Automating DevSecOps with Policy-as-Code: Why DVC Invested in Nirmata
Kubernetes has revolutionized cloud-native application development, enabling enterprises to deploy and scale workloads rapidly. Starting with Kubernetes, Nirmata pioneered Policy-as-Code (PAC) to simplify governance and compliance. Today, their vision extends beyond Kubernetes, leveraging PAC to automate DevSecOps across broader infrastructure, including CI/CD pipelines and cloud resources.
At Dallas Venture Capital (DVC), we back transformative solutions like Nirmata that address the evolving challenges of governance, security, and operational efficiency in modern IT environments. Our investment reflects confidence in Nirmata’s ability to lead the way in policy automation for Kubernetes and beyond.
Policy-as-Code: From Kubernetes to Infrastructure
Nirmata’s journey began with Kyverno, a Kubernetes-native policy engine that automates governance through a developer-friendly YAML-based PAC framework. With over 3.2 billion downloads and recognition as a CNCF Top 20 Contributor, Kyverno is trusted by enterprises worldwide to secure and optimize Kubernetes environments.
Building on this foundation, Nirmata is now expanding PAC into:
CI/CD pipelines: Automating compliance and governance during application delivery.
Cloud resources: Enforcing policies for multi-cloud infrastructures.
This evolution positions Nirmata as the go-to solution for enterprise-wide policy automation, aligning governance seamlessly across complex IT environments.
AI and the Rising Demand for Kubernetes Pods AI-driven workloads are reshaping enterprise infrastructure, and Kubernetes has emerged as the backbone for managing intelligent applications.
The rapid growth in Kubernetes Pods is fueled by:
Dynamic scaling for elastic compute and storage resources.
High-performance orchestration of resource-intensive AI/ML pipelines.
Real-time operations with automated scaling, monitoring, and governance.
However, AI adoption also introduces challenges like vulnerabilities from AI-generated code, governance complexity in hybrid-cloud environments, and the need for real-time policy enforcement. Nirmata’s Policy-as-Code (PAC) platform addresses these challenges by automating policy generation, enforcement, and remediation. By securing Kubernetes clusters and beyond, Nirmata empowers enterprises to innovate confidently, ensuring governance, security, and scalability in an AI-first world.
Why We Invested
A Market-Defining Opportunity: Cloud-native applications are growing at 30% CAGR, with 80% of enterprises expected to adopt Kubernetes by 2027. Nirmata’s PAC platform is well-positioned to meet the demand for secure, scalable governance.
AI Driving Kubernetes Adoption: The proliferation of AI workloads is driving exponential growth in Kubernetes Pods, further amplifying the need for automated governance tools like Nirmata’s PAC solutions.
Expansion Beyond Kubernetes: Nirmata’s expansion into CI/CD, cloud resources, and IaC reflects its ability to scale PAC solutions across enterprise-wide infrastructure.
Unparalleled Open Source Impact: Kyverno’s success, with 3.2 billion+ downloads and its recognition as a CNCF Top 20 Contributor, underscores Nirmata’s leadership in Kubernetes governance.
Exceptional Leadership and Traction: Led by Jim Bugwadia, Nirmata achieved 10X revenue growth in 2024, with adoption by industry leaders like Duke Energy, Games24x7, and Razorpay.
Co-Investors Supporting Nirmata
We are thrilled to join Peak XV’s Surge (formerly Sequoia Capital India), Dreamit Ventures, Z5 Capital, and Uncorrelated Ventures in supporting Nirmata. Together, we are enabling enterprises to redefine governance and automation.
"Nirmata’s journey from pioneering Policy-as-Code for Kubernetes to scaling automated governance across DevSecOps infrastructure is a testament to their innovative vision. As AI-driven workloads amplify the complexity of IT environments, Nirmata’s solutions empower enterprises to automate governance, secure their operations, and innovate confidently. At DVC, we are excited to partner with Nirmata in shaping the future of infrastructure policy automation." — Ravish Ailinani, Partner, Dallas Venture Capital
The Road Ahead
With this funding, Nirmata is poised to:
Expand Policy-as-Code solutions beyond Kubernetes to CI/CD, cloud, and IaC.
Address the growing demand for Kubernetes Pods driven by AI workloads.
Scale their operations in the US and India to serve global enterprises.
The future of DevSecOps automation is here, and Nirmata is leading the way. Learn more about their journey at Nirmata and connect with us on LinkedIn for updates on our portfolio.