Rapid Circle acquires Azure specialist and Fast50 firm vNEXT

Netherlands-headquartered Microsoft cloud consultancy and MSP Rapid Circle has acquired CRN Fast50 company vNEXT for an undisclosed sum.

Founded in 2019, Melbourne-based vNEXT is an Azure-focused data and AI, digital and app consultancy with clients including Ausgrid and South East Water. It is also a Databricks and GitHub partner.

vNEXT was recognised as the fifth-fastest 2023 CRN Fast50 business, having increased its revenue by 155 per cent to $5.1 million in the 2023 financial year.

vNEXT's 24 staff will remain with the company, which will continue operating as a separate entity for the foreseeable future.

The acquisition brings Rapid Circle Australia and New Zealand’s workforce to more than 140 people in Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Sydney, Adelaide, Auckland and Wellington, serving over 200 clients in the region.

“We are thrilled to welcome vNEXT to Rapid Circle,” Rapid Circle's CEO Harold Punter stated in an announcement. “vNEXT is an Australian leader in delivering Azure-based solutions, with a strong reputation for excellence, innovation, and client satisfaction.”

"Together with vNEXT, we will be able to offer our clients a broader range of Azure based services, a deeper pool of talent to draw on, and build an even stronger partnership with Microsoft."

"All [this is] required to help our clients achieve what’s next as the demand for application modernisation, analytics and AI continues to grow.”

vNEXT is Rapid Circle’s fourth acquisition in Australia, following its purchase of Seven Sigma in 2022, and Insync Technology and Adopt & Embrace in 2021.

Last year, vNEXT's co-founder and director Has Altaiar told CRN Australia about the business's rapid growth.

In a statement this week, Altaiar said: “We are very excited to join forces with Rapid Circle, a company that shares our passion for Microsoft technology, our commitment to client success and our values of making a positive impact."

"We believe that by combining our strengths, we will be able to deliver more value, more innovation and more opportunities to our clients, our employees and our partners."

"We look forward to working together and continuing our journey with Rapid Circle.”

vNEXT's co-founder and director Chris Melinn said: “We are proud of what we have achieved with vNEXT in the past four years, and we are grateful for the trust and support of our clients, our employees and our partners."

"Joining forces with Rapid Circle is a natural next step for us, as we share a common vision of helping organisations transform with the Microsoft Cloud."

"We are excited to bring our expertise and experience in Azure to Rapid Circle, and to learn from their best practices and capabilities in Modern Work, Security and Power Platform."

"Together, we will be able to offer our clients a more comprehensive and holistic approach to their cloud journey.”