Press kit · News · Nov. 3, 2026

Lemhi opens general availability at IT Nation Connect

Lemhi, the managed AI services platform for MSPs, is generally available to every managed service provider starting Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, announced from the PitchIT stage at IT Nation Connect Global in Orlando.

  • Open to every MSP. Starting Nov. 4, any MSP can sign up at lemhi.com and start a 21-day trial.
  • Certified ConnectWise PSA integration. AI engagement tasks push straight into PSA tickets, so AI work runs through the same service desk as everything else.
  • PitchIT finalist. John Harden pitches as 1 of 3 finalists on Nov. 4 and announces general availability from the stage.
  • Proven with design partners. Since May, MSP partners have run AI readiness assessments for 183 organizations, collecting more than 1,900 employee assessments. John Harden shares real customer traction stories from the PitchIT stage.
  • Built for small businesses. Lemhi exists so no business is left behind in the AI revolution simply because it's too small.
Read the full press release Get the data Request an interview Lemhi press page
Nov. 4, 2026
General availability for every MSP, announced at IT Nation Connect Global
1,927
Employee AI assessments analyzed across 183 organizations in 27 industries
1 of 3
Finalists pitching on stage in ConnectWise's 2026 PitchIT competition
69 NPS
Net Promoter Score among Lemhi's MSP partners, 28 points above the B2B software and SaaS average of 41
John Harden, co-founder and CEO of Lemhi
Spokesperson

John Harden, co-founder and CEO

John spent 17+ years in the MSP industry, rising from NOC technician to founder. He built Saaslio and sold it to Auvik in 2022, then led AI strategy across Auvik's platform before co-founding Lemhi in Indianapolis.

Available for interviews Nov. 4 to 6 at IT Nation Connect, and remotely.

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Press release

The full release

Crossed the wire Nov. 3, 2026. For more background, logos and past releases, visit the Lemhi press page.

For immediate release

Lemhi Launches General Availability at IT Nation Connect as MSP Demand for Managed AI Heats Up

PitchIT finalist adds a certified ConnectWise PSA integration and hosts 3 days of programming in the PitchIT Lounge

INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 3, 2026 /EINPresswire/ -- Lemhi, the managed AI services platform for managed service providers (MSPs), today announced that its platform will be generally available to every MSP starting Wednesday, Nov. 4, at IT Nation Connect Global in Orlando. Lemhi also announced a certified integration with ConnectWise PSA and 3 days of programming in the PitchIT Lounge, where Lemhi competes as one of 3 finalists in ConnectWise's PitchIT competition.

General availability follows a design partnership program that moved faster than planned. Since May, Lemhi's MSP partners have run AI readiness assessments for 183 organizations, collecting more than 1,900 employee assessments along the way.

"Every MSP's clients are asking about AI, and most MSPs still don't have a service they can sell, deliver and bill for every month," said John Harden, co-founder and CEO of Lemhi. "Our design partners proved it can be done. General availability opens that path to every MSP, right when demand is taking off."

Lemhi gives MSPs a repeatable way to sell, deliver, govern and prove AI outcomes for every client they serve, from the first AI readiness assessment to an ongoing managed AI service, natively inside the Microsoft ecosystem. Starting Nov. 4, any MSP can sign up at lemhi.com and start a 21-day trial at first sign-in.

"MSPs who figure out AI governance first will own the next decade. Partnering with Lemhi is how we're getting there," said Jon Wright, CEO of Core Managed.

That momentum shows up in how partners rate the platform: Lemhi holds a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 69 among its MSP partners, 28 points above the B2B software and SaaS average of 41, according to Retently's 2026 NPS benchmarks.

Certified ConnectWise PSA integration

Lemhi is now a ConnectWise Invent Certified Integrator, with its integration certified on Oct. 6, 2026, and listed on the ConnectWise Marketplace. MSPs can connect Lemhi to ConnectWise PSA, map their clients and push AI engagement tasks from Lemhi straight into PSA tickets, so AI work runs through the same service desk as everything else they deliver.

On the PitchIT stage

Lemhi is one of 3 finalists chosen from the 19 companies in ConnectWise's PitchIT program. John Harden will pitch on the PitchIT stage on Wednesday, Nov. 4, and announce Lemhi's general availability from the stage.

Media availability and PitchIT Lounge programming

Lemhi's week at IT Nation Connect includes 2 media availabilities and 2 sessions in the PitchIT Lounge, where Lemhi is sharing what it learned from its design partnership program:

  • Wednesday, Nov. 4, after the PitchIT Finals: Media availability in the PitchIT Lounge. John Harden and the founders of fellow finalists Blacksmith InfoSec and Synthreo take questions from press and podcasters right after the competition.
  • Thursday, Nov. 5, 10:45 to 11:30 a.m. ET: Media availability at the PitchIT finalists AMA. John Harden joins the founders of Blacksmith InfoSec and Synthreo on stage at IT Nation Connect for a moderated ask-me-anything session, a second chance for press to hear from all 3 finalists.
  • Thursday, Nov. 5, 1:30 to 2:15 p.m. ET: What We Wish We Knew Before Selling AI: MSPs on Building a Managed AI Practice. MSPs from Lemhi's design partnership program share what worked, what didn't and what they would do differently when building an AI service line.
  • Friday, Nov. 6, 10 to 10:45 a.m. ET: The Data Behind Shadow AI: What 1,900 Employee AI Assessments Reveal. John Harden shares findings from Lemhi's platform data. Among them: nearly 2 in 3 employees (64%) at companies that already use AI tools personally use at least one AI tool their company hasn't adopted, and at companies where Microsoft Copilot is the only AI tool, 63% of employees use ChatGPT on their own.

The findings come from a Lemhi analysis of more than 1,900 employee AI assessments across 183 organizations, completed between May and October 2026.

"When an MSP's end customers are winning with something new, the market is telling you something. That's exactly what we've seen this year from MSPs building on Lemhi," said Will Rayner, partner at Lookout Ventures. "Small business demand for AI is exploding. MSPs who build real AI practices now are positioned to enjoy the biggest growth opportunity in a decade. Those MSPs that don't build AI practices will be left behind."

MSPs attending IT Nation Connect can find the Lemhi team in the PitchIT Lounge all week. Learn more and start a trial at lemhi.com.

About Lemhi

Lemhi is the managed AI services platform for managed service providers (MSPs). Built by MSP operators, Lemhi gives MSPs a repeatable way to sell, deliver, govern and prove AI outcomes for every client they serve, from the first AI readiness assessment to an ongoing managed AI service, natively inside the Microsoft ecosystem. Lemhi exists to ensure that no business is left behind in the AI revolution simply because it's too small. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, Lemhi is backed by Top Down Ventures, Lookout Ventures and Start Something Ventures. Learn more at lemhi.com.

Media contact

Tim Hickle, Co-Founder and Head of GTM, Lemhi · lemhi.com/press
tim.hickle@lemhi.com · 317-777-1467

###

Product briefing

What Lemhi is, what it does and why it matters

A plain-language overview for reporters new to the managed services channel.

What it is

Lemhi is the managed AI services platform for MSPs. It gives a managed service provider 1 repeatable way to sell, deliver, govern and prove AI outcomes for every client, natively inside the Microsoft ecosystem. Everything a client sees carries the MSP's brand, not Lemhi's.

What it does

Instead of treating AI as a string of one-off projects, Lemhi takes each client through the same journey: measure readiness, build the roadmap and guardrails, then run AI as a monthly service led by a named strategist, the vCAIO (virtual Chief AI Officer).

Why it matters

Small businesses want AI, and their employees are already using it, often with tools nobody approved. Their MSP already manages their Microsoft 365, identity and security. Lemhi turns that trusted relationship into a real AI practice, so the smallest businesses don't get left behind.

Baseline

Measure where the client stands

A free AI Intel Report, then a paid AI Assessment: an employee readiness survey, shadow AI discovery and a map of the highest-value use cases.

Deliver

Build the plan and the guardrails

An AI strategy and roadmap plus AI Foundations work: an acceptable use policy and Microsoft 365 tenant readiness.

Maintain

Run AI as a managed service

A monthly AI Council, an AI segment in every quarterly business review, ongoing AI Observability and an annual refresh.

Engage

How the MSP sells AI

Discovery and assessment that produce a workforce readiness score, an ROI plan, a Microsoft 365 tenant assessment and a phased rollout plan with owners, guardrails and success metrics built in.

Compass

How the MSP delivers, governs and proves it

A task board built from reusable playbooks, Microsoft 365 Copilot agent build and deploy, Copilot and SharePoint configuration, and AI Observability to show clients the results.

Shadow AI discovery

Finds the AI tools employees actually use, approved or not, so the MSP can bring them under governance.

Governance built in

Acceptable use policies and Lemhi's MAGIC governance framework for managed AI.

AI Observability

Ongoing visibility into how a client uses Microsoft Copilot and Claude.

ConnectWise PSA integration

Roadmap tasks become PSA tickets in the boards and dispatch workflows techs already use.

White-labeled

Every report, deck, survey and the client portal carry the MSP's brand.

Partner enablement

MSPs run Lemhi on themselves first as customer zero, then keep learning in live Lemhi Labs sessions every Friday.

The Lemhi platform on a desktop monitor, showing a client's AI readiness scores and journey
The Lemhi platform, showing a client's AI readiness scores and journey.
  • Who it's forManaged service providers (MSPs) serving small and midsize businesses, especially those in the Microsoft ecosystem.
  • How MSPs earnAn AI assessment, then a foundations project, then a recurring monthly managed AI service, the same way MSPs run vCIO and vCISO services today.
  • AvailabilityGenerally available to every MSP starting Nov. 4, 2026. Sign up and start a 21-day trial at lemhi.com. Pricing will be shared at Lemhi's booth after the GA announcement on the PitchIT stage.
  • IntegrationsMicrosoft 365 (through the MSP's existing admin relationship) and ConnectWise PSA, certified Oct. 6, 2026.
Data insights

What 1,927 employee AI assessments reveal

Lemhi's MSP partners run AI readiness assessments with the businesses they serve. Each employee answers questions about the AI tools they use, how often they use them, what they know about company policy and where they want help. These findings come from a Lemhi analysis of 1,927 completed employee assessments across 183 organizations in 27 industries, collected May 1 to Oct. 14, 2026.

64%

At companies that already use AI tools, nearly 2 in 3 employees personally use at least 1 AI tool their company hasn't adopted. Shadow AI isn't a fringe behavior. It's the default.

Employees aren't waiting for permission

  • 63%of employees at companies where Microsoft Copilot is the only AI tool use ChatGPT on their own. 78% use some AI tool other than Copilot.
  • 23%use AI on their own but say their company doesn't use AI tools at all. Outside the tech sector, it's 29%.
  • 258different AI tools named by employees in the dataset.

Personal use outruns company adoption

Use it personallyCompany has adopted it
ChatGPT
65%
29%
Gemini
37%
8%
Grok
12%
2%

Microsoft Copilot is the most-adopted company tool at 37%, ahead of ChatGPT (29%) and Claude (27%).

The policy gap sits in the middle of the org chart

  • 24%of employees don't know their company's AI policy. Outside the tech sector, it's 30%.
  • 85%of executives and directors know the policy, while 28% of managers and 27% of staff don't.
  • 55%of managers say their company uses AI tools, compared with 71% of directors and 68% of executives.

Tech is pulling ahead of everyone else

  • 64%of employees at tech companies are heavy AI users, compared with 35% everywhere else.
  • 67%of construction employees use AI on their own, but only 22% say their company does. In legal, 69% are light users.
  • 88%of MSP employees know their company's AI policy, compared with 70% of employees outside tech.

What employees want from AI

  • 45%picked a meeting follow-up agent, the most-requested company-wide AI use case.
  • 32%of 921 written answers about AI training mention time or productivity, and 14% mention security. Just 1 mentions AI replacing staff.

Suggested attribution

"According to a Lemhi analysis of more than 1,900 employee AI assessments across 183 organizations (May to October 2026)."

Methodology

Employees completed Lemhi's AI readiness assessment through their MSP. Figures are shares of responding employees. The main dataset covers 1,927 completed assessments from 183 organizations in 27 industries across the U.S., Canada and Australia (median of 5 responses per organization). Company size isn't recorded for most organizations in the main dataset. Respondents' self-estimated time savings are excluded. Full fact sheet and crosstabs available on request.

Story angles

Stories this data and these partners can support

Each angle comes with a spokesperson, data and, where noted, an MSP design partner available for interview.

Shadow AI is demand, not just risk

Nearly 2 in 3 employees at AI-using companies use tools their company never adopted. What does it look like when a business stops fighting that and gives it an approved path?

Data: shadow AI findings. Spokesperson: John Harden.

The AI policy gap lives in middle management

Executives know the AI policy. Managers and staff often don't. Why companies stall on communication and approval, not technology.

Data: policy findings. Spokesperson: John Harden.

Small businesses get an AI department through their MSP

Few 20-person firms will hire a Chief AI Officer. MSPs are stepping into that role as a vCAIO, a named AI strategist for each client.

Real customer traction stories shared from the PitchIT stage on Nov. 4. Design partners available for interview.

The channel's next recurring service line

MSPs built businesses on managed security and vCIO services. Managed AI is shaping up as the next one, now running through ConnectWise PSA like everything else they deliver.

Spokespeople: John Harden, MSP design partners.

An Indianapolis startup on the PitchIT stage

A pre-seed company out of Indianapolis, built by former MSP operators, pitches as 1 of 3 finalists and launches general availability the same day.

Local and startup angle. Spokesperson: John Harden.

Where AI adoption lags by industry

Construction employees use AI on their own while their companies hold back. Legal lags on usage overall, and tech companies pull ahead. Industry-level cuts are available.

Data: industry findings. Crosstabs on request.
Quotes

Quotes you can use

Use the copy button to grab the exact wording with attribution.

John Harden, co-founder and CEO

Every MSP's clients are asking about AI, and most MSPs still don't have a service they can sell, deliver and bill for every month. Our design partners proved it can be done. General availability opens that path to every MSP, right when demand is taking off.
John HardenCo-founder and CEO, Lemhi
Employees aren't waiting for permission. Nearly 2 in 3 people at companies that already use AI tools are also using tools their company never adopted. That's not a reason to panic. It's demand. The job now is to give it a safe, approved path.
John HardenCo-founder and CEO, Lemhi
Small businesses shouldn't be left behind on AI just because they're small. They already trust their MSP with everything else in their technology stack. Give that MSP a real AI practice and the 20-person accounting firm gets the same advantage as the enterprise down the street.
John HardenCo-founder and CEO, Lemhi

MSP partners

John Harden will share real customer traction stories from the PitchIT stage on Nov. 4. Design partners are available for interviews on request.

What Lemhi is tackling is massive in scope and scale, and so far it has mapped 100% to our thinking. It has saved us tons of time and given us a framework and the tooling to confidently engage our existing clients as we build the plane while flying it.
Joseph MarkertCEO, TransformITive
TransformITive
The Lemhi team is incredibly helpful, service-oriented and personable. Everyone is available and willing to answer our questions as we build out our AI practice.
Christina LiuvCAIO, Nucleus Networks
Nucleus Networks
The Lemhi team adds tremendous value to partners, both within the platform and outside of it with general AI knowledge. I've already referred Lemhi to a peer as an option to take to his customers for AI enablement.
Andy BanningvCIO, Braden Business Systems
Braden Business Systems
MSPs who figure out AI governance first will own the next decade. Partnering with Lemhi is how we're getting there.
Jon WrightCEO, Core Managed
Core Managed
AI is creating a new category of business conversation that many MSPs are not naturally equipped to lead. As clients look for guidance on strategy, analytics, and operational impact, there's a real risk they'll turn elsewhere for that expertise. Lemhi empowers our team to lead those higher-value conversations and strengthen our role as a trusted business advisor.
Robert CioffiCo-Founder, Progressive Computing
Progressive Computing

Investors

When an MSP's end customers are winning with something new, the market is telling you something. That's exactly what we've seen this year from MSPs building on Lemhi. Small business demand for AI is exploding. MSPs who build real AI practices now are positioned to enjoy the biggest growth opportunity in a decade. Those MSPs that don't build AI practices will be left behind.
Will RaynerPartner, Lookout Ventures
Lookout Ventures
Every MSP we talk to is feeling the pressure, but most of the activity in the market today is still ad hoc: licenses, pilots, disconnected projects. There's no durable business model behind it yet. Lemhi is one of the first software platforms we've seen that turns this into a structured, repeatable service MSPs can actually scale. That's why Top Down is excited to invest.
Chris DayFounder and Chairman, Top Down Ventures
Top Down Ventures
Partners

MSPs building AI practices on Lemhi

A selection of managed service providers across North America and Australia that have approved use of their names and logos.

TransformITive
TransformITive
Nucleus Networks
Nucleus Networks
Braden Business Systems
Braden Business Systems
Core Managed
Core Managed
Simplex-IT
Simplex-IT
centrexIT
centrexIT
NEXTmsp
NEXTmsp
Nexus Tech
Nexus Tech
DiamondIT
DiamondIT
Protek
Protek
Unió Digital
Unió Digital
InnerCircle Technology Advisors
InnerCircle Technology Advisors
My Tampa IT
My Tampa IT
Premier Data Systems
Premier Data Systems
Rivercity Technology Services
Rivercity Technology Services
aiMpact Consulting
aiMpact Consulting
Winsor Consulting
Winsor Consulting
Progressive Computing
Progressive Computing
Rivercity Solutions
Rivercity Solutions
Company

Lemhi at a glance

CompanyLemhi, Inc.
CategoryManaged AI services platform for MSPs
MissionEnsure no business is left behind in the AI revolution simply because it's too small
Founded2026
HeadquartersIndianapolis, Indiana
LeadershipJohn Harden, co-founder and CEO
Ben Botti, co-founder and COO
Alex Goodman, co-founder and Head of Engineering
Tim Hickle, co-founder and Head of GTM
Mark Creighton, Head of Success
FundingPre-seed round led by Top Down Ventures, with Lookout Ventures and Start Something Ventures
AvailabilityGenerally available to every MSP starting Nov. 4, 2026
IntegrationsMicrosoft 365; ConnectWise PSA (Invent Certified Integrator)
AffiliationsGTIA, Microsoft for Startups, International Association of Microsoft Channel Partners (IAMCP)
Websitelemhi.com
The Lemhi team
The Lemhi team
  1. May 2026
    Selected for the ConnectWise and IT Nation 2026 PitchIT cohort
  2. June 2026
    Launched out of stealth with a pre-seed round led by Top Down Ventures
  3. Sept. 2026
    Named 1 of 3 PitchIT finalists
  4. Oct. 2026
    ConnectWise PSA integration certified
  5. Nov. 4, 2026
    General availability at IT Nation Connect Global

John Harden

Co-founder and CEO

John has spent 17+ years in the MSP industry, progressing from NOC technician to founder. He built Saaslio and sold it to Auvik in 2022, then led AI strategy across Auvik's platform. He represents the Americas on IAMCP's International Innovation Committee and speaks regularly at channel events, including MSPGeekCon and CanITCon.

Ben Botti

Co-founder and COO

Ben brings 15+ years of MSP experience and leads operations at Lemhi.

Alex Goodman

Co-founder and Head of Engineering

Alex brings 15+ years of MSP experience and previously co-founded Saaslio. He leads the engineering team building the Lemhi platform.

Tim Hickle

Co-founder and Head of GTM

Tim leads go-to-market at Lemhi and has led marketing for multiple high-growth B2B SaaS companies.

Coverage

Lemhi in the news

CRN
Lemhi Launches Platform To Help MSPs Turn AI Into Recurring RevenueCRN
 Channel Insider
Lemhi Emerges From Stealth With AI Platform Built for MSPsChannel Insider · June 2026
 Channel Dive
VC-backed Lemhi gives MSPs a repeatable AI consulting playbookChannel Dive · June 2026
 ChannelPro
Key channel headlines: Lemhi launches platform to deliver AI as a managed serviceChannelPro · June 5, 2026
 ChannelE2E
Channel Brief: The MSP tool stack is eating marginsChannelE2E · June 2026
 TechPoint
Lemhi Launches the SaaS Platform MSPs Need to Deliver AI as a Recurring Managed ServiceTechPoint · June 2026
 Dealroom
Lemhi launches AI Transformation-as-a-Service platform for MSPs with pre-seed roundDealroom · June 3, 2026
 Yahoo Finance
ConnectWise and IT Nation Unveil 2026 PitchIT CohortYahoo Finance · May 21, 2026
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The Lemhi team
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Leadership headshots

John Harden
John HardenJPG
Ben Botti
Ben BottiJPG
Alex Goodman
Alex GoodmanJPG
Tim Hickle
Tim HickleJPG
Mark Creighton
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About Lemhi

Lemhi is the managed AI services platform for managed service providers (MSPs). Built by MSP operators, Lemhi gives MSPs a repeatable way to sell, deliver, govern and prove AI outcomes for every client they serve, from the first AI readiness assessment to an ongoing managed AI service, natively inside the Microsoft ecosystem. Lemhi exists to ensure that no business is left behind in the AI revolution simply because it's too small. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, Lemhi is backed by Top Down Ventures, Lookout Ventures and Start Something Ventures. Learn more at lemhi.com.

Short description (25 words)

Lemhi is the managed AI services platform for MSPs. Based in Indianapolis, Indiana, Lemhi helps ensure no business is left behind in the AI revolution.

Media contact

Let's get you what you need for the story

Interviews with John Harden, introductions to Lemhi's MSP design partners, the full data fact sheet, industry crosstabs and on-site meetings at IT Nation Connect. We aim to respond within 1 business day.

Tim Hickle
Co-founder and Head of GTM, Lemhi
tim.hickle@lemhi.com 317-777-1467