Newsletter Summer 2024
TechUkraine
Your next step in pushing the Ukrainian tech ecosystem forward, jointly made by ecosystem leaders and the Government.
Greetings, Innovators!
As we approach Ukraine's Independence Day on August 24, we celebrate the incredible strides Ukraine has made in the tech industry.
Summer Edition of the TechUkraine’s Newsletter is exploring the advancements shaping our future we keep fighting for.
In this newsletter you’ll find:
recent studies & reports on IT in Ukraine
investment news
defense tech updates
opportunities and grants for startups
updates from the EU projects of TechUkraine
UA Ecosystem Highlights
Kharkiv IT Cluster Summarized the Year at Summer General Meeting 2024: From International Recognition to Veteran Support. 150 industry leaders from Ukraine and around the world discussed achievements, challenges, and future prospects for the IT sector’s development. Read more
Despite the ongoing war, Ukraine’s AI sector remains resilient and full of potential. A study by the Ministry of Digital Transformation, AI HOUSE, and Roosh delves into the challenges and opportunities facing the industry, highlighting the country’s determination to forge ahead in the field of artificial intelligence. Read more
In the comprehensive study, titled Ukraine’s War for Talent, produced with support from the German Marshall Fund of the United States, education is identified as a key driver of sustainable development and economic growth. Read more
TECH UKRAINIANS in London | Startups | Funds | Ecosystem - Official film 2024 After the incredible success of the first two films, shot in Silicon Valley and Warsaw, the series #techukrainiansfilm moved to London. This film offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of Ukrainian entrepreneurs who choose London to realize their ambitions. Read more and watch
Investment News
Creatio, the innovative no-code software company with Ukrainian origins, has secured a $200 million investment, propelling it into the exclusive unicorn club with a valuation of $1.2 billion. Read more
Ukrainian Roosh technology holding launched a new investment direction, Roosh X. It will invest up to $10 million in profitable businesses. Read more
UK-based VC firm with Ukrainian roots 1991 Ventures has launched a $18.8 million fund (£15 million fund) to invest in 40 Ukrainian and CEE startups. Read more
The Open Data Accelerator with a total funding pool of over ₴5.8 million, is searching for projects that address Ukraine’s socio-economic challenges and promote transparency, openness, and anti-corruption efforts. Read more
Defense Tech Updates
Defense Tech cluster Brave1 held in Kyiv the Precision hackathon to find technological developments that enable the Armed Forces to carry out operations with increased precision, efficiency, and minimal losses. The hackathon was organized in partnership with Defence Builder, D3, Uklon, Kyiv School of Economics, CEO Club Ukraine and TAF Drones.
12 finalist teams proposed solutions in areas such as advanced targeting systems, sensor fusion and data analysis, smart munitions, simulators and training software, autonomous and semi-autonomous systems.
On September 6-8, Brave1 in partnership with Challenger Accelerator will host AI for Ukraine Recovery Hackathon to cover the following 5 topics:
◾ Damage assessment ◾ Cybersecurity ◾ Effectiveness and impact of international support ◾ Mental health ◾ Disinformation prevention
More details and registration: https://www.uarecoveryhackathon.com/
More News about Defense Tech
The Ukrainian defense tech startups Buntar Aerospace, Falcons, Himera taking the lessons from the front and giving Kyiv an edge in the ongoing electronic warfare duel with russia's forces. Read more in the article by Breaking Defense
By investing in innovative Ukrainian drone manufacturers today, the European Union can leverage global financial markets through the EIB to facilitate significant advancements in defense technologies that serve both Ukraine’s immediate and Europe’s long-term security interests. Read more about opportunities to unlock and catalyze investment in Ukraine’s defense sector in the material by CFR.
Opportunities for Startups
USAID Cybersecurity Activity is looking for companies with experience in developing and implementing cyber solutions to participate in a grant program “Innovative Cybersecurity Solutions”. Read more and apply
The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center INNOV8 is offering a free program, Science2Business, designed to help researchers transform their groundbreaking ideas into thriving businesses. Read more and apply
The Luxembourg House of Financial Technology (LHoFT) is launching Catapult: Inclusion Ukraine, a one-week intensive bootcamp designed specifically for Ukrainian fintech companies focused on financial inclusion. Read more and apply
Get funding from $25,000 to $50,000 for early-stage projects from the Ukrainian Startup Fund with the financial support of the Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund (WNISEF). Learn more and apply
CORTEX2 is looking for 10 teams of XR innovators to co-develop the platform, providing up to €100.000 in funding. Learn more and apply until August 15.
France Digitale invites Ukrainian Tech Companies to get international recognition and showcase their business at FDDAY event in Paris on September 18th during the official LETS launch (Leading European Tech Scaleups project). Read more and apply (application period is extended).
TechUkraine’s Projects
At EmpoWomen Programme, 11 women-led startups made an incredible progress during the first part of the acceleration programme tailored by Startup Wise Guys, one of the top 5 European accelerators and VCs that focuses on entrepreneurs in underserved markets and fast tracks their growth. After a short summer the startups will continue the acceleration programme with Business Angels Europe.
Meanwhile, tune in the EmpoWomen Podcast — the voice of exceptional women-led deep-tech startups from widening European countries, participating in the EmpoWomen Programme.
The initiative EmpoWomen is a 2-year program (2024-2025) which consists of a unique acceleration and mentoring program, and includes non-repayable funding totaling 1.125 million euros, prizes and services to 25 women-led deep-tech companies selected through a competitive process from European emerging markets and the outermost regions and Associated EU countries, including Ukraine.
The second Open Call is planned for December 2024. For more information about EmpoWomen and future opportunities, please visit the website.
At ExcellEnt Project, a series of national and pan-European webinars on achieving success in entrepreneurship were held, with the involvement of the best European technology experts.
Also, European Entrepreneurship Academy was launched. It’s a central hub for entrepreneurs aiming to grow their businesses. The platform offers a wealth of resources, including networking platforms, online training, workshops, webinars, MOOCs, and a marketplace for connecting with investors and mentors.
At the moment, ExcellEnt’s partners are working on a discovery program for integration between entrepreneurial ecosystems of Bulgaria, France, Greece, Ireland, Turkiye, and Ukraine. Entrepreneurs and investors of mentioned above countries will get an opportunity to participate in soft landing missions to different countries for exchanging business experience and learning best practices. Stay tuned for the announcements!
Partnership with #VDS2024 Conference in Valencia
TechUkraine is proud to announce its partnership with Startup Valencia for the upcoming VDS2024 tech conference, taking place on October 23-24 at the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, Spain.
This premier international tech event will unite over 12,000 attendees from 100+ countries, fostering connections between startups, corporations, and investors. With a focus on embracing evolution and investing in the leaders of tomorrow, VDS2024 promises to showcase the latest innovations and trends shaping the future of technology. Read more