Ignition Partners said Wednesday it has funneled $15 million into California startup ServiceMesh, which provides an enterprise cloud platform for Global 2000 companies.

The four-year-old startup helps large companies manage multiple internal and external clouds through a unified platform that's tailored for the enterprise.

Ignition's Frank Artale, who will join the startup's board of directors as a result of the funding, said the ServiceMesh platform is unique because it can provide organizations with flexible access to the cloud under a unified framework that is customizable and tightly controlled.

"Through ServiceMesh, we believe the promise of enterprise-scale cloud computing is finally becoming a reality," he said in a release. "We see an immediate market opportunity for ServiceMesh in businesses of all sizes, including the largest enterprises and governments, because ServiceMesh is the only way to ensure that these organizations achieve significant business value from their cloud investment."

The startup says the Agile IT operating model, which encompasses cloud computing, has the potential to "revolutionize IT," especially for IT departments in larger enterprises that must adapt to rapidly changing business needs and lower operating costs.

ServiceMesh CEO Eric Pulier said the company's Agility Platform "provides the unique missing link by bringing business IT services directly to users while at the same time keeping the environment safe and controlled."

The startup said the funding is an affirmation that the investment community recognizes the massive shift toward a cloud operating model. It plans to use the funding to expand globally and form new partnerships.

Ignition has been invested heavily in cloud technology recently, including the backing of California startups ScaleXtreme, StorSimple and Bromium.