Inside Pittsburgh’s HIKE2 | AI, Innovation and the Future of Work

Founded in 2019, HIKE2 has grown from a small systems integration and Salesforce-focused consultancy into a fast-rising technology and advisory firm helping organizations navigate the messy, high-stakes intersection of innovation, compliance and artificial intelligence. Under founder Amanda Wodzneski’s leadership, the company has expanded its capabilities well beyond implementation work, building out data and AI practices while helping clients rethink how work gets done in a rapidly changing business environment.

Today, HIKE2 is increasingly focused on advisory work, especially for organizations operating in regulated industries where the pressure to innovate is matched by the need to stay compliant. That includes legal teams, law firms and other businesses trying to introduce AI and automation without stumbling into risk. As Wodzneski explained, many companies know they need to embrace emerging technologies, but are still asking a basic question: where do we even start? HIKE2’s answer is to pair technology expertise with business strategy, design thinking and practical guidance.

“So many companies, they just don’t really know like where exactly to start,” she said, describing the firm’s role in helping clients identify use cases, choose the right tools and move forward with confidence.

That approach has helped fuel HIKE2’s momentum. The company has announced a formal partnership with Red Argyle, strengthening its security and platform expertise, and is also working with LegalOps.com as legal departments look for new ways to modernize workflows, automate processes and better manage outside counsel spending. It is a sign of where HIKE2 sees the market moving: not toward AI as a novelty, but AI as an operational tool that can drive efficiency, reduce costs and improve decision-making.

The company itself has scaled quickly, with just under 100 employees, including more than 30 in Pittsburgh and a second major office in Denver. Looking ahead, Wodzneski says HIKE2 is “really doubling down on our innovation and AI portfolio,” reflecting the intense demand from clients trying to prepare for the future of work.

That future-of-work theme will also be front and center at HIKE2’s upcoming Innovation Summit, set for March 25-26. Now in its fifth year, the event continues to grow as a gathering place for leaders thinking seriously about AI, workforce change and business transformation. This year’s summit will feature a fresh location and a keynote from NFL predictive analytics expert Cynthia Frelund, tying together data, forecasting and the next era of work. For HIKE2, the summit is more than a conference. It is an extension of the company’s mission to convene smart people, ask better questions and help organizations adapt to what comes next. As Wodzneski put it, “We can bring together people to have these conversations.”