In yet another move to expand globally in the context of a high-growth year as more MSPs turn to e-commerce and productivity platforms to enhance their offerings, Pax8, one of the world’s leading cloud commerce marketplaces, today announced it has acquired Umbrellar.
As a leading Microsoft cloud provider, the company was named Microsoft NZ Partner of the Year in 2019.
This services-led Microsoft cloud solutions provider offers cloud-managed services, migration, advisory services, and cloud procurement for over 1,000 New Zealand businesses. The deal immediately accelerates Pax8’s global expansion with a robust presence, empowering its fast-growing partner base to accelerate digital transformation locally and globally.
“As we continue to expand into the APAC region, the Umbrellar acquisition will be key to our growth in the New Zealand market,” said John Street, Chief Executive Officer at Pax8. “Together, our technology, people, and resources will enable businesses in the APAC region to modernize, digitally transform, and fuel growth with cloud solutions.”
Headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand, Umbrellar’s mission is to deliver the technology for tomorrow's world to its partners through first-class professional services and its procurement platform.
“We are excited to welcome 50 new employees from Umbrellar to the Pax8 Asia team,” said Chris Sharp, SVP at Pax8 Asia. “The team at Umbrellar are experts in cloud-enabling businesses in New Zealand, and they are the number one service provider of Microsoft cloud in the market. With a focus on infrastructure managed services, assessment, migration, and optimization, their technical expertise and award-winning professional services will prove to be a value-add for Pax8 partners.”
“We are thrilled about the opportunity this acquisition creates for our people, partners, and mutual customers,” said Dave Howden, CEO at Umbrellar. “As a premium Microsoft CSP in New Zealand, and with what I consider the most talented Microsoft engineering team in the region, I’m excited we can continue to support our ecosystem of partners and customers here in NZ and now extend globally as part of the Pax8 Asia team.”
In 2020 and 2021, despite the pandemic, New Zealand’s startup scene has seen record venture and early-stage investment. 2020 saw $158 million invested into 108 deals, representing the third year in a row of over $100 million in investment in startups. According to a PwC report, 2020 was also the third year of more than 20% year-over-year growth in dollars invested.
The announcement of Microsoft’s first data center in New Zealand means access to a hyperscale cloud system which will allow New Zealand businesses to respond to increasingly hyper-connected device and consumer demand.
According to Umbreller, “New Zealand’s largely small and medium business ecosystem will be equipped with more options of flexibility, boosted access to innovation, and reliable fast-tracked support from trusted cloud service providers.”
Vanessa Sorenson, Managing Director of Microsoft NZ, noted that “The Fletcher School’s Digital Evolution Index characterizes New Zealand as a ‘standout nation’ demonstrating to the world what the future might look like.
“I’m confident this investment will help accelerate our digital evolution,” she said.
Within New Zealand’s business ecosystem, Microsoft’s leading cloud service provider, Umbrellar will continue to collaborate widely on providing comprehensive, best-in-breed managed cloud services, now as part of Pax8.
Arti Loftus is an experienced Information Technology specialist with a demonstrated history of working in the research, writing, and editing industry with many published articles under her belt.Edited by
Erik Linask
