Co-founders Angie Tocco and Laura Dashney Join Cloud and Internet Infrastructure Platform as Partners and Managing Directors
UPSTACK, a profitable, fast-growing platform that transforms the buying experience for businesses seeking cloud and internet infrastructure solutions, announced that it has acquired LanYap Networks, a woman-owned provider of strategic telecom and cloud solutions for medium and large businesses. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
UPSTACK’s acquisition of Phoenix-based LanYap Networks is part of the company’s strategy to accelerate the growth of its ground-breaking platform, which combines the industry’s leading Advisor Partners with advanced technology, support resources and data.
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UPSTACK also announced in April an initial $50 million equity investment from Berkshire Partners, which will enable the company to continue to scale its platform through technology expansion and partner acquisitions.
As part of the deal, LanYap Networks Co-founders Angie Tocco and Laura Dashney will join UPSTACK as Partners and Managing Directors, as well as true equity stakeholders in one of the industry’s most innovative companies. They also will serve as Advisors to business customers that are sourcing data center, colocation, cloud, network connectivity and more through the UPSTACK platform.
“We’re excited to welcome LanYap Networks to the UPSTACK family,” said Christopher Trapp, CEO of UPSTACK. “Angie and Laura are well known in the channel both for their high performance and high integrity. Giving back is a cornerstone of their business. Culturally, they’re a perfect fit for UPSTACK, and we look forward to building on their remarkable legacy together.”
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LanYap Networks was founded in 2011, but its history began a decade earlier when owners Dashney and Tocco became friends while working at Mitel. Named after the Cajun-French word lagniappe, meaning “a little something extra,” LanYap Networks’ owners focused on providing customers with an extra benefit – integrity. They handpicked subject matter experts to build a team of knowledgeable, trusted advisors.
Today, LanYap Networks is a well-respected telecom and cloud consulting firm with numerous industry accolades. Notably, in 2014 LanYap Networks achieved Platinum status – $1 million in monthly billings – with master agency Intelisys. That same year, the owners founded a philanthropic organization, Telecom for Change, which has raised more than $1 million for charities serving women and children.
LanYap Networks sustained its top performance over the next six years and, in 2020, was courted by would-be buyers. Tocco and Dashney weren’t initially interested in selling, but the calls sparked a conversation between the two women about their priorities and future goals.
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“We enjoyed great success and recognition, but we began to ask, ‘Is it sustainable?’ We were each chief, cook and bottle washer,” said Tocco. “Over the years, we hired operations support but always ended up working ‘in’ the business. Partnering with UPSTACK allows us the autonomy to focus on the aspects of the business we each find most fulfilling.”
The pair entertained a few options and, ultimately, chose UPSTACK because of its ability to structure a deal with staggered earn-outs while also offering a home for LanYap Networks’ employees and taking on its operational workload.
“UPSTACK is not one size fits all,” said Dashney. “They’re interested in our business and want to do what’s best for us, the employees and our clients. UPSTACK gives us additional resources and frees us up to work with our customers and drive additional levels of value.”
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