Upstack's NPG Solutions Acquisition Marks 25th Partner Investment

Private equity-backed Upstack has acquired NPG Solutions, an independent technology and communications solutions advisor in New Albany, Ohio.

NPG Solutions is Upstack’s 25th partner investment in the past two years. NPG Solutions’ owners and managing partners, Bill Fuller and Bob Ray, will join Upstack as partners.

Upstack didn’t say how much it paid for NPG.

Founded in 2009, NPG Solutions provides network, data center, cloud and security services to businesses of all sizes and industries. It focuses on global companies in manufacturing, health care and finance.

NPG Solutions provides supplier sourcing and management through its 10-step SmartSource process. It leverages the company’s proprietary SmartSpendIT supplier management tool to analyze customer needs, vet suppliers, and select and manage solutions.

NPG Solutions ‘Great Fit’ for Upstack

Christopher Trapp is Upstack‘s founder and CEO.

Upstack’s Christopher Trapp

“NPG was one of the first telecom agencies to realize the benefits of pairing expert advisory services with sourcing and management software,” he said. “NPG’s vision in developing proprietary tools to scale and improve client services aligns perfectly with Upstack’s, making NPG a great fit for our organization. We’re excited to welcome Bill and Bob to the Upstack team as our milestone 25th partner investment.”

Upstack said its ability to be the experienced, single-source digital infrastructure solution is an “enormous advantage” for its existing and prospective customers. With NPG Solutions onboard, the value Upstack provides to its customers is enhanced further as its capabilities expand, exceeding those found in peer organizations.

Managing Their Growth Trajectory

NPG Solutions’ business has grown quickly to serve ever-larger companies that see the value in the company’s sourcing process and platform. Earlier this year, the two owners began to think about how to best manage their growth trajectory.

“When you’re successful with a small team, you have to turn up the business to grow, but you also need the right resources,” Ray said. “We entertained offers but weren’t interested in just selling our commission streams. We wanted to find a better fit for us.”

Upstack was a better fit, Fuller said.

“When we met with Upstack, we immediately clicked with the culture and the people,” he said. “It was like we were looking in the mirror. Upstack’s message and model resonated with everything we already do and want to do in the future.”

Upstack said it will continue to invest in and partner with the “best and brightest” agents in the industry as it further expands the Upstack platform and its group of advisory partners.