Shield Technology Partners
Shield partners with regional IT firms to scale operations with AI and national resources.
Shield Technology Partners is a New York-based platform that acquires stakes (60-90%) in regional IT service providers (MSPs) and scales them with AI-enhanced operations, national resources, and strategic support while preserving local leadership. The company combines investment capital, applied AI engineering, operational expertise, and M&A guidance to help mid-market IT firms expand capabilities and drive growth. As of early 2026, Shield operates a portfolio of nine MSP partners collectively serving 1,500+ customers across construction, energy, and healthcare sectors.
Problem solved
Small to mid-sized IT service firms lack access to enterprise-scale operational resources, advanced AI tools, and patient capital needed to compete with larger national providers while maintaining their unique culture and local leadership.
Target customer
Regional and mid-market managed service providers (MSPs) with $5-50M revenue seeking capital, operational support, and technology enhancement without loss of local control.
Founders
J
Jake Sloane
Co-Founder
Former associate at Carlyle (healthcare investing) and Blackstone M&A (media, chemicals, financial services); MBA from Harvard Business School, B.A. in Political Science from Harvard (magna cum laude).
F
Frank Zhang
Co-Founder
Former associate at Apollo (gaming, leisure, mining, security, publishing) and Blackstone M&A (oil & gas, utilities, chemicals); MBA from Harvard Business School, B.S. in Electrical Engineering and B.S. in Economics from Wharton (summa cum laude).
C
Casey Botts
Co-Founder, COO
Leads growth operations, integrations, and M&A strategy for Shield Technology Partners.
J
Jim Siders
CEO
Former Chief Information Officer at Palantir Technologies after 12+ years; started career as IT helpdesk engineer at Palantir.
Funding history
Launch Capital
$100M+
June 2025
Led by Thrive Holdings, ZBS Partners
Series A
$100M
February 2026
Led by Thrive Holdings
Total raised:
$200M+
Industries
Pricing
Not publicly available. B2B2C model where Shield acquires equity stakes in MSP partners rather than selling direct services.
Notable customers
ClearFuze Networks, IronOrbit, Delval Technology Solutions, OneNet Global, Exigent Technologies, Threshold Communications, Webistix, Option One Technologies
Tech stack
jQuery (JavaScript libraries)
Open Graph
HTTP/3
HSTS (Security)
Google Font API (Font scripts)
Microsoft 365 (Email)
Google Hosted Libraries (CDN)
Cloudflare (CDN)
Webflow (Page builders)
GoDaddy (Hosting)
Website
Competitors
Kaseya
Software-focused RMM and security platform; Shield adds equity partnership and operational consulting.
ConnectWise
PSA and RMM tools for MSPs; Shield provides capital, M&A guidance, and equity partnerships alongside technology.
Datto (Kaseya subsidiary)
Cloud backup and disaster recovery focus; Shield is broader operational and financial partner to MSPs.
Pax8
Cloud marketplace and solutions aggregator for MSPs; Shield takes equity stakes and provides hands-on operations.
Why this matters: Shield represents an emerging category—operationally-focused equity partnerships for mid-market IT services. With $200M+ in funding from Thrive Holdings and backing from ZBS Partners (which has built $1B+ platforms in veterinary, HVAC, and accounting), Shield is well-positioned to consolidate the fragmented $500B+ MSP market while preserving the local relationships that drive customer loyalty.
Best for: Regional IT service providers with $5-50M revenue seeking growth capital, operational scaling, and AI-enhanced capabilities while retaining local ownership and decision-making authority.
Use cases
MSP Growth & Consolidation
A 50-person IT services firm with $8M revenue partners with Shield to acquire equity funding, gain access to enterprise-grade financial reporting and recruiting systems, and integrate advanced AI tools into service delivery. Shield takes 70% equity while the founder retains meaningful ownership and operational control, enabling rapid scaling to $25M+ revenue within 3-4 years.
AI-Enhanced Service Delivery
A regional MSP struggles to compete with larger firms on automation and efficiency. Shield deploys AI engineering resources to build custom automation workflows, implement predictive maintenance tools, and optimize service delivery. This allows the MSP to deliver premium services at competitive margins without rebuilding internal engineering teams.
Strategic M&A & Portfolio Building
Shield identifies complementary IT service firms in adjacent markets and provides both acquisition financing and post-merger integration support. A portfolio of 3-4 small MSPs are consolidated under Shield's operational umbrella, reducing redundancy, cross-selling services, and achieving $50M+ combined revenue while maintaining separate local brands.
Alternatives
Apptio
Technology business management software; focus on optimizing IT spend and resource allocation rather than equity partnerships and operational consolidation.
Insight Enterprises
Global IT distributor and solutions provider; primarily reseller/marketplace model rather than equity-stake partnership and operational management.
Tech Data
IT distributor and cloud solutions provider; transactional vendor relationship rather than strategic equity investment and operational partnership.
FAQ
What does Shield Technology Partners do? +
Shield acquires 60-90% equity stakes in regional IT service providers (MSPs) and provides capital, AI-enhanced operations, strategic M&A guidance, financial/HR/recruiting resources, and hands-on operational support. The company preserves local leadership and culture while enabling MSPs to scale to national capabilities.
How much does Shield Technology Partners cost? +
Shield does not have a public pricing model. The company operates as an equity partner, acquiring majority stakes (60-90%) in MSP firms while ensuring meaningful ownership remains with local founders. Pricing is negotiated case-by-case based on the target company's size, profitability, and growth potential.
How is Shield different from traditional PE firms? +
Unlike typical private equity, Shield combines financial investment with operational expertise and applied AI engineering, takes a decentralized approach that preserves local leadership and culture, and provides patient capital focused on long-term growth rather than quick exits. ZBS Partners (Shield's parent platform) has over 250 acquisitions across six platforms and focuses on operating assistance alongside funding.
Who uses Shield Technology Partners? +
Mid-market IT service providers with $5-50M annual revenue seeking growth capital, operational scaling, and AI technology enhancement. As of early 2026, Shield operates a portfolio of nine MSP partners collectively serving 1,500+ customers across construction, energy, and healthcare sectors, including ClearFuze Networks, IronOrbit, Delval Technology Solutions, and Option One Technologies.
What are alternatives to Shield Technology Partners? +
Kaseya (RMM and security software), ConnectWise (PSA and RMM tools), Datto (cloud backup/disaster recovery), Pax8 (cloud marketplace), Insight Enterprises (IT distributor), and traditional PE firms like Apptio. However, Shield's equity partnership model combined with operational consulting is relatively unique in the MSP consolidation space.
Tags
MSP consolidation
managed services
private equity
AI operations
portfolio companies
IT services
business services
Blackstone alumni
Harvard MBA
growth capital