ಧ್ರುವ — Kannada for the North Star. Fixed. Unwavering. Always guiding.
The Infrastructure That Moves With You.
No Matter How High You Climb.
India's largest startup cloud infrastructure programme, in official collaboration with the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission. We are opening ₹5 Crore in infrastructure credits to startups across Karnataka, with a goal to onboard 1100+ startups into the programme.
Jury-Selected Programme
Backed by Government of Karnataka
Up to 100% Free Infrastructure
AN OFFICIAL INITIATIVE
Total infrastructure credits
pledged by VergeCloud
Startups across Karnataka
supported through this programme
Free infrastructure for eligible
Nebula-tier startups
WHAT IS DHRUVA
The North Star for Karnataka's Startups
In ancient India, sailors navigated oceans using Dhruva — the one star that never moved. We built this programme to be exactly that for your startup.
VergeCloud, in official collaboration with the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM), has launched Dhruva, a first-of-its-kind startup infrastructure enablement programme built to solve one of the most overlooked challenges in early-stage growth: access to reliable, enterprise-grade cloud infrastructure.
Most startups in India don't invest in security and performance infrastructure until something goes wrong. Dhruva is designed to change that. Qualifying startups receive production-grade CDN, WAF, DDoS protection, DNS, and edge performance infrastructure at up to 100% off, from day one.
This is not a discount programme. Dhruva is a structured, jury-selected, merit-based initiative backed by ₹5 Crore in committed infrastructure credits, with clear accountability on both sides.
Made for India, Built in India
VergeCloud is India's first homegrown edge infrastructure platform. Dhruva is our commitment to the ecosystem that made us.
Beyond Metro, First
Dhruva welcomes startups from every city across India. Startups based in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities receive additional consideration from the jury, as part of the programme's broader vision to make enterprise infrastructure accessible everywhere.
Government-Backed Credibility
In official collaboration with KDEM, a Section 8 organisation of the Government of Karnataka. A signed MoU. Real accountability. Not a marketing initiative.
Jury-Selected. Merit-Based.
A 5-member independent jury evaluates every application. Your use case, industry, and user base determine your tier — not who you know.
INFRASTRUCTURE CREDITS
Four Constellations. One Mission.
The jury evaluates your application and places you in the tier that fits your stage, industry, and scale. All selected startups receive 100% credits — durations vary by tier.
COHORET CAPACITY
Spots Remaining in the 2026 Cohort
Each tier has a fixed number of spots. Once filled, that tier closes. The jury selects which tier your startup is placed in — but knowing availability helps you act early.
NEBULA
Nebula
for 1,000+ qualifying startups
- Access to all Dhruva workshops & masterclasses
- Onboarding & configuration support
- Public Workshops & Security Sessions
View plans features
- 500GB Monthly Data Transfer
- 500,000 Monthly Requests
- DNS Record Management
- Free SSL cert
- Core Caching
- Essential Connection Security
- Basic Load Balancing
- Basic DDOS Protection
- Basic Firewall
- Entry-Level Rate Limiting
- WAF Protection
- Performance Page Rules
- Basic Acceleration
- Basic Reporting
- Log Forwarding
- Standard Support
NOVA
for 100+ qualifying startups
- Security Consultation — 30 min
- Security Audits — 1 Audit
- KDEM Mentorship — Limited Access
- VergeCloud Events — 1 Pass
- KDEM x VC Co-Hosted Events
View plans features
- 5TB Monthly Data Transfer
- 5,000,000 Monthly Requests
- Detailed DNS Management
- Free SSL cert
- Comprehensive Caching Features
- Enhanced Connection Security
- Comprehensive Load Balancing
- Robust DDOS Protection
- Expanded Firewall Capabilities
- Comprehensive Rate Limiting
- Comprehensive WAF Protection
- Detailed Page Rules
- Enhanced Performance Acceleration
- Extended Reporting
- Log Forwarding
- Comprehensive Support
Stellar
for 10+ qualifying startups
- Security Consultation — 5 Hours
- Security Audits — 2 Audit
- KDEM Mentorship
- VergeCloud Events — 2 Pass
- KDEM x VC Co-Hosted Events
- Expert/Jury Connect
View plans features
- 20TB Monthly Data Transfer
- 50,000,000 Monthly Requests
- Comprehensive DNS Record
- Free SSL cert
- Advanced Caching Features
- Enhanced Connection Security
- Advanced Load Balancing
- Superior DDOS Protection
- Extensive Firewall Features
- Advanced Rate Limiting
- Advanced WAF Protection
- Detailed Page Rules
- Enhanced Performance Acceleration
- Comprehensive Reporting
- Advanced Logging
- Comprehensive Support
COSMIC
Reserved for one exceptional startup selected by the jury for extraordinary scale, impact, or innovation — across any sector.
- DHRUVA PROGRAMME BENEFITS
- Security Consultation — 10 Hours
- Security Audits — 4 Audit
- Migration Support — 10 Hours
- Ecosystem & KDEM Benefits
- KDEM Mentorship Program
- VergeCloud Private Events — 4 Passes
- KDEM × VergeCloud Co-Hosted Events
- Expert / Jury Connect
- Public Workshops & Security Sessions
View plans features
- Everything in Stellar, plus:
- Full EdgeGuard Security Suite
- DPDP Act & CERT-In compliance support
- Dedicated account management
- Priority SLA & 24×7 technical support
- Custom onboarding & migration assistance
- Co-branding & success story opportunities
- Edge Computing early access (coming soon)
Spot counts reflect the maximum programme capacity. The jury determines final placements. All spots are subject to eligibility review.
THE SELECTION JURY
Evaluated by Industry Leaders
The Dhruva jury is a five-member panel of senior professionals, each handpicked for their experience, industry standing, and domain expertise. Together they represent government, enterprise, technology, and academia, bringing a well-rounded perspective to every application they review.
How selection works: The jury receives anonymised application summaries covering your product, industry vertical, current infrastructure setup, user/customer base, and growth trajectory. They evaluate collectively and assign tier placements based on merit, need, and fit. No single jury member has veto power. All decisions are final.
PROGRAMME TIMELINE
From Application to Launch — In 30 Days
Everything moves fast. Here's what to expect, and when.
Jury Formation Announced
The 5-member jury is formally confirmed and introduced to the ecosystem
Applications Open
Fill in the Dhruva application form with your basic startup details. Once submitted, the VergeCloud team reaches out within 24 hours to collect further information and begin your review.
Applications Close
Deadline for all applications. Reviews begin on a rolling basis before this date, so the sooner you apply, the sooner your process starts.
Jury Review & Outreach
Ongoing The jury evaluates applications on a rolling basis. As soon as your application is complete and verified, the process moves forward. You will not be kept waiting.
Onboarding & Credits Live Ongoing
Once approved, your onboarding begins immediately. Credits are activated the moment you are set up on VergeCloud. There is no fixed go-live date your credits are live as soon as you are.
Selections & Announcements
Every selected startup is notified directly by the VergeCloud team with their tier, credits, and next steps. Once confirmed, all Dhruva startups are publicly featured on the official Dhruva page.
WHAT YOU GET
Infrastructure That Doesn't Hold You Back
Everything a scaling startup needs to build on secure, fast, and resilient infrastructure. From day one.
Cloud Security Credits
Access to VergeCloud's CDN, WAF, DDoS protection, and edge infrastructure platform through dedicated credits applied to your account at activation.
Onboarding and Configuration
Hands-on onboarding sessions with architecture guidance tailored specifically to your tech stack, traffic patterns, and compliance requirements.
Workshops and Masterclasses
Technical sessions on cloud security, scalability, DPDP Act compliance readiness, and infrastructure best practices — delivered by VergeCloud's engineering team.
Ongoing Technical Advisory
Continued access to VergeCloud's technical team as your infrastructure needs grow. You're not alone after onboarding.
Compliance Readiness
Support with DPDP Act 2023, CERT-In directives, and sector-specific compliance alignment — built into your onboarding process, not added later.
Edge Performance Optimization
Low-latency content delivery and ultra-fast DNS resolution powered by VergeCloud's India-wide PoP network, including coverage for Tier 2 and 3 cities.
ELIGIBILITY
Built for the Builders Who Are Ready
Dhruva is a merit-based programme. There are no complex eligibility gates — but the jury does look for specific signals.
Open to Startups Across India
Dhruva is a Pan-India programme. Any startup registered or actively operating in India is eligible to apply, regardless of where they are based.
Incorporated Entity
Pvt. Ltd., LLP, OPC, or equivalent. Sole proprietorships are not eligible for this cohort.
Digital-First Product or Service
Your business must deliver value through a digital product, platform, or service. Infrastructure benefits only apply if you're serving users digitally.
Active User Base or Paying Customers
You don't need to be at scale — but the jury looks for proof of traction: active users, customers, or a clear path to production deployment.
Commitment to Infrastructure Best Practices
Selected startups commit to attending onboarding sessions, participating in at least one workshop, and sharing outcome data with the Dhruva team at 90 days.
WHO SHOULD APPLY
Founders Building Outside the Metros
All startups are equally welcome to apply. The jury gives additional consideration to founders building in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, where access to enterprise-grade infrastructure has traditionally been limited.
Fintech, Healthtech, and Edtech
Where security and compliance are non-negotiable. DPDP Act readiness support is built into your Dhruva onboarding.
SaaS, D2C, OTT, and Gaming
Any digital-first business serving users at scale. If you have latency, reliability, or delivery challenges, Dhruva addresses them directly.
Tier 2 and Tier 3 Karnataka Founders
Startups building outside Bengaluru receive additional consideration from the jury. The Beyond Bengaluru vision is central to Dhruva.
Deep Tech and AI-Native Companies
AI inference, real-time APIs, and model serving all demand edge infrastructure. If you're building compute-heavy digital products, this is for you.
Apply for Dhruva
Your North Star is Waiting
Once submitted, you will receive an email with further instructions on next steps.
By applying, you agree to the Dhruva programme terms. All applications are reviewed confidentially by the jury. VergeCloud and KDEM reserve the right to accept or decline applications without providing reasons.
Featured Press Coverage
Dhruva offers ₹5 crore in cloud infrastructure credits to help more than 1,100 Indian startups build and scale securely.
Published by:
Behind Dhruva
The Organisations That Made This Possible
Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM) is a Section 8 organisation established by the Government of Karnataka, mandated to accelerate the growth of the state's digital economy across IT, startups, innovation, and allied sectors. Its Beyond Bengaluru initiative drives inclusive growth across Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.