By Global Consultants Review Team ,
Consulting firm Wavestone has completed the acquisition of French AI and Data strategy consultancy AI Builders, strengthening its capabilities in artificial intelligence and expanding its support for organizations moving from AI strategy to large-scale implementation.
The transaction was completed on July 29, 2026, for an enterprise value of €19.3 million and was fully financed in cash through Wavestone’s existing financial resources. AI Builders has been consolidated into Wavestone’s financial statements from August 1, 2026.
The acquisition is part of Wavestone’s “Lead the shift” strategic plan, which places AI at the center of the consulting firm's growth and transformation offering. The move gives Wavestone additional expertise in AI strategy, governance, data management and value-driven transformation.
Founded in 2019, AI Builders works with executive leaders and senior technology and data decision-makers on AI transformation programs. The consultancy has around 50 professionals and is targeting €10.3 million in revenue for 2026, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 15%.
Its capabilities cover several stages of AI transformation, including strategy, governance, Data Office design, product management, implementation and change management.
For Wavestone, the addition strengthens its ability to engage clients at an earlier stage of their AI journey while also supporting the execution of larger transformation programs.
The combined offering will cover AI strategy, data governance, AI products, organizational transformation, user adoption and value creation. This gives clients a broader consulting model that connects strategic planning with practical implementation.
The deal also marks a new chapter for Stéphane Roder, co-founder of AI Builders, who joins Wavestone as a Partner following the transaction.
Roder highlighted the significance of the move, saying :
“En rejoignant Wavestone, nous franchissons une étape ambitieuse.” — Stéphane Roder, Co-founder & CEO, AI Builders
Translation: “By joining Wavestone, we are taking an ambitious step forward.”
He said the combination brings together AI Builders’ expertise in AI and Data strategy with Wavestone’s international reach and transformation capabilities, giving clients broader support as they scale their AI initiatives.
AI Builders has also described the combination as a way to expand its ability to support large organizations from the definition of AI strategy through large-scale implementation.
The acquisition comes as businesses increasingly move beyond AI experimentation and begin focusing on deployment, governance and measurable business outcomes.
Wavestone’s latest financial update shows the growing importance of AI within its own consulting activity. During the first quarter of fiscal 2026/27, AI-related projects represented 22% of the company's revenue, compared with 17% for the full 2025/26 financial year.
The company had approximately 6,122 employees as of June 30, 2026, giving AI Builders access to a significantly larger consulting platform and broader business and technology capabilities.
Wavestone operates at the intersection of business and technology, supporting organizations with operational transformation, new ways of working and business model transformation in an increasingly AI-driven environment.
The combination positions Wavestone to offer a more complete AI transformation journey.
AI Builders contributes specialized knowledge in areas such as AI strategy, governance and value management, while Wavestone adds broader expertise across industries, technology and complex transformation programs.
This combination is particularly relevant as organizations face a new challenge: moving AI projects from pilot stages into everyday business operations.
For companies, successful AI adoption increasingly involves more than selecting an AI model or launching a new tool. It requires changes to processes, data structures, employee roles, governance and operating models.
That creates an opportunity for consulting firms with both strategic and implementation capabilities.
The AI Builders transaction also reflects the wider shift taking place across the consulting industry. Major consulting firms are expanding their AI capabilities through acquisitions, partnerships and specialist teams as demand for AI transformation increases.
For Wavestone, acquiring an established AI and Data consultancy provides a faster route to strengthening these capabilities while adding experienced professionals and an existing client base.
The company expects the combined capabilities to support clients across Europe and North America, extending AI Builders’ reach while giving Wavestone a stronger position in specialized AI consulting.
With AI becoming a larger part of enterprise transformation budgets, the acquisition gives Wavestone an opportunity to strengthen its position in a market where organizations are increasingly looking for partners capable of connecting AI strategy with measurable business value.
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