consultant before making a decision.