June 27, 2025
Cannes, France – June 2025:
PoliCloud, a fast-emerging French provider of sovereign high-performance computing (HPC) cloud infrastructure, has closed a €7.5 million seed round, marking a key milestone in its mission to redefine how Europe approaches cloud computing.
Led by Global Ventures, one of MENA’s leading venture capital firms, the round also drew participation from notable investors including MI8 Limited (a Hong Kong-based multi-family office), OneRagtime (Paris), Inria (France’s national research institute for digital science and technology), and several seasoned business angels.
The new capital will power PoliCloud’s global expansion strategy, starting with key public and private sector partnerships in Europe, while also accelerating team hiring and scaling operations.
A European Answer to Cloud Sovereignty & Sustainability
Founded by serial entrepreneur David Gurlé, PoliCloud addresses a pressing need in today’s cloud computing landscape: a sovereign, eco-conscious, and scalable alternative to centralized cloud giants.
The cloud computing market, valued at $800 billion and growing annually at 20%, is increasingly dominated by U.S.-based hyperscalers such as Amazon and Google. With AI adoption surging and SMEs rapidly requiring affordable, secure, and local computing power, the time is ripe for a European-built solution.
PoliCloud’s edge computing infrastructure, built in partnership with Hivenet—a leader in distributed cloud networks—offers a decentralized approach to storage and HPC, drastically reducing environmental impact and ensuring data sovereignty.
What Sets PoliCloud Apart?
PoliCloud’s cloud units are containerized micro-data centers installed directly in cities, enterprises, and public institutions. This distributed architecture empowers local communities, reduces latency, and lowers energy usage. The model stands in contrast to massive, centralized data farms that are expensive, environmentally taxing, and vulnerable to geopolitical risks.
Key advantages include:
- Federated computing with access to 1,000+ GPUs by end-2025, scaling to 20,000+ by 2026
- Minimal energy footprint and rapid deployment
- Scalable modular design that adapts to user needs
- CapEx and OpEx efficiency via resource sharing
- Stronger resilience and faster performance
A Platform Backed by Cities and Institutions
Cities like Cannes are already onboard, supplying PoliCloud modules with power and fiber, and offering capacity to local incubators and startups. Private enterprises like Data Factory are using PoliCloud to offer advanced HPC services to clients in the U.S.
Launched in February 2025 at the World Artificial Intelligence Cannes Festival (WAICF), and supported by five cities in the Alpes-Maritimes, PoliCloud has shown early signs of strong momentum—selling four units in its first three months and projecting over €6 million in revenue by year-end, while already operating cash flow positive.
Investor Endorsements: Strong Support from Strategic Backers
David Gurlé, Founder of PoliCloud:
“PoliCloud meets a growing demand for sovereign, secure, and eco-responsible cloud infrastructure. With AI accelerating, the need for affordable and scalable computing power is urgent. We’re grateful to Global Ventures and our investors for their belief in this mission.”
Simon Sharp, Senior Partner at Global Ventures:
“We see in PoliCloud a product with clear market demand, multiple competitive advantages, and global potential. Their distributed model offers next-gen computing with resilience, security, and lower costs—a perfect fit for today’s AI-driven world.”
Stephanie Hospital, Founder & CEO of OneRagtime:
“As a believer in decentralized cloud, I see PoliCloud as a timely solution to address the cost, security, and sustainability challenges of current cloud systems.”
Bruno Sportisse, CEO of Inria:
“PoliCloud’s vision aligns with our commitment to secure, decentralized computing. This investment supports France’s digital sovereignty goals.”
Guillaume Dhamelincourt, Managing Director of MI8:
“The need for cost-effective, sovereign cloud infrastructure is accelerating. We see PoliCloud as a key player meeting that demand for both public and private sectors.”
A Sustainable Vision for the Future of Cloud
PoliCloud’s solution prioritizes data sovereignty, end-to-end encryption, and eco-conscious operations—delivering a cloud that is secure, modular, and planet-friendly. Its container-based data centers operate locally while connecting to a federated grid for global scale.
This is more than just infrastructure—it’s a redefinition of cloud strategy, one that respects local regulations, empowers communities, and aligns with the EU’s tech sovereignty and green transition goals.
About PoliCloud
PoliCloud is a distributed cloud platform built for cities, enterprises, and institutions that value sovereignty, security, and sustainability. Each unit is a plug-and-play module delivering compute and storage locally while integrating into a broader network.
- Sovereignty: Data stays within local regulation
- Security: End-to-end encryption and live protection
- Sustainability: Low energy, no water waste
- Scalability: Snap-in modular expansion
🔗 policloud.com | 📩 queenie@policloud.com
About Hivenet
Hivenet is a global distributed cloud platform replacing centralized data centers with crowdsourced computing power. It enables secure file storage, data processing, and transfers using idle resources from connected devices—offering speed, fairness, and sustainability.
🔗 hivenet.com | 📩 queenie@hivenet.com
