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The Microsoft logo is seen at their offices in Bucharest March 20, 2013. Reuters/Bogdan Cristel

Microsoft Corporation has acquired Wellington-based start-up GreenButton. The company announced it has bought the successful New Zealand software start-up for an undisclosed amount. The Kiwi company specialises in high performance cloud computing.

The acquisition will boost Microsoft's public cloud offering, Microsoft Azure. GreenButton has advanced technology solutions for running computer-intensive applications while on the cloud. The Kiwi start-ups customers include Boeing, NASA and Pixar based in the United States.

Microsoft Azure's Director of Program Management Mike Neil said data and computation continue to drive today's businesses. The company's customers need assistance in processing huge amounts of information. They need help in running compute-intensive simulations for a growing number of applications, according to Microsoft's press release about the acquisition.

The need for more power is met by Big Compute but GreenButton is a welcome addition into Azure. Mr Neil said GreenButton's tools will be integrated into Microsoft Azure. The company can now provide solutions that will allow anyone to maximise the power of the cloud.

Aside from the integration of GreenButton's technologies into Microsoft's Azure platform, the software giant plans to retain the current team and invest in the infrastructure. GreenButton will remain in New Zealand after the acquisition deal.

Microsoft New Zealand Managing Director Paul Muckleston said they invest in the growing talent of the tech sector in New Zealand involved in a wide range of programs. One example of the company's commitment is its BizSpark program which benefitted over 700 companies based in New Zealand. One of the companies that has enjoyed the benefits of the program was GreenButton.

Mr Muckleston said the acquisition was a clear indication that New Zealand is producing world-class technologies.

GreenButton founder and CEO Scott Houston said the Microsoft acquisition is great news for his team, the company's investors and other Kiwi companies. Mr Houston said Microsoft had been supportive of his company through BizSpark and GreenButton has made it as one of their winners in global technology.

Mr Houston said the purchase of his company is a big boost for other Kiwi companies to follow suit. He said if ideas are shown to the world stage, companies in the Fortune 500 might take notice.