Cloud Sherpas is a company.
Key people at Cloud Sherpas.
Cloud Sherpas was founded by Michael Cohn (Co-founder).
Cloud Sherpas was founded by Michael Cohn (Co-founder).
Key people at Cloud Sherpas.
Cloud Sherpas was a prominent cloud computing advisory and technology services company specializing in implementation, integration, and management for platforms like Google Apps, Salesforce, and ServiceNow.[1][2][3] Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, it grew rapidly through acquisitions and partnerships, serving thousands of global clients by helping them migrate to and optimize cloud solutions for CRM, IT streamlining, and collaboration.[1][2][3] By 2015, it employed over 1,100 staff across multiple countries and was acquired by Accenture, integrating into its Cloud First Applications team to bolster enterprise cloud capabilities.[2][3]
The company acted as a "cloud services brokerage," guiding businesses through cloud adoption, with a focus on rapid deployment and customization rather than building its own products.[1][4] Its growth momentum was evident in milestones like a $20 million investment in 2012, Inc. magazine recognition for job creation, and multiple acquisitions that expanded its expertise and geographic reach.[1][4]
Cloud Sherpas was founded in May 2008 by Michael Cohn, Eran Gil, and David Hoff in Atlanta, Georgia, initially as a Google Enterprise partner and reseller for Google Apps.[1] The idea emerged amid the early cloud computing boom, positioning the company to assist enterprises transitioning from on-premises systems to cloud-based tools.[1][3]
A pivotal moment came in March 2012 with a $20 million investment from Columbia Capital, enabling a merger with GlobalOne—a Salesforce.com partner founded by John Orrock, Dennis Wall, and Toan Huynh—which adopted the Cloud Sherpas name and served as a platform for further growth.[1] This fueled an acquisition spree, including Omnetic, WaveAdept, Beloit Solutions Group, Devnet (all in 2011 for Google Apps expertise), CloudTrigger (2012 for CRM customization), Innoveer Solutions and Navigis (2013 for Salesforce and ServiceNow), and Stoneburn (2013 for UK expansion).[1][4] By 2013, it ranked No. 68 on Inc.'s Hire Power Awards for creating over 50,000 jobs in 18 months, culminating in its 2015 acquisition by Accenture.[1][3]
Cloud Sherpas rode the early 2010s cloud adoption wave, as enterprises shifted from legacy IT to SaaS platforms amid rising demand for CRM (Salesforce), collaboration (Google Apps), and IT service management (ServiceNow).[1][2][3] Its timing was ideal: post-2008 recession, businesses sought cost-efficient cloud migrations, and Sherpas filled a gap in implementation expertise when platforms were maturing but integrations were complex.[3][4]
Market forces like Forrester-noted European cloud growth and the need for multi-vendor brokerage favored its model, influencing the ecosystem by standardizing cloud transitions and accelerating vendor adoption—e.g., helping thousands of clients while creating jobs and partnerships that pressured incumbents to innovate.[1][4] Post-acquisition, it amplified Accenture's cloud dominance, blending consulting with hands-on tech services in a market projected to explode.[2][3]
Cloud Sherpas exemplified the cloud services brokerage archetype, scaling from startup to acquisition target in under a decade before folding into Accenture's operations by 2015, with no independent activity since.[2][3] What's next is its legacy within Accenture's Cloud First team, evolving amid hybrid/multi-cloud trends, AI-driven automation, and edge computing that demand even deeper integrations.
Shifts toward vendor-agnostic platforms and zero-trust security will shape its influence, potentially expanding Accenture's edge in serving Fortune 500s. As cloud maturity deepens, Sherpas' pioneering role reminds us how specialist integrators fuel ecosystem growth, tying back to its origins as a nimble guide for enterprises navigating the cloud frontier.[1][3]
