DaoCloud
DaoCloud is a Shanghai-based cloud-native infrastructure vendor selling modular DaoCloud Enterprise 5.0 and d.run AI Operating System software to 1,000+ enterprise customers across fintech, manufacturing, automotive, government, retail, energy, and education in China and selectively in Southeast Asia.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersShanghai, China
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What DaoCloud does
DaoCloud Network Technology Co., Ltd., founded in 2014 and headquartered in Shanghai with overseas headquarters in Singapore, is a privately-held cloud-native technology vendor serving 1,000+ enterprise clients across seven verticals: fintech, advanced manufacturing, automotive, government, retail, energy, and education. The company's flagship product is DaoCloud Enterprise 5.0 (DCE 5.0), a CNCF-certified Kubernetes-AI platform composed of independent, modular components covering container management (KPanda), multi-cluster orchestration (Kairship), service mesh (MSpider), microservice engine (Skoala), CI/CD (Workbench/Amamba), observability (Insight), edge collaboration (Kant), and AI Lab for training/inference. The portfolio is monetized through tiered annual subscriptions (Community free, Standard, Advanced, Platinum) with editions scaled to capabilities from container management to multi-cloud orchestration and HA data services, supplemented by professional services for application modernization and DevSecOps, Kubernetes training and certification as a CNCF KTP partner, and a Cloud Native Appliance hardware offering.
The company has built a parallel AI product line in 2022-2023, anchored by the d.run AI Operating System, AI Lab, and LLM Studio modules supporting text and multimodal large language model lifecycle management, positioning DaoCloud as an enterprise AI infrastructure vendor in addition to its cloud-native roots. Distribution combines direct enterprise field sales, a DaoCloud Partner Network of 100+ ecological partners, listings on the Huawei Cloud Marketplace, a community-led growth motion through the free DCE Community edition, and CNCF ecosystem participation that includes sole-Chinese-membership on the Istio Steering Committee, first-Chinese-membership in the eBPF Foundation, and multiple CNCF sandbox projects (Clusterpedia, Merbridge, HwameiStor, Spiderpool, Kubean). Strategic investors include Hundsun Technologies, CICC, Huatai Securities, Puhua Capital, Sichuan Development Holding, and Yuxin Shicheng, with cumulative disclosed funding of approximately $76M USD across seven rounds from 2014 to 2023, and the company is described as a quasi-unicorn enterprise in technology.
DaoCloud firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DaoCloud
- Legal name
- DaoCloud Network Technology Co., Ltd.
- Website
- https://daocloud.io
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- DaoCloud is a Shanghai-based cloud-native infrastructure vendor selling modular DaoCloud Enterprise 5.0 and d.run AI Operating System software to 1,000+ enterprise customers across fintech, manufacturing, automotive, government, retail, energy, and education in China and selectively in Southeast Asia.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
DaoCloud industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cloud Native Platform / Cloud Infrastructure Software
- NAICS
- Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (5182), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Managed Container Platforms (Kubernetes & Container PaaS) (HDABAAAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Hybrid Cloud Compute & Virtualization Stack (HCI/VMs/Kubernetes) (HDABAMAF), Cloud-Native Application Development (Containers/Kubernetes/Serverless) (BPAEAFAE), Cloud-Native Development (Containers, Kubernetes, Microservices) (BPAEACAD), Digital Experience Monitoring & Management (DEX/DEM, AIOps for EUC) (BPAEAIAF)
Keywords
Where DaoCloud is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Shanghai
- HQ country
- China
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices9 records
Markets served
DaoCloud business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Software Licenses - DaoCloud Enterprise 5.0: Enterprise software licenses for DCE 5.0 with multiple editions: Community (free), Standard, Advanced, and Platinum. Each tier provides increasing capabilities from basic container management to multi-cloud orchestration and HA data services.
- DaoCloud Enterprise 5.0 Editions: Community Edition (free/open source), Standard Edition (production-grade cloud native infrastructure, x86/ARM, cloud edge), Advanced Edition (adds microservices governance and observability), Platinum Edition (adds multi-cloud orchestration and HA data services).
- Consulting Services: Professional services including Application Modernization consulting and DevSecOps Solution implementation to accelerate digital transformation.
- Training and Certification: Kubernetes training services (CKAD, CKA, CKS certifications). One of the first Kubernetes Training Partners (KTP).
- Cloud Native Appliance: Hardware appliance combining intelligent bare metal with cloud native operating system for plug-and-play cloud native experience.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Community Edition - Free and open source enterprise Kubernetes platform |
| Subscription | Annual | Standard Edition - Production-grade cloud native infrastructure |
| Subscription | Annual | Advanced Edition - Adds microservices governance and observability |
| Subscription | Annual | Platinum Edition - Multi-cloud orchestration and HA data services |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels9 records
DaoCloud product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DaoCloud builds and sells DaoCloud Enterprise 5.0 (DCE 5.0), a CNCF-certified Kubernetes cloud native operating system for enterprise digital transformation, along with the d.run AI Operating System for enterprise AI workloads. Its offerings span a modular software portfolio (container management, multicloud orchestration, service mesh, microservices, observability, CI/CD, AI/LLM tooling) sold as tiered editions (Community, Standard, Advanced, Platinum) plus a Cloud Native Appliance that bundles intelligent bare metal with the DCE OS. Complementary professional services cover Application Modernization consulting, DevSecOps implementation, and Kubernetes training and certification.
Product overview
DaoCloud offers a modular cloud native operating system portfolio centered on DaoCloud Enterprise 5.0 (DCE 5.0), a CNCF-certified Kubernetes-AI platform. The product family includes: core DCE 5.0 platform with tiered editions (Community/free, Standard, Advanced with microservices governance, Platinum with multicloud orchestration); d.run AI Operating System for enterprise AI workload management; AI Lab for ML training/inference; LLM Studio for large language model deployment; and specialized modules for observability (Insight), service mesh (MSpider), microservices (Skoala), CI/CD (Workbench), container management, multicloud management, virtual machines, edge computing, and middleware integration.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- DaoCloud Enterprise 5.0 (DCE 5.0): A high-performance and scalable cloud native operating system providing seamless experience across diverse infrastructures, empowering enterprises to adapt effortlessly to any scenario.
- DaoCloud Enterprise Community
- DaoCloud Enterprise 5.0 Standard
- DaoCloud Enterprise 5.0 Advanced
- DaoCloud Enterprise 5.0 Platinum
- DaoCloud Cloud Native Appliance
- d.run AI Operating System
Products and services
- DaoCloud Enterprise 5.0 (DCE 5.0) High-performance, scalable CNCF-certified Kubernetes cloud native operating system delivering consistent experience across hybrid, edge, and multicloud environments for enterprise digital transformation.
- DaoCloud Enterprise Community Free and open next-generation enterprise Kubernetes management platform with basic container management, global management, and observability capabilities, used for learning and evaluation.
- DaoCloud Enterprise 5.0 Standard Production-grade cloud native infrastructure edition supporting both x86 and ARM architectures with cloud edge collaboration capabilities.
- DaoCloud Enterprise 5.0 Advanced Advanced tier providing microservices governance and observability on top of DCE 5.0 Standard, including service mesh and microservice engine capabilities.
- DaoCloud Enterprise 5.0 Platinum Top-tier edition that adds multi-cloud orchestration to DCE 5.0 Advanced along with highly available data services and middleware integration.
- DaoCloud Cloud Native Appliance Hardware-plus-software appliance that combines intelligent bare metal with the DCE cloud native operating system to deliver plug-and-play cloud native infrastructure.
- d.run AI Operating System Enterprise-grade AI operating system platform that seamlessly integrates compute, models, and applications for enterprise AI data centers.
- Application Modernization Consulting Professional consulting services that help enterprises accelerate digital transformation from strategy through implementation.
- DevSecOps Solution Consulting Professional consulting service that accelerates software development and continuously improves O&M efficiency through DevSecOps practices.
- Kubernetes Training and Certification Kubernetes training and certification services for CKAD, CKA, and CKS delivered as one of the first CNCF Kubernetes Training Partners (KTP).
Quantifiable outcome
- Top 3 worldwide Kubernetes contributions
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use DaoCloud
Customer profileNamed customers23 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
DaoCloud technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration19 records
AI capability9 records
Feature6 records
DaoCloud partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, flagship and core.
- HATech and ChannelsoftminorCo-organized Insurance Industry Innovation Forum at 2023 Inno China Industrial Innovation Conference.
- ScantistflagshipFirst major overseas commercial order. DaoCloud partnered with Huawei Cloud to deliver multi-cloud solutions for application modernization to Scantist, a global leading software supply chain security SaaS provider.
- Sichuan Urban Commercial Bank Association and Beijing Tianfu TechnologyminorOrganized Cloud Native Technology Training for banking sector with over 40 workers from 12 different banks.
- Huawei CloudcoreStrategic partner with Joint Innovation Laboratory for cloud native applications. DaoCloud presented at Huawei Cloud Summit Spain and Huawei Cloud Marketplace (International) lists DaoCloud products. Signed Memorandum of Cooperation.
- Fullgoal Fund and Lombarda China FundminorCollaborated on Cloud Native Practices in the Fund Industry seminar.
- Bank OCBC NISP and OCBC GroupminorInvited to One Connect Series: Chinese Tech in Indonesia event hosted by Bank OCBC NISP and OCBC Group in Jakarta, Indonesia.
- TensorSecurity TechnologyminorOrganized Cloud Native Salon in Guangzhou together.
- Sichuan Internet College / Sichuan Normal UniversitycoreLaunched Cloud Native Talent Development Program with Sichuan Internet College. First institution of its kind in China for cloud native talent development.
- Watsons GroupcoreParticipated in Watsons Group 2022 Global Technology Partner Summit to explore O+O shopping integration and supply chain digital transformation.
- Clps IncorporationcoreGlobal strategic partner. Jointly showcased DaoCloud Enterprise 5.0 and digital banking solution at Singapore Fintech Festival 2022.
- Open 3D FoundationminorMember of Open 3D Foundation.
- CNCFcoreFirst fully CNCF qualified enterprise in China. One of the first CNCF members. Roby Chen serves as CNCF Ambassador. DaoCloud has contribution seats on Istio Steering Committee.
- eBPF FoundationcoreFirst Chinese company to join the eBPF Foundation.
- MicrosoftcoreEstablished strategic cooperation on public cloud with Microsoft and GitHub. DaoCloud attends Microsoft events including HDC.Cloud and Kubernetes Community Days at Microsoft.
- EMC^2coreEstablished strategic cooperation with EMC^2.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
DaoCloud competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Rafay Systems: Rafay Systems provides a Kubernetes management and application delivery platform for enterprise platform teams — comparable in offering multi-cluster management, GitOps, and lifecycle automation, with emerging traction in regulated industries.
- Platform9: Platform9 offers a SaaS-managed Kubernetes platform (Argo CD, Cluster API-based) targeting hybrid cloud and edge — an emerging pure-play with comparable vertical focus and SaaS delivery model competing for similar mid-to-large enterprise deals.
Broad incumbents
- Huawei Cloud (CCE): Huawei Cloud Container Engine (CCE) is a managed Kubernetes offering bundled with Huawei's IaaS — both a strategic partner and a direct competitor in the Chinese market with vastly larger distribution and integrated cloud infrastructure.
- Tencent Cloud TKE: Tencent Kubernetes Engine (TKE) is Tencent Cloud's managed Kubernetes offering competing across the same Chinese fintech, retail, and enterprise segments DaoCloud targets.
- Alibaba Cloud Container Service (ACK): Alibaba Cloud ACK (and ACK One for multi-cluster) is the dominant managed Kubernetes service in China — directly competing for the same Chinese enterprise customers while offering cloud infrastructure bundle advantages.
Direct peers
- SUSE (Rancher): SUSE Rancher is a CNCF-aligned enterprise Kubernetes management platform offering multi-cluster management, multi-cloud orchestration, and similar open-source community engagement — directly competing with DaoCloud's Container Management and Multicloud modules.
- Mirantis: Mirantis offers enterprise Kubernetes (Mirantis Cloud Platform), OpenStack, and managed services targeting large enterprises and telcos — a similar-sized pure-play cloud-native infrastructure competitor with comparable vertical expansion ambitions.
- Nutanix Kubernetes Platform (NKP): Nutanix Kubernetes Platform (formerly Cluster API-based DCE competitor era products) provides enterprise Kubernetes with hybrid cloud and hyperconverged infrastructure integration — comparable in addressing hybrid/multi-cloud enterprise deployments.
- VMware Tanzu (Broadcom): VMware Tanzu is an enterprise Kubernetes and application platform suite with comparable service mesh, multi-cloud, and developer tooling capabilities — competing for the same large-enterprise modernization budgets DaoCloud targets.
- Red Hat (OpenShift): Red Hat OpenShift is the global market-leading enterprise Kubernetes platform with comparable tiered editions, hybrid/multi-cloud capabilities, and an integrated developer toolchain — the most direct global competitor to DaoCloud Enterprise 5.0.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
DaoCloud social profiles
Digital presenceDaoCloud compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
DaoCloud financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DaoCloud leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
DaoCloud funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors10 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DaoCloud M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments2 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about DaoCloud
What does DaoCloud do?
DaoCloud builds and sells DaoCloud Enterprise 5.0 (DCE 5.0), a CNCF-certified Kubernetes cloud native operating system for enterprise digital transformation, along with the d.run AI Operating System for enterprise AI workloads. Its offerings span a modular software portfolio (container management, multicloud orchestration, service mesh, microservices, observability, CI/CD, AI/LLM tooling) sold as tiered editions (Community, Standard, Advanced, Platinum) plus a Cloud Native Appliance that bundles intelligent bare metal with the DCE OS. Complementary professional services cover Application Modernization consulting, DevSecOps implementation, and Kubernetes training and certification.
Is DaoCloud a public or private company?
DaoCloud is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was DaoCloud founded?
DaoCloud was founded in 2014. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is DaoCloud based?
DaoCloud is headquartered in Shanghai, China, in the Asia region.
How does DaoCloud make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Software Licenses - DaoCloud Enterprise 5.0 is the primary driver. The others are daoCloud Enterprise 5.0 Editions, consulting Services, training and Certification and cloud Native Appliance.
Who are DaoCloud's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Rafay Systems and Platform9. Broad incumbents are Huawei Cloud (CCE), Tencent Cloud TKE and Alibaba Cloud Container Service (ACK). Direct peers are SUSE (Rancher), Mirantis, Nutanix Kubernetes Platform (NKP), VMware Tanzu (Broadcom) and Red Hat (OpenShift).
Does DaoCloud have an API?
Yes. DaoCloud provides developer resources including a Download Center with open API access at https://daocloud.io/developer/open-api/index.html. The platform supports OpenTelemetry-based observability data collection and provides various SDK integration options for Java and Golang applications as documented in the Insight observability module. Developer documentation is at docs.daocloud.io/en.
What industry is DaoCloud in?
DaoCloud's product category is Cloud Native Platform / Cloud Infrastructure Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDABAAAB, Managed Container Platforms (Kubernetes & Container PaaS), with a secondary code of HDABAMAF, Hybrid Cloud Compute & Virtualization Stack (HCI/VMs/Kubernetes). Its NAICS code is 5182 and its SIC code is 7372.