Evergreen’s Lyra Technology Group Invests in AI Talent Across Its MSP Portfolio, Launching Its Forward-Deployed Engineer Program

Evergreen to place over 50 engineers inside its MSPs by the end of 2027 in an unprecedented investment in small-business AI.

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Lyra Technology Group, an Evergreen company, announced today its Forward-Deployed Engineer (FDE) program, which will place over 50 engineers inside its managed service providers (MSPs) by the end of 2027 to help their small and mid-sized business customers automate manual work and expand capacity. The program is an unprecedented investment at a scale out of reach for any individual MSP, made possible by Evergreen’s permanent-capital ownership model.

The program helps MSPs deliver practical AI to smaller businesses without dedicated engineering teams, a market historically underserved by enterprise technology. The result is meaningful impact for the more than 15,000 businesses around the world served by the MSPs owned by Evergreen. Sixteen engineers are already embedded across eight MSPs, and early engagements are delivering measurable results.

Each forward-deployed engineer works full time at a single MSP, helping build that company’s managed AI practice and working directly with customers to understand their operations, identify opportunities for automation and implement solutions to everyday business challenges.

“The hardest part of AI isn't the technology. It's the last mile,” said Dakota Ferguson, CEO of Lyra Technology Group. “Someone has to sit with the business, understand how orders actually come in or how invoices actually get approved, and build something that holds up in production. Our MSPs have been doing that for decades. We're giving them the engineers to do it with AI.”

Forward-deployed engineers work directly with MSPs’ customers to understand their day-to-day processes and build tools that reduce manual work and improve efficiency. They also apply AI and automation to improve the MSPs’ own internal operations.

Case Study: Turning AI Into Measurable Results at Scribcor Global

As a professional services company, Scribcor Global relied significantly on incoming email for coordinating work, managing customer requests and keeping business processes on track. Through the FDE program, Lyra MSP Outsource Solutions Group (OSG) was able to change that.

Working directly with Scribcor’s employees, a two-person team combined business-process expertise and engineering capabilities to develop Scribcor Central, an AI-powered email triage system built around the lease administration and accounting firm’s existing workflows.

The solution saves approximately 45 minutes per person each business day, creating capacity for higher-value work that requires employees’ expertise, judgment and customer relationships. The engagement illustrates how embedded engineering teams can translate a specific operational challenge into a practical AI solution.

“The usual playbook when an MSP is acquired is to cut people and pull investment out of a business. Evergreen and Lyra are doing the exact opposite, putting talent and investment directly into ours. It’s been energizing for our team and a game-changing opportunity to help our customers, and it means we can lead them through their AI transformation instead of watching from the sidelines," said Mike Ruter, CEO of Outsourced IT Solutions Group.

Engagements like this represent an entirely new opportunity for MSPs to make a tangible business impact on their customers, moving beyond keeping technology running to changing how the work itself gets done. Details about this engagement are included in the full case study here.

Building AI Capabilities within Each MSP

The FDE program reflects Evergreen’s decentralized, permanent-ownership model: engineers belong to individual MSPs, not a centralized shared-services team.

“Every MSP in our portfolio already knows its clients better than any outside consultant could. What they have been missing is dedicated AI talent who can put that familiarity and data to work. Our FDEs work alongside the existing MSP team to build a managed AI practice that stays in place beyond a tool deployment and grows with their clients,” said Deniz Sagnaklar, SVP of Client Transformation at Lyra Technology Group.

The program follows the model behind Evergreen’s Growth Leader program, which has placed more than 100 growth leaders into MSPs and significantly accelerated new-customer growth at those companies. Both programs reflect Evergreen’s post-acquisition approach of investing in the businesses it acquires rather than consolidating them. For founders weighing a sale, the programs show what happens after close: the company keeps its name, team and independence, and gains the capital and talent to grow.

MSP owners exploring a sale or succession plan can learn more about partnering with Evergreen at www.evergreensg.com/investment-criteria-evergreen.

About Lyra Technology Group

Lyra Technology Group is a growing community of leading managed IT services businesses, each operated independently by its own management team. Like stars in a constellation, Lyra’s companies shine on their own and come together to form something greater. Companies that join Lyra keep the name, people, and culture that made them successful, and gain access to leadership talent, a proven playbook, and a network of peers to help them grow and serve their customers well. Lyra is part of Evergreen, a holding company that provides a permanent home for the businesses it partners with and approaches every decision with a long-term view. For more Lyra Technology Group news and information, visit www.lyratechgroup.com.

About Evergreen

Evergreen is a holding company founded in 2017 with a mission to be the best home for businesses and their leaders. Evergreen provides a permanent home for the companies it partners with, and each business operates independently under a decentralized model. As a growth partner to its operating companies, Evergreen brings leadership talent and a proven playbook to help its companies grow, serve their customers well, and take care of their people. Today Evergreen is a growing community of leading managed IT services and technology services companies. For more Evergreen news and information, visit www.evergreensg.com.