Pertama vs tenex.co: AI Consulting Compared
tenex.co positions itself as the anti-consulting firm — engineering-led, no PowerPoint, pure AI implementation for enterprises with $25M+ revenue. Pertama offers practical AI for SMBs in SEA. Here's the comparison.
Quick Comparison
AI Training & Advisory for SMB
Best For:
SMB needing hands-on AI training and implementation
Anti-consulting, engineering-led AI
Best For:
Established enterprises wanting engineering-first AI with no consulting fluff
Detailed Feature Comparison
| Feature | Pertama Partners | tenex.co |
|---|---|---|
| SMB Accessibility | Designed for SMB (20-500 employees) | $25M+ revenue minimum |
| Implementation Approach | Training + implementation combined | Pure engineering, no strategy decks |
| AI Training | Dedicated training programs | Not offered (engineering-only) |
| Government Funding Support | Full support across SEA | Not applicable |
| SEA Local Expertise | Deep SEA + HK knowledge | US-based, global delivery |
| Anti-consulting Philosophy | Consulting + implementation hybrid | Pure engineering — no consultants |
Who Each Firm Serves Best
- SMB with 20-500 employees
- Companies needing training AND implementation
- First-time AI adopters wanting guided support
- Businesses in Southeast Asia + Hong Kong
- Established enterprises ($25M+ revenue)
- Companies frustrated with traditional consulting
- Organizations wanting pure engineering output, no decks
- Tech-forward companies ready for hands-on AI building
Service Comparison
Fundamentally different models: Pertama combines consulting + training + implementation. tenex delivers pure engineering.
| Service | Pertama | tenex.co |
|---|---|---|
| AI Strategy | ||
| AI Training Programs | ||
| Government Funding Support | ||
| Engineering-led AI Building | ||
| No PowerPoint/Strategy Decks | ||
| SEA Market Expertise | ||
| Team Upskilling |
Pricing Approach
Transparent, tier-based pricing
Three tiers for SMB budgets. Start with training and scale to implementation.
- Accessible to SMB budgets
- Government subsidies (up to 90%)
- Start small and scale
- Combined training + building value
Engineering project rates
Premium engineering rates for companies with $25M+ revenue. No consulting overhead, just building.
- Pure engineering output
- No consulting fluff or overhead
- Direct access to AI engineers
- Ship-focused, results-oriented
When to Choose Pertama
- You're an SMB (under $25M revenue or 20-500 employees)
- You need training to prepare your team alongside implementation
- You want government funding support
- You're in Southeast Asia and need local expertise
- You value having strategy guidance alongside engineering work
When to Choose tenex.co
- You're an established enterprise with $25M+ revenue
- You're frustrated with consulting firms that deliver decks, not code
- You want pure engineering output — no strategy overhead
- You have a clear AI vision and just need engineers to build it
- You're comfortable with US-based, globally delivered engineering
Frequently Asked Questions
tenex positions itself against traditional consulting firms that charge premium rates for strategy decks and recommendations. Instead, they focus purely on engineering — building AI solutions directly. For companies with clear AI vision, this is appealing. For SMBs still figuring out where to start, the guidance Pertama provides is more valuable.
tenex is US-based with global delivery capabilities. They don't have dedicated SEA presence or expertise in regional government funding programs. For SEA-focused AI consulting with local knowledge, Pertama is a better fit.
tenex targets companies with $25M+ revenue. Most SMBs fall below this threshold. Additionally, SMBs often need the training and strategic guidance that tenex intentionally doesn't provide. Pertama is designed specifically for the SMB market.