DigitalOcean’s Hatch Program: A Launchpad for Startups
DigitalOcean has carved a niche for itself in the tech industry by offering tailored solutions for startups through its global program known as Hatch. This initiative is designed to support emerging technology companies by providing them with cloud infrastructure credits and discounts. Additionally, startups gain direct access to DigitalOcean’s product experts who offer personalized guidance, as well as priority technical support. A key feature of the program is its vibrant community of like-minded founders who share insights and experiences.
The Hatch program simplifies infrastructure and cost management, enabling startups to focus on developing innovative tech solutions that can create significant impacts.
The Journey of Uxify with DigitalOcean
The story of Uxify, a promising startup founded by Georgi Petrov and Mihail Stoychev, is a testament to the support and opportunities provided by the Hatch program. These serial entrepreneurs have a history of successful ventures, including NitroPack, SMSBump, and iSenseLabs, all of which were built on the DigitalOcean platform. Their consistent choice of DigitalOcean is a reflection of the platform’s simplicity, reliability, and user-friendly experience.
When they embarked on their latest venture, Uxify—an AI-enabled website performance solution—they once again opted for DigitalOcean. The Hatch program benefits, including cloud credits and discounts on GPU Droplets, allowed Uxify to concentrate on building and scaling their AI infrastructure without the burden of excessive costs.
From iSenseLabs to Uxify: A Decade of Innovation
The journey of Uxify can be traced back to over a decade ago with the inception of iSenseLabs. This agency not only provided services but also developed and sold its own products. One such product was NitroPack, a tool designed to enhance website performance by reducing load times. As NitroPack gained popularity, the team began exploring new possibilities beyond their initial solution.
Fast forward to 2024, the team arrived at a pivotal point where they reevaluated web performance and user experience. This new approach led to the creation of Navigation AI, a solution focused on enhancing user experience rather than merely meeting technical metrics. Consequently, NitroPack was acquired by WP Engine, and the emerging Navigation AI project evolved into a standalone company, Uxify.
The Role of DigitalOcean in Uxify’s Development
From the early days of iSenseLabs in 2012, Petrov and Stoychev recognized DigitalOcean as the right cloud provider for their startups due to its ease of use and deployment efficiency. Today, Uxify utilizes a comprehensive suite of DigitalOcean products, including Droplets, GPU Droplets, Managed Kubernetes, and Load Balancers.
Georgi Petrov, CEO of Uxify, emphasizes the importance of the simplicity offered by DigitalOcean, which cuts through unnecessary complexities and bureaucracy. "As a startup, time to market is essential, and DigitalOcean has been amazing. It has always been reliable and predictable, making it easy to track and resolve issues," Petrov explains.
The Impact of the Hatch Program
Uxify is not the first startup by Petrov and Stoychev to benefit from the Hatch program. During the development of NitroPack, their venture capital investor, Eleven, introduced them to the program. After experiencing the advantages firsthand, they chose to participate in the Hatch program again with Uxify. The credits provided by the program allowed them to experiment with their infrastructure without financial concerns during the early stages of their business.
DigitalOcean’s commitment to being startup-friendly is evident in its approach. In 2018, Petrov and his team were invited to participate in DigitalOcean’s Kubernetes beta program. Petrov recalls, "DigitalOcean was very responsive to feedback and continuously improved its solutions, which is why we continue to use it."
The Entrepreneurial Spirit
Founding a startup is a challenging endeavor that often involves long hours, operational hurdles, and relentless determination. Despite these challenges, Petrov continues to found companies because of his passion for creating value for others. Reflecting on his journey, Petrov shares, "After the first major acquisition with SMSBump, there was a sense of emptiness. It’s a lifetime achievement, yet you find yourself seeking new ways to create value for others."
Uxify’s Mission and the Road Ahead
Uxify is gearing up for its full launch, aiming to provide valuable performance insights to website owners globally. Through the Hatch program, founders like Petrov and Stoychev are able to build, experiment, and scale, ultimately delivering products that delight customers and add significant value.
Benefits of the Hatch Program for Startups
Startups accepted into the Hatch program enjoy a range of benefits, including:
- Up to $100,000 in compute credits
- Discounted pricing for GradientAI NVIDIA H100 GPU Droplets at $1.90/hour/GPU
- Discounted pricing for GradientAI NVIDIA H100 GPU Kubernetes at $1.90/hour/node
- Three months of free GPU usage for select startups
- Complimentary Standard-tier support
- Access to the GradientAI Platform with Hatch credits
- A thriving community of founders and builders
It is essential to note that GPU Droplet, GPU Kubernetes, and Bare Metal usage are not covered by Hatch compute credits. This pricing is exclusively for startups in the Hatch program and applies only to on-demand NVIDIA H100 GPU Droplets and NVIDIA H100 GPU Kubernetes. Pricing is subject to change, and this offer is accurate as of July 10, 2025.
Conclusion
For startups looking to leverage the power of cloud computing, the Hatch program by DigitalOcean offers an excellent opportunity to grow and scale efficiently. By providing essential resources, expert guidance, and a supportive community, DigitalOcean ensures that startups can focus on innovation and delivering value to their customers.
To learn more about the Hatch program and how it can benefit your startup, visit do.co/hatch or contact the team for further information.
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