Civo at KubeCon + CloudNativeCon India 2024

KubeCon + CloudNativeCon has always been a significant event for anyone in the cloud-native space, and this year’s event in India was no different. As the first edition of KubeCon India, it was a great opportunity for us to connect with the community, discuss our latest India region, and show our commitment to the Indian market with the launch of our India Sovereign Cloud. Here’s a recap of the event and some of the key moments that stood out!

Day 1: Touchdown in India!

Let’s start by saying that landing in a foreign country at 3:30 AM isn’t the most glamorous experience, but the excitement of launching Civo’s new Mumbai region kept me going. When I finally checked into my hotel in New Delhi, it was 5:30 AM. That’s right—prime sleeping hours. I managed to squeeze in a few hours of sleep before meeting Dinesh (our CTO) and Simon (our CCO) for breakfast.

These two had already been in India for a couple of days, so while I was rocking the zombie jet-lagged look, they looked annoyingly fresh and ready to take on the world. Breakfast was a revelation—Indian food in the morning? Spices before caffeine? I wasn’t sure how my British stomach would react, but I’ll admit—it was delicious. After guzzling several cups of coffee, we set off for a quick tour of New Delhi before heading to the conference center to check out our booth.

A Scary But Fun Way to Tour Delhi

Our first stop? India Gate, an iconic war memorial. It was majestic, and the kind of place that made you feel like you were truly in India. From there, we decided to take the quintessential Indian experience: a Rickshaw ride.

For the uninitiated, a Rickshaw is a tiny three-wheeled vehicle powered by what I can only describe as sheer adrenaline. As a former Formula 3 driver, I thought I was used to the thrill of close calls, but this was next level. The driver weaved in and out of traffic, hopped onto pavements, and occasionally stared down vehicles coming straight at us on the wrong side of the road. At one point, we entered a roundabout where, apparently, the concept of "right of way" is just a polite suggestion. It was pure chaos—think Mario Kart meets Mad Max—but somehow, we emerged unscathed.

In our 30-minute whirlwind tour, we saw several famous landmarks and government buildings. It felt like a high-speed crash course (thankfully without the crash) on New Delhi’s rich history and culture.

We hopped back onto the Delhi Metro to head to the Yashobhoomi Conference Center, where we were set to check out the Civo booth.

Platinum Sponsors: Civo’s Booth Takes the Spotlight

At the conference center, we headed straight to the Civo booth, which was positioned front and center—literally the first thing attendees would see as they walked in. And here’s the kicker: we were Platinum sponsors, a tier higher than even AWS and Microsoft, demonstrating how far Civo has come in challenging the status quo.

We quickly checked the booth setup and met some of our Indian team members in person for the first time. It was fantastic to connect with people finally I’d only ever seen on a screen. There’s just something special about shaking someone’s hand and sharing a laugh in person.

The Big Event: Civo India Launch Party

Next up was our Civo India Launch Party, a grand celebration of the launch of our new Mumbai region. Over 100 guests joined us for the event, which was truly a night to remember.

We had some fantastic guest speakers: Ashneer Grover, a well-known entrepreneur and TV personality from Shark Tank India, and Anna Shotbolt, Deputy Trade Commissioner for South Asia. I kicked off the event with a speech about our ₹200 Crore investment (around $23.5 million) in India, which felt like a monumental milestone for Civo.

Anna followed up with some great insights about the significance of our investment in India, and then Ashneer took the stage for a fireside chat with our very own Kunal Kushwaha, Civo’s Field CTO. Their discussion was a masterclass on scaling businesses in India, navigating challenges, and spotting opportunities. This also gave us a chance to come together with our launch partners, who we’d like to thank for their support in making the launch happen: BeezLabs, NASSCOM, Initializ, TrueFoundry, Sify Technologies, OpsMx, InfraCloud Technologies, Fractal, Scoutflo, Cloud Builders, TATA, Nudgebee, and KodeKloud.

The rest of the evening was all about networking, having great conversations, and, of course, meeting more of the amazing Civo India team.

A Feast to Remember

After the party, we headed out for dinner with our Indian launch partners. Indian food is one of my favorite cuisines back home, and let me tell you—there’s nothing like the real deal. The spices, the flavors, the naan! It was everything I’d dreamed of and more.

By the time I got back to my hotel, it was midnight. Exhausted but buzzing from an incredible first day in India, I collapsed into bed, ready to tackle KubeCon the next day.

Day 2: The First Day of KubeCon

The second day of my trip marked the first official day of KubeCon India. It was a truly historic occasion as it was the inaugural KubeCon in India, and I felt honored and excited to be part of such a significant event attracting thousands of visitors, especially as Civo was the main sponsor for the event.

By 7 AM, I was at the Yashobhoomi Conference Center, ready to kick off what promised to be a huge day. The keynotes began at 9 AM, but the sponsor hall—the beating heart of the event—wasn’t set to open until 11 AM. Those couple of hours gave us time to finalize our booth setup, rehearse our demos, and enjoy a rare moment of calm before the storm.

And oh, what a storm it was.

The minute the sponsor hall doors opened, it felt like a tidal wave of attendees poured in. Positioned as the Platinum sponsor and the first booth attendees encountered, we became an immediate focal point. Crowds of people surged toward us, eager to explore, ask questions, grab swag, and watch demos. The energy was incredible, and while we’d anticipated a busy day, the initial rush was something else entirely.

For the first 15 minutes, it was pure chaos (in the best way possible). Everyone on the team was busy, conversations were happening left and right, and I was doing my best to connect with as many visitors as possible. Once the hall settled into its rhythm, the chaos subsided slightly, and I finally had a chance to take a deep breath.

Making a Big Impact

Our booth was designed to draw people in and make a lasting impression, and it certainly delivered. On one side, we had demo stations and swag giveaways, which were an instant hit. The swag was flying off the tables—everything from stickers to branded bottles and T-shirts disappeared quickly.

The other side of the booth featured a giant LED TV screen, where we hosted hourly demos and offered premium giveaways.

I handled several of the morning demos, showcasing what we’ve been building at Civo. Each demo attracted a crowd of at least 50 people, and it was exciting to see how engaged they were. Attendees were especially interested in how we’re reimagining cloud computing to make it simpler, faster, and better value for money than the hyperscalers.

In the afternoon, Kunal Kushwaha, our Field CTO, stepped in to deliver demos in Hindi. This was a fantastic touch for local attendees and created an amazing connection. Seeing Kunal engage the audience in their native language brought a real sense of inclusivity and was one of the highlights of the day.

Conversations That Matter

The day was packed with meaningful conversations. I didn’t manage to grab lunch until 3 PM because we were so busy, but the discussions made it worth it.

One moment that stood out was speaking with an executive from a leading Indian company. They shared how cloud costs have become prohibitively expensive and how the complexity of major providers has become a huge problem for them. They were very impressed by our offerings…“The Indian cloud market needs a shake-up,” they said. Hearing that was incredibly rewarding and validated everything we’ve worked toward for the past 6 years!

Seeing how our approach to cloud computing and AI is addressing real challenges was amazing. We’re clearly striking a chord with businesses looking for better solutions by focusing on simplicity, performance, and affordability.

The sponsor hall stayed open until 8 PM on the first day, with the evening capped off by a booth crawl. Drinks and food were served, creating a relaxed atmosphere that was perfect for deeper, more informal conversations.

This was a chance to unwind slightly and hear personal stories from attendees about how they’re using cloud technology, the challenges they face, and their aspirations for the future. The creativity and talent in the Indian tech community were truly inspiring, and I left the hall feeling energized by the connections we’d made.

After the booth crawl, we headed out for dinner with one of our key partners, with whom we’re collaborating to launch a new Civo region in South Asia. Over another incredible Indian meal, we discussed our shared vision for the region and the exciting opportunities ahead. It was a fantastic way to end the day, surrounded by great food and even better company.

Day 3: Wrapping Up KubeCon India

The third day of my trip marked the second and final day of KubeCon India. By now, I’d settled into the rhythm of the event—early starts, bustling crowds, and countless cups of coffee to keep the energy up. Once again, I arrived at the Yashobhoomi Conference Center bright and early, ready to make the most of the final day of this unforgettable experience.

As the sponsor hall doors opened at 11 AM, there was another rush of attendees eager to explore and engage. It wasn’t quite as frantic as Day 1, but there was still a palpable excitement in the air as people streamed in to visit booths, grab swag, and watch demos. The slightly quieter pace was a welcome change, allowing for more focused conversations and a chance to soak in the event’s atmosphere.

Exploring, Networking, and Friendly Faces

With Kunal commanding the spotlight at our booth, I took the opportunity to explore the sponsor hall and catch up with some familiar faces. These moments are always special—bumping into old friends, industry peers, and even a few attendees who’ve been part of past events. It’s a reminder of how interconnected the tech world really is, even on the other side of the globe.

I also stopped by a few other booths to see what other sponsors were showcasing. It’s always inspiring to learn about new technologies and approaches, and let’s be honest, it’s a great excuse to snag some swag and talk shop with like-minded people.

The quieter moments of the day also allowed for deeper conversations with attendees, sharing ideas, discussing challenges, and finding common ground. These interactions are what make events like KubeCon so meaningful—they’re not just about technology, but about the people who make it all happen.

KubeCon India: That’s a Wrap

At 4:30 PM, the event officially came to an end, marking the conclusion of the first-ever KubeCon in India. It had been an incredible two days—filled with great people, excellent hospitality, and seamless organization by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF).

Before we packed up, there was just enough time for plenty of pictures with our team and a few individual selfies to commemorate the occasion. As we said our goodbyes, I took a moment to thank the entire team for their hard work and dedication over the past few days. Their efforts had been instrumental in making the event such a success, and it was a proud moment to see the camaraderie and culture we’ve built at Civo shine through.#

Packing up the booth was bittersweet. On the one hand, it was a relief to take a breather after such a hectic schedule, but on the other, it felt like saying goodbye to something truly special.

Unwinding and Reflecting on an Amazing Few Days

After the event, we headed out for one final meal to unwind. The restaurant was exceptional, with food that was the best I had on the trip. The flavors were rich, the dishes perfectly spiced, and the naan bread warm and crisp. It was the perfect way to reflect on an amazing two days, share a few laughs, and toast to the future.

Back at the hotel, we treated ourselves to one last nightcap at the bar—a small tradition we’d kept throughout the trip. As I sat there, reflecting on the past two days, I couldn’t help but feel grateful for the incredible experience. From the packed sponsor hall and Kunal’s stellar demos to the meaningful conversations, connections with our team, and even the organized chaos, KubeCon India exceeded all my expectations and left me with memories I’d cherish for a long time.

By midnight, I was in bed, tired but content, with memories of the first-ever KubeCon India to carry home. What an event. What a team. What a trip. Here’s to many more milestones ahead in India…as we have even bigger plans for 2025!