The Acacia Group
The Acacia Group is an independent sponsor private equity firm founded in 2016 that invests in lower mid-market technology-enabled services businesses ($5-30M EBITDA) across federal government IT, enterprise services, and digital commerce, partnering operationally with management teams to drive digital transformation and realize exits.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersAshburn, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Acacia Group does
The Acacia Group is an independent sponsor private equity firm founded in 2016 and headquartered in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area (Ashburn, VA). The firm invests in technology-enabled services businesses in the lower mid-market — typically companies with $5-30M EBITDA — partnering operationally with management teams to drive digital transformation, build differentiated technology, and develop talent and brands before exiting through trade sales or secondary PE transactions. Founders Craig Dawson, Frederic Cassis, Matt Milstead, and Gavin Long have worked together for over a decade, and Dede Dascalu serves as Lead Technology Partner after running Applied Insight.
The firm's portfolio spans federal government technology services, enterprise IT services, and digital commerce. Core holdings include Applied Insight (a cloud, cybersecurity, analytics, and mission IT provider to U.S. Intelligence, DoD, and federal civilian agencies, operating the AWS-partnered Altitude and SHIFT platforms), Isos Technology (an Atlassian Platinum and Enterprise Solution Partner with 170+ Atlassian-accredited specialists), Highmetric (a ServiceNow Elite Partner serving financial services, healthcare, utilities, and manufacturing), MajorKey Technologies, and Common Thread Collective (a DTC e-commerce growth agency). Combined portfolio headcount exceeds 600 technology and program management specialists across the U.S. with select UK capability via Vorto.
Acacia's business model is investment-driven: capital is deployed into founder-owned B2B and B2G tech services businesses, value is created through operational engagement, and returns are realized through trade sales or secondary buyouts. Notable exits include ID Technologies to CACI International (January 2022, 100%+ IRR) and the Highmetric ServiceNow business to a large PE firm (also 100%+ IRR). Distribution occurs through direct enterprise and federal sales teams, channel partners including Carahsoft, NCPA, and OMNIA Partners, and partner ecosystems across AWS, Atlassian, and ServiceNow. The firm has executed 15+ investments since founding and continues to acquire platform extensions into 2025.
The Acacia Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Acacia Group
- Legal name
- The Acacia Group
- Website
- https://acaciagroup.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Acacia Group is an independent sponsor private equity firm founded in 2016 that invests in lower mid-market technology-enabled services businesses ($5-30M EBITDA) across federal government IT, enterprise services, and digital commerce, partnering operationally with management teams to drive digital transformation and realize exits.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Acacia Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Private Equity Investment
- NAICS
- Management of Companies and Enterprises (551)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Timberland Asset Management (Institutional/Private) (AFAMAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- BaaS Platforms & Sponsor Bank Enablement (FSAGALAA)
Keywords
Where The Acacia Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ashburn
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices9 records
Markets served
The Acacia Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Private Equity Investment Returns: Acacia generates returns through investment in technology-enabled services businesses, creating value through operational improvements, brand development, technology investment, and talent development, then exiting through trade sales or other liquidity events.
- Portfolio Company Revenue: Portfolio companies generate revenue through professional services, managed services, and product sales to government and enterprise customers.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
The Acacia Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Acacia Group is an independent sponsor private equity firm founded in 2016 that invests in and operates technology-enabled services businesses in the lower mid-market ($5-30M EBITDA). The firm provides capital, hands-on operational support, brand development, technology investment, and talent development to transform founder-owned B2B and B2G technology services and product businesses into scaled mid-market leaders, exiting through trade sales or other liquidity events. Through portfolio companies, Acacia also delivers federal cloud, cybersecurity, Atlassian, ServiceNow, and DTC e-commerce growth services.
Product overview
The Acacia Group is a specialist investment firm focused on digital transformation, operating portfolio companies that deliver technology products and services. The primary product portfolio includes Applied Insight's Altitude (modular cloud infrastructure platform) and SHIFT (air-gapped cloud emulation and testing platform), which together enable secure cloud migration and development for government customers. Additional products include Highmetric's CodeWorks and PatchWorks built on the ServiceNow Platform, and Archon (endpoint security platform) from ID Technologies. The firm also backs Isos Technology (Atlassian Platinum partner) and Common Thread Collective (e-commerce growth agency).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Altitude A modular, scalable cloud infrastructure platform that provides secured, feature-rich environments for migrating and managing applications in the cloud, enabling highly secure remote work and CMMC-ready compliance for defense contractors and federal government customers.
- SHIFT A full-scale emulation and testing platform that mimics classified, air-gapped and restricted Cloud Service Provider regions, enabling uncleared developers to make applications region-ready before deployment to high-side environments.
- Archon An endpoint security platform-as-a-service that provides a uniquely secure way for mobile and remote users to access sensitive or classified data, including CSfC-compliant laptop and phone products with secure cloud connectivity and a zero-trust, zero-configuration operating environment.
- CodeWorks A proprietary product that scans the ServiceNow (Now) Platform to detect, diagnose and remediate bugs, enhance code quality, and mitigate security and upgrade issues before they reach production.
- PatchWorks A proprietary tool that provides both reactive and proactive management of software patches across a client's technology environment, enabling infrastructure and application teams to schedule and deploy patches together.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 100% IRR achieved on ID Technologies exit to CACI (2021)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use The Acacia Group
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Acacia Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
The Acacia Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Common Thread CollectivecoreStrategic partnership where Acacia invested in CTC, combining CTC's creative and data-driven marketing engine with Acacia's investment capital and expertise in scaling digital-first businesses. CTC helps DTC e-commerce brands grow profitably through proprietary data tools, financial planning, creative strategy, and performance marketing.
- Zavda TechnologiescoreApplied Insight acquired Zavda Technologies, a service-disabled veteran, economically disadvantaged, woman-owned company providing advanced analytics, software development, and systems engineering services. Previously mentored Zavda as protégé since 2018 with successful joint venture Bravo Zulu Intelligence Solutions.
- Carahsoft TechnologycoreCarahsoft serves as Applied Insight's master government aggregator, making Altitude and SHIFT cloud products accessible to public sector through Carahsoft's reseller partners and NCPA and OMNIA Partners contracts.
- AWS Migration CompetencycoreApplied Insight achieved AWS Migration Competency Status after over 200 successful AWS cloud migrations across 16 public sector organizations. AWS Migration Competency partners assist organizations in successfully moving to AWS through all phases from discovery to operations.
- Amazon Web Services (AWS)coreStrategic collaboration where Applied Insight will hire, train, and certify cleared cloud technologists to support AWS public sector customers. Initiative addresses growing demand for cleared cloud experts in national security community. Applied Insight is AWS Managed Service Provider and Advanced Partner since 2017 with AWS Government Services Competency.
- AtlassiancoreAcacia's pure-play Atlassian investment strategy centered on building the leading partner in the Atlassian ecosystem. Isos Technology operates as Platinum and Enterprise Solution Partner with ITSM, Cloud, and Agile at Scale specializations. Atlassian expresses enthusiasm for enterprise partners capable of tackling more complex programs.
- ServiceNowcoreHighmetric operates as an Elite Partner to ServiceNow, one of the few firms globally with scale and experience to manage complex projects across the digital stack while maintaining agility and responsiveness.
- Chromatic BrandsminorStrategic and creative consultancy that worked with Acacia on major branding projects for Highmetric and MajorKey Technologies.
- Amazon Web Services (AWS)coreApplied Insight is AWS Advanced Consulting Partner with AWS Government Competency, serving customers across commercial, GovCloud, top secret and secret regions. Applied Insight has achieved AWS 100 Certification milestone.
- Applied Technology Group (ATG)coreAcquired by Applied Insight in 2019 to strengthen advanced cloud, analytics, and AI capabilities. ATG has around 80 software engineers and data specialists with deep roots in national security community.
- Stratus SolutionscoreAcquired by Applied Insight in 2019 to strengthen cloud-at-scale solutions capabilities. Team of around 100 specialists experienced with AWS, MS Azure, VMware, OpenStack.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Acacia Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Mainsail Partners: Growth equity firm focused on bootstrapped, founder-led B2B software and tech-enabled services businesses, typically investing $10-50M of equity. Closely mirrors Acacia's lower mid-market, founder-friendly, operationally engaged investment model.
- Trinity Hunt Partners: Middle-market private equity firm focused on founder-led business services and tech-enabled services companies. Comparable target profile, check size, and value-creation approach.
- Enlightenment Capital: Private equity firm focused exclusively on defense, government services, and aerospace businesses. Highly comparable to Acacia's federal IT/cloud and cleared-talent positioning and operates at similar check sizes.
- Bridge Growth Partners: Private equity firm focused on technology-enabled services and software businesses in the lower middle market. Highly comparable in check size, sector focus, and operational engagement model.
- Alpine Investors: People-driven private equity firm focused on lower mid-market services and software businesses. Comparable in fund structure, deal size, focus on founder-operated businesses, and operational value-creation orientation.
- Arrowroot Capital: Growth equity firm focused on B2B software and tech-enabled services businesses with $5-30M in revenue. Closely aligned with Acacia's lower mid-market revenue/EBITDA range and operational partnership model.
- Abry Partners: Private equity firm focused on lower mid-market technology, media, and tech-enabled services. Comparable deal size and sector overlap, particularly around enterprise IT services and government technology.
- Periscope Equity: Lower mid-market private equity firm specializing in tech-enabled services and software businesses. Comparable deal size, sector focus, and operating-partner model to Acacia's approach.
- NewSpring Capital: Growth equity firm with dedicated fund for lower mid-market technology-enabled services and software businesses. Directly comparable in sector focus and operating-partner engagement.
- Arlington Capital Partners: Lower mid-market private equity firm focused on government, defense, and intelligence technology and services businesses. Directly comparable to Acacia's federal IT thesis (Applied Insight, ID Technologies, Zavda) and similar lower mid-market check size.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Acacia Group social profiles
Digital presenceThe Acacia Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Acacia Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
The Acacia Group subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries9 records
The Acacia Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Acacia Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A5 records
Investments2 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Acacia Group
What does The Acacia Group do?
The Acacia Group is an independent sponsor private equity firm founded in 2016 that invests in and operates technology-enabled services businesses in the lower mid-market ($5-30M EBITDA). The firm provides capital, hands-on operational support, brand development, technology investment, and talent development to transform founder-owned B2B and B2G technology services and product businesses into scaled mid-market leaders, exiting through trade sales or other liquidity events. Through portfolio companies, Acacia also delivers federal cloud, cybersecurity, Atlassian, ServiceNow, and DTC e-commerce growth services.
Is The Acacia Group a public or private company?
The Acacia Group is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Acacia Group founded?
The Acacia Group was founded in 2016. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Acacia Group based?
The Acacia Group is headquartered in Ashburn, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Acacia Group make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Private Equity Investment Returns are the primary driver. The others are portfolio Company Revenue.
Who are The Acacia Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Mainsail Partners, Trinity Hunt Partners, Enlightenment Capital, Bridge Growth Partners, Alpine Investors, Arrowroot Capital, Abry Partners, Periscope Equity, NewSpring Capital and Arlington Capital Partners.
Does The Acacia Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Acacia Group.
What industry is The Acacia Group in?
The Acacia Group's product category is Private Equity Investment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAMAKAA, Timberland Asset Management (Institutional/Private), with a secondary code of FSAGALAA, BaaS Platforms & Sponsor Bank Enablement. Its NAICS code is 551 and its SIC code is 8742.