Simplifying Stateful Workloads: The Rise of Kubernetes-Native Data Platforms

What if running databases in Kubernetes could be as simple as spinning up a container—without cloud lock-in or complexity?

In this episode of IT Infrastructure as a Conversation, I’m joined by Tamal Saha, founder of AppsCode, a company rethinking how we manage data on Kubernetes. We met during the IT Press Tour in London, and this conversation dives deep into how AppsCode is tackling one of the most stubborn challenges in enterprise IT: stateful workloads.

From CubeDB to Stash, Voyager, and KubeVault, Tamal walks us through the full story—from his early days at Google and the emergence of Kubernetes to bootstrapping a company through open source tools and evolving it into a full-fledged enterprise platform. We explore:

• The challenges of running databases in Kubernetes and why traditional VM-based infrastructure falls short
• Why database provisioning, backups, secret management, and ingress need Kubernetes-native solutions
• How AppsCode pivoted from open source tools to a sustainable business model
• Real-world enterprise use cases—including a major European telco’s cloud-native transformation
• The road ahead: vector databases, open telemetry, and AI-driven automation

If you're a platform engineer, DevOps leader, or just curious about where Kubernetes is headed next, this conversation offers rare insights into building data platforms from the ground up, with a practical, product-led mindset.

So tune in to hear how one founder turned a container-native vision into a global business that’s helping companies modernize data operations without losing control.