Investment to Fuel Accelerated Growth in Cloud Adoption, Infrastructure, Data Analytics & Managed Services

CHICAGO, IL, (October 20, 2020) – Cloudbakers, a Google Cloud Premier Partner and Zoho Premium Partner, announced the completion of a significant growth capital investment from Sunstone Partners, a growth-oriented private equity firm specializing in technology-enabled cloud services. This capital will allow Cloudbakers to accelerate their growth in cloud-native services with a strong focus on growing their Google Cloud Platform technical consulting and managed services business.

Mitch Greenwald, CEO and Founder of Cloudbakers, said: “I couldn’t be more pumped up to welcome the Sunstone team to the Cloudbakers family. Their expertise, approach, and track record is amazingly complimentary to Cloudbakers’ business model, core values, and culture. This investment will drive exponential growth in our capabilities to the benefit of our clients, our partners, and our team.”

Cloudbakers was founded in Chicago, IL in 2010 and has experienced strong organic growth over the past decade while transforming hundreds of organizations with cloud-based data, application, and infrastructure modernization offerings. Cloudbakers’ blend of technical skills and people skills helps clients adapt to the ever changing digital landscape, modernize their applications, and do so in a practical, cost effective manner. Cloudbakers “brings the cloud down to earth” for their clients.

“Demand for cloud technology and expertise is growing, and Cloudbakers continues to delight customers with their focus on customer satisfaction, team values and strong technical expertise. Last year, Cloudbakers won our Google Cloud Expansion Partner of the Year Award for North America and we’re excited to accelerate our partnership to help customers digitally transform their businesses with Google Cloud.” -Eric Rosenkranz, North America Region Partnerships Leader at Google Cloud.

Sunstone’s Co-Founder and Managing Director, Mike Biggee, along with Operating Partner Jeff Rich, will join a new board of directors at Cloudbakers as part of the investment. Sunstone’s strategic and operational guidance were key to the recent growth and eventual sale of cloud-native consulting and managed services firm, Onica, to Rackspace in November of 2019.

“We are still in the early innings of a massive shift from legacy IT to public cloud infrastructure in organizations today, and we are extremely excited to partner with Cloudbakers to help guide customers through this change” said Mike Biggee from Sunstone Partners. “Cloudbakers is a great company with innovative processes, premier cloud-native talent, and deep intellectual property that add immediate and lasting value to clients in their cloud journeys.”

About Cloudbakers
Cloudbakers is a Google Cloud & Zoho Premier Partner that has been helping organizations successfully migrate to cloud technologies for nearly a decade. Being one of only a few Google Cloud Premier Partners, their mix of 50% tech skills and 50% people skills means they bring together custom solutions and side-by-side support. Adopting and adapting to changing technology is a difference maker for any business– that’s what Cloudbakers is here to help with. They bring the cloud down to earth. http://www.cloudbakers.com

About Sunstone Partners
Sunstone Partners is a growth-oriented equity firm that makes majority and minority investments in technology-enabled services and software businesses. The firm seeks to partner with exceptional management teams, often as their first institutional capital partner, to help accelerate organic growth and fund acquisitions. Founded in 2015, the firm has $800 million of committed capital to its first two funds. For more information, visit http://www.sunstonepartners.com

Acquisition expands 3Cloud’s data and analytics capabilities and geographic reach, forming the largest Azure pure-play services firm in the U.S.

Chicago, IL – September 10, 2020 —

3Cloud, a leading Microsoft Azure services firm, today announced that it has acquired the consulting arm of Pragmatic Works, an award-winning services firm focused on Microsoft’s cloud and data platforms.

“With the acquisition of Pragmatic Works Consulting, 3Cloud has taken another big step towards achieving our goal of becoming the number one Azure pure-play services provider” said Mike Rocco, 3Cloud CEO and Co-Founder. “Pragmatic Works Consulting has built an outstanding reputation as a leader in Azure data and analytics solutions, and we are excited to combine the expertise of our two world-class teams to deliver leading-edge Azure solutions for Microsoft customers.”

With this acquisition, 3Cloud will form the largest Azure pure-play services firm in the U.S. Additionally, 3Cloud will gain an expanded geographic presence to better serve clients across the U.S.

Pragmatic Works Training will continue to operate as a separately owned company under the leadership of Pragmatic Works CEO and Founder Brian Knight. “I’m extremely proud of the market-leading position Pragmatic Works has built in the Microsoft data and analytics space,” said Knight. “I look forward to seeing the talented employees of our consulting division continue to excel as part of the 3Cloud team.”

“Pragmatic Works Consulting has always focused on helping companies grow their business and operate more efficiently with data. We take pride in helping our clients solve some of their most complex technology challenges,” said Adam Jorgensen, Pragmatic Works Consulting President. “3Cloud has the same client-focused and growth-oriented approach, and we’re excited to join forces with them.”

Both firms have strong partnerships with Microsoft and industry-leading Microsoft credentials. 3Cloud was recently named the winner of the Microsoft US 2020 Azure Influencer Partner Award, and Pragmatic Works was named the winner of the Microsoft US 2020 Power BI Partner Award. Pragmatic Works was also a finalist for both the Power BI and Power Apps 2020 Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards and is a Databricks partner with deep expertise on this platform.

“We continue to see tremendous Azure growth momentum in the marketplace, especially in the data and analytics space as companies seek to modernize their data warehouse and business intelligence platforms,” said Jim Dietrich, 3Cloud President and Co-Founder. “With the help of our financial partner Gryphon Investors, we will continue to pursue growth opportunities across the spectrum of Azure solution areas while remaining committed to our mission of delivering the ultimate Azure experience for our clients.”

7 Mile Advisors served as exclusive financial advisor to 3Cloud and Gryphon Investors. Gryphon Investors completed a majority investment in 3Cloud in June 2020.

About 3Cloud
3Cloud is a “born in the cloud” Gold-certified Microsoft Azure technology consulting firm and Azure Expert Managed Services Provider that provides cloud strategy, design, implementation, and managed services to clients across multiple industries. Founded by former Microsoft technology leaders, 3Cloud combines a team of highly experienced cloud architects and technologists with a strong network of Microsoft sales and engineering relationships to deliver the ultimate Azure experience for clients.  3Cloud is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois with offices in Dallas, Texas and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and supports clients throughout North America and Europe. To learn more, visit www.3cloudsolutions.com.

About Pragmatic Works
Pragmatic Works is 100% focused on Microsoft’s cloud and data platforms. They have worked across the United States with thousands of companies including 97% of the Fortune 100. Through their weekly free training sessions, large-scale virtual Azure events and a team dedicated to helping customers grow their business with data, they are uniquely positioned to consult businesses on taking advantage of the latest Microsoft applications. Pragmatic Works’ focused work with Microsoft has led to them being recognized as a finalist for the Data Platform Partner of the Year award in 2017, Data Analytics Partner of the Year award in 2019 and both the Power BI and Power Apps Partner of the Year award in 2020. They have also been named the 2020 MSUS Partner Award winner for Business Applications – Power BI. To learn more, visit www.pragmaticworks.com.

About Gryphon Investors
Based in San Francisco, Gryphon Investors is a leading private equity firm focused on growing and enhancing mid-market companies in partnership with management. The firm has managed over $5 billion of equity investments and capital since 1997. Gryphon targets making equity investments of $100 million to $300 million in portfolio companies with sales ranging from approximately $100 million to $500 million. Gryphon prioritizes investment opportunities where it can form strong partnerships with owners and executives to build leading companies, utilizing Gryphon’s capital, specialized professional resources, and operational expertise. For more information, visit www.gryphoninvestors.com.

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