EnStratus opts for Edinburgh as European HQ

A UNITED States start-up firm specialising in cloud computing has received £240,000 of Scottish Government money to establish its European headquarters in Edinburgh.

A UNITED States start-up firm specialising in cloud computing has received £240,000 of Scottish Government money to establish its European headquarters in Edinburgh.

Minneapolis-based EnStratus Networks will open an office in the city later this year, and aims to employ as many as 30 people there by the end of 2014. The firm’s technology is used to manage cloud computing, which allows businesses to outsource data, software and other IT tasks to the likes of Amazon, Google, HP and Sun Microsystems.

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The deal was announced yesterday in Chicago by culture secretary Fiona Hyslop, who is touring the US and Canada as part of Scotland Week 2012 activities organised in conjunction with Scottish Development International and VisitScotland.

The government has identified cloud computing as part of its broader strategy to boost economic growth by concentrating on new technologies. Financial support for the EnStratus expansion is being provided via regional selective assistance.

“This investment by EnStratus demonstrates commitment to Scotland and confidence in what we have to offer,” Hyslop said.

A spin-out from Valtira – an interactive marketing firm based in Minneapolis – EnStratus was formed in 2008 and has about 30 employees. It raised $3.5 million (£2.2m) in venture capital backing at the end of last year to help fund product development and the expansion of its sales and marketing team.

KRISTY DORSEY