Last week, I had the pleasure of traveling to Bangalore, a city that has rightfully earned its place as the beating heart of India’s tech revolution. From its bustling startup scene to its rapidly growing cloud ecosystem, Bangalore represents a vision of innovation that aligns perfectly with the values that led me to found Civo: openness, choice, and accessibility.

One of the highlights of my trip was the Civo Bangalore Meetup, where I was joined by Kunal Kushwaha, Field CTO at Civo, and Simon Hansford, our CCO, and Dinesh Majrekar, our CTO. Together, we had the opportunity to engage with an incredible group of founders, executives, and innovators who are shaping the next wave of cloud innovation in India.

Exploring India’s Cloud Growth

India’s cloud industry is experiencing phenomenal growth, with the public cloud market projected to surpass $25 billion by 2028. It’s a testament to the country’s rapid digital transformation and the increasing demand for flexible, scalable infrastructure. Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank of India is set to launch its own cloud platform in 2025, aiming to offer affordable and secure cloud solutions tailored for financial institutions, signaling a shift towards greater local control over digital infrastructure.

Community-Driven Innovation

One of the biggest themes that emerged from discussions at our Bangalore meetup was the growing importance of sovereignty and choice in India’s cloud industry. With the country’s cloud market growing rapidly, businesses are looking beyond traditional cloud giants and exploring solutions that allow them to balance cost, security and control. Many attendees at the meetup spoke about their desire for greater control over their data and the challenges of vendor lock-in, reinforcing how crucial it is for cloud providers to offer more flexible and transparent options.

India’s focus on data sovereignty has only grown stronger with the introduction of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDPA). This legislation highlights the importance of ensuring that personal data is managed securely and in compliance with national regulations. This relatively new regulation requires businesses to obtain explicit consent for data processing, uphold stringent security measures, and adhere to data residency laws, while also allowing for restricted cross-border transfers. As a result, many organisations are now actively seeking cloud solutions that keep data within India’s borders while still offering the flexibility and performance they need to scale.

The launch of Civo’s India cloud region in December couldn’t have come at a better time. Many businesses at the meetup spoke about their search for cloud solutions that not only offer scalability but also align with India’s regulatory requirements around data security and residency. It was clear from our discussions that companies want real choice in a market that has long been dominated by hyperscalers. Seeing this shift firsthand reinforced just how important it is for cloud providers to listen to and adapt to the needs of the local tech community.

The Future of Indian Cloud

As I wrapped up my time in Bangalore, I was struck by the sheer momentum of India’s tech ecosystem. The conversations at the meetup reinforced just how rapidly the country’s cloud landscape is evolving, driven by a community that is both ambitious and deeply invested in shaping its cloud future.

This meetup was just one step in a much larger journey of collaboration and learning. I’m looking forward to coming back, continuing the discussion, and seeing how businesses and developers here push the boundaries of what’s possible in cloud technology.