Kian Exits The Purple Guys, MongoDB’s AI MAAP, Pax8 CEO

A. Today’s Tech, Channel and MSP News

Are you a thought leader in managed services or managed security services, or do you have a unique approach to an important topic that could help other MSPs or MSSPs? We’re looking for speakers like you to be part of our MSSP Alert Live program for 2024. MSSP Alert Live, the premiere cybersecurity event for MSPs and MSSPs, has opened its call for papers. (You can submit yours here.) We’re looking for speakers like you who want to share insights and experience and wisdom with peers.

If you're an MSP that partners with public cloud service providers, it's time for you to step up and get recognized. ChannelE2E opened its annual Top 250 Public Cloud MSPs survey. This is the survey that we use to create our annual Top 250 Public Cloud MSPs ranked list. Here's the link to participate.

Kaseya Connect is wrapping up, and if you missed any news and updates from the conference -- including Kaseya's plans for AI and automation and MSPs' move to the front lines of cybersecurity -- check it out here and here, including reaction to Kaseya 365, both positive and negative.

We're also looking at the exit/acquisition of The Purple Guys, which is an MSP that evolved out of the merger of Enterprise Computing Services (ECS) and My IT in January 2020, which acquired The Purple Guys and Network Technologies in 2021 and rebranded. Kian is exiting via a sale to Ntiva after The Purple Guys completed 10 acquisitions and saw significant expansion.

Pax8 has a new CEO, MongoDB sets out a roadmap (road MAAP?) for organizations looking to build generative AI apps and you should definitely watch Jessica Davis's interview with Saas Alerts CEO Jim Lippie.

Please check out our industry Mergers and Acquisitions list, updated daily, with an archive that goes all the way back to 2020. Check out the whole thing here. Scroll down for a quick view of upcoming in-person channel and MSP events at the bottom of this post (while we spiff up our industry calendar behind the scenes. It will return!)

And please send your news tips, information, and industry chatter to senior managing editor [email protected].

1. Kian Capital Exits The Purple Guys: Kian Capital Partners is exiting its investment in The Purple Guys through a sale to Ntiva, a portfolio company of PSP Capital. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The Purple Guys is an MSP that evolved out of the merger of Enterprise Computing Services (ECS) and My IT in January 2020, which acquired The Purple Guys and Network Technologies in 2021 and rebranded. Kian partnered with the executive leadership team to grow the company from a regional operation with a single location to a scaled platform serving hundreds of clients across eight core markets in six states. With Kian’s backing, the company completed 10 strategic acquisitions and expanded service capabilities across the central U.S.

2. Pax8's New CEO: Pax8 has named its CTO Scott Chasin as CEO, effective immediately, replacing founder John Street in the role, the company announced. Chasin served as the CTO since 2021.  Street will remain as chairman of the board of directors. Chasin last year unveiled the future of Pax8’s Marketplace, “designed to enable partners and vendors with data-driven insights and capabilities to accelerate their growth.” The announcement comes on the heels of job cuts at the company. In April Pax8 confirmed it would cut its workforce by almost 5%. Pax8 will stage its second annual Pax8 Beyond conference in Denver June 9-11.

3. SaaS Alerts Offers Free MSP Shield: Cloud security provider SaaS Alerts has debuted a new deal for non-partners. In an interview with ChannelE2E's Jessica Davis at Kaseya Connect, Jim Lippie, CEO of SaaS Alerts, said the company will offer a free version of MSP Shield to managed service providers who aren't SaaS Alerts partners to use within their own business for one year under a not-for-resale (NFR) license. Check out the full interview here.

4. MongoDB's MAAP to Generative AI: Venture Beat reported that NoSQL database provider MongoDB has unveiled a program to help companies accelerate the building and deployment of AI-powered applications. The MongoDB AI Applications Program, or MAAP, includes everything organizations need to get started, from strategic advisory and professional services to an end-to-end technology stack. It brings together consultancies and providers of foundation models, cloud infrastructure, generative AI frameworks and model hosting with MongoDB Atlas to develop generative AI-based solutions for business problems. The bad news? MAAP won’t be available until July.

5. Time for Cloud MSPs to get Recognized: Are you an MSP that works with public cloud providers? It’s time to get recognized for your work. ChannelE2E opened its annual survey for the Top 250 Public Cloud MSPs. If your MSP practice includes working with a public cloud provider, this survey is for you. Participation is free. The survey closes in June. Submit your MSP today here for recognition! Our list will be released this summer.

B. In-Person MSP and Channel Partner Events