Google Apps provider Cloud Sherpas raises $20 mn

CALIFORNIA, USA: Salesforce partner GlobalOne and Google enterprise partner Cloud Sherpas are merging together to form a new cloud consulting firm.

GlobalOne will take Cloud Sherpas’ name in this marriage, and the newly merged company will offer the same services for both cloud platforms. Cloud Sherpas also announced a new $20 million round of funding from venture capital firm Columbia Capital that it will use to fuel its rapid growth.

Cloud Sherpas helps enterprise businesses move over to Google Apps, the search engine’s enterprise offering for cloud-based services such as Gmail and Calendar. GlobalOne is a Salesforce partner that helps businesses use Salesforce’s customer relationship management service. Both companies acts as consultants, helping businesses choose and implement the right cloud services.

In mid 2011, Cloud Sherpas acquired Omnetic, a west coast cloud consulting competitor. Last fall the company also acquired two Asian-Pacific Google App resellers, WaveAdept and Devnet.

The cloud industry is huge these days, with Amazon and Oracle in on the action as well. Cloud Sherpas faces competition from Cloud Technology Partners, which also helps companies move into the cloud.

The new round of funding adds to the more than $5 million in angel and venture capital investments Cloud Sherpas has racked up since its founding in 2008. All 261 combined employees from both companies will continue with the new company, which will be based in Atlanta. David Northington, GlobalOne’s chief executive will take the reigns of Cloud Sherpas.

Businessman with cloud apps image via Shutterstock.