For years, access to sophisticated technology infrastructure was seen as the preserve of large corporations with deep pockets and dedicated IT teams. SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) had to make do with limited computing resources, expensive hardware purchases, and in-house servers that required constant maintenance.
But in the last 15-odd years, cloud computing has begun to change that equation. By giving small businesses access to computing power, storage, networking, and software over the internet on a pay-as-you-go basis, cloud services have lowered the entry barrier to adopting enterprise-grade technology. Companies can launch applications faster and scale as their business grows, without large upfront investments in hardware. This has been highly beneficial to SMEs and small caps in India, which operate with lean teams and limited technology budgets.
One firm that operates in this space is CloudPe, an India-focused cloud computing platform designed to help startups, SMEs, listed smallcaps and other enterprises build scalable and secure digital infrastructure. The company provides clients with managed cloud services, migration services and cloud consultation services designed to help small businesses scale without building large in-house technology teams.
We spoke to the company’s Founder and CEO, Ishan Talathi, about cloud adoption in the SME segment, the challenges they face, and how cloud infrastructure is helping smaller companies compete in an increasingly digital economy.
What led you to found CloudPe, and what pain point were you trying to address?
CloudPe was built after identifying a persistent gap in the market: Indian SMEs were rapidly adopting cloud, but most available solutions were either overly complex, expensive, or not optimised for their scale of operations. We saw businesses struggling with unpredictable pricing, inefficient resource allocation, and limited infrastructure support during critical growth stages.
That’s where CloudPe positioned itself differently- by offering simplified, scalable cloud infrastructure with instant VM deployment, flexible storage, managed Kubernetes, and predictable pricing, all designed specifically for the needs of growing Indian businesses.
(Kubernetes, also known as K8s, is an open-source system that helps organisations run and manage applications across multiple servers automatically. It can handle app deployment, scale them up or down based on demand, balance workloads, and recover the app from failures without manual intervention.)
What services and solutions does CloudPe offer to Indian SMEs and startups?
CloudPe is a full-stack cloud platform with VMs, managed Kubernetes, flexible storage, load balancing, and GPU-powered infrastructure for AI, ML, and high-performance workloads.
With the launch of CMPv2, we’ve further strengthened the platform through improved automation, infrastructure management, monitoring, and scalability features designed for modern businesses.
Beyond infrastructure, we also support migration, deployment, optimisation, and ongoing managed services—helping businesses scale efficiently without requiring large in-house DevOps teams.
What misconceptions do SMEs and small caps have about adopting cloud infrastructure, and what constraints do they face?
The biggest misconception around cloud infrastructure is that it is expensive, when in reality, the challenge is often inefficient utilisation and unpredictable pricing.
With rising hardware costs, memory and storage supply constraints, and server procurement delays in 2026, businesses are increasingly prioritising the performance, flexibility, reliability, and instant scalability that cloud offers over traditional infrastructure.
The key concerns for SMEs remain cost predictability, limited technical expertise, and vendor dependency.
At what stage do you see SMEs and small caps switching to cloud infrastructure?
We see three patterns: early adopters, scaling-stage transitions, and reactive shifts after a failure or bottleneck. Earlier adoption tends to be more efficient, but our role is to make the transition smooth and cost-effective at any stage.
How do CloudPe’s solutions benefit small companies?
We are building CloudPe around what growing businesses actually need: Instant VM deployment for speed, flexible storage that scales with demand, managed Kubernetes for modern, cloud-native applications, and intelligent load balancing to ensure consistent performance.
Layered on top of this is a strong focus on compliance and uptime, and businesses can scale with confidence and near-zero downtime. The outcome is simple: Faster execution, optimised costs, and infrastructure that grows with the business.
Do you work with any listed smallcap companies at present?
We work with a range of high-growth companies across sectors, including businesses that may be listed or on that path. Companies such as:
- CSJ Data Technologies
- SHAREit
- Nakoda Sales
- Global Communication
- VK Industries
Strong retention and expansion within our client base reflect the value we deliver.
Have any recent government policies (like data localisation) helped grow your business?
Yes, data localisation has accelerated awareness around where and how data is managed.
This aligns well with our India-first infrastructure approach and acts as a long-term tailwind for localised cloud providers like us.
What do you see as CloudPe’s USP in a sector dominated by giants like AWS and Azure?
Our strength is focus. We’re building CloudPe specifically for SMEs. Businesses get simpler deployment, transparent pricing, and hands-on support. We’re not trying to be a hyperscaler; we’re solving a more focused, underserved problem.
Is there anyone you look up to in the cloud infra ecosystem in India?
We’re inspired by the broader shift toward building infrastructure for India’s specific needs.
There’s a strong movement toward localisation and efficiency, and we aim to contribute meaningfully to that ecosystem.
And last: Where do you see CloudPe in the next 5 years? Any IPO plans?
Our goal is to become the go-to cloud platform for SMEs and startups globally.
We’re focused on scaling our product, infrastructure, and customer base. An IPO is a possibility long term, but right now, the priority is building a strong, sustainable business.
Ishan Talathi is the Founder & CEO of CloudPe and LeapSwitch Networks. He is a tech entrepreneur driving affordable and simplified cloud infrastructure solutions for enterprises and startups.