Why Global VCs Are Backing Salus Cloud’s Bold Bet on DevSecOps in Emerging Markets
Salus Cloud is a platform designed to simplify the process of deploying and managing applications.
Salus Cloud, a new DevSecOps platform co-founded by Andrew Mori, Jaco Nel, and Deen Hans is aiming to simplify secure software delivery for companies in emerging markets—and international investors are taking notice. The startup has raised $3.7 million in seed funding to expand its go-to-market efforts, hire AI engineers, and launch a self-service version of its platform.
As reported by Techpoint Africa, Mori built Salus Cloud alongside co-founders Dean Hans and Jaco Nel after years of leading engineering at African companies like Konga and Deimos. The new platform consolidates 20+ developer tools—covering everything from CI/CD to security and performance monitoring—into one AI-native dashboard tailored for lean engineering teams.
Streamlining Software Delivery for Underserved Teams
Salus was designed with small and mid-sized companies in mind, especially those in growth markets. “Typically, a developer may need up to 20 different tools to write one app,” Mori explained. “We’re saying instead of logging into 20 different tools, just log into one.” The product handles everything from monitoring and debugging to real-time detection of vulnerabilities, using AI agents to automate what would otherwise require expensive DevOps staff.
With a starting price of around $5,000 per month—less than the cost of hiring a senior DevOps engineer—Salus is positioning itself as a cost-effective solution for companies without the technical resources to manage secure deployments in-house. Its earliest users include fintech and eCommerce businesses across Africa.
Built for Growth Markets, Not Silicon Valley
Salus isn’t trying to compete with Fortune 100-facing players like Harness or GitLab. Instead, it’s focused on helping startups in places like Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia deploy production-grade software without the overhead. “Many companies in growth markets aren’t software companies,” said Mori. “They often build software capabilities on the side, which takes time away from their core business.”
This positioning is intentional. Salus’s founders understand the constraints of working in markets with smaller budgets, less infrastructure, and limited engineering depth. That’s why the platform emphasizes zero-touch configuration, seamless integration, and real-time insights.
Challenges Still Loom
Despite its promise, Salus faces a steep adoption curve. Many of its target customers operate with limited cloud experience and may be unfamiliar with DevSecOps practices. Market education, onboarding, and strong post-sale support will be crucial. “In much of the growth markets, most startups and SMEs still operate without secure automated software delivery processes,” Mori said.
Infrastructure and talent gaps are also a concern. Unreliable internet and power, combined with a shortage of technical DevOps knowledge, could slow rollout or reduce usage. And while the pricing undercuts traditional hiring costs, $5,000 per month may still feel out of reach for early-stage teams in some regions.
A Growing Market, and a Shot at Defensibility
The global DevOps tooling market is projected to hit $25.5 billion by 2028, with security tools alone expected to pass $20 billion by 2030. Salus is betting that as companies in emerging markets scale, they’ll seek tools that simplify complexity without compromising on quality. The startup believes its local-first mindset and AI-native platform give it an edge.
The seed round was co-led by Atlantica Ventures and P1 Ventures, with participation from LoftyInc Capital, Zedcrest Capital, Everywhere Ventures, and Tim Chen of Essence VC. “There is a convergence of security, AI, and development, and Salus is positioned to bring that to market,” said IK Kanu, Founding Partner at Atlantica Ventures.
Salus’s long-term plan includes expanding into Latin America and Asia within the next five years. If it can deliver on its promise—making enterprise-grade DevOps tools affordable, accessible, and automated—Salus may become a critical infrastructure layer for the next wave of global software builders.
Read more on Techpoint Africa
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