Ukrainian tech teams still have a chance to apply for the Startup Competition 2026, held as part of IT Arena — the largest technology event in Ukraine and Eastern Europe. Applications are open until September 4, 2026.
This year, the organizers will select 40 semifinalists, with only six teams advancing to the final. The winners will be announced on September 26 on the main stage of IT Arena in Lviv.
The Startup Competition offers a prize pool of up to $65,000. More than 150 investors from Ukraine, Europe, the United States, and the Middle East will also take part, representing a combined investment portfolio of $12.5 million.
In addition to competing for grant funding, participants will have the opportunity to present their solutions to the international tech community and receive practical feedback from industry experts. Finalists will also be able to showcase their products in the Startup Expo Zone.
In addition to the Startup Competition, IT Arena 2026 will feature three Expo zones: Partner Expo, Startup Expo, and Made in Ukraine Showcase. These spaces will provide a platform for Ukrainian tech products to be presented to an international audience.
Applications for the Startup Competition can be submitted on the official IT Arena website.
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the European Commission can be held responsible for them.
On August 18, the Lviv IT Cluster office hosted the handover of equipment to help establish another UAV operator training center at Air Command West and support the needs of the 77th Separate Airmobile Naddniprianska Brigade.
The necessary equipment was purchased together with the charitable initiative «Birds of Victory» using funds raised during a charity auction at the Members and Partners Assembly — a gathering of the Lviv IT Cluster member companies and partners.
The event brought the community together around a common goal — supporting Ukrainian defenders. The auction raised a total of UAH 490,000.
The funds were used to purchase technical equipment, including drones, laptops, remote controllers, VR headsets, and other equipment for operating UAVs. The equipment will be used for training and operational tasks performed by unmanned systems operators.
Part of the equipment was also handed over to the 77th Separate Airmobile Naddniprianska Brigade.
The equipment handover is part of Victory Projects — a series of Lviv IT Cluster initiatives aimed at supporting Ukraine’s business, military, critical, and civilian infrastructure during the full-scale invasion.
Overall, the Lviv IT Cluster has already allocated more than UAH 179 million to support Ukraine.
Following a public vote held as part of the Web3 Resilience Lab grant program, 10 winning projects have been selected to receive financial support and mentorship.
The program was launched by the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, Binance, and Lviv IT Cluster together with the Web3 Institute. The initiative’s goal is to support teams developing Web3 and digital solutions for Ukraine’s practical challenges that have the potential to scale.
“We are proud to support Ukrainian teams creating innovative solutions for the country’s real needs. For Binance, it’s important not only to grow the Web3 ecosystem but also to help talented developers and entrepreneurs gain access to resources, expertise, and the international community. I’m confident this program will be an important step for participants toward scaling their projects and turning ambitious ideas into reality,” says Kyrylo Khomiakov, Regional Head of Binance for Central and Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and Africa.
Among the winners are three veteran-led projects: RewardChain, a digital trust platform for verifying professional achievements; GLeX, a modular AI system for the legal sector based on Graph-RAG; and GEN Ukraine Impact, a Web3 platform for verifying community-led environmental initiatives.
In the student team category, support will go to Hartolit, an agtech solution using drones and an NFT-based field passport; ArtIScope, an AI service for selecting the optimal jurisdiction; and NextVibe, a platform for offline networking with verification of real interactions.
In the resilience projects category, the winners are FOMO, an educational and analytical project on crypto assets and digital security; CryptoWay, a free ecosystem of crypto tools; and Solar DePIN, a network for collecting and verifying data from solar power stations.
Lapathoniia, an API platform for Ukrainian large language models, received special recognition from Binance.
“The Web3 Resilience Lab showed that Ukrainian teams — from students to veterans — are ready to offer technological solutions to practical challenges facing Ukraine. We support initiatives that combine innovation with practical benefit for society, and we remain committed to strengthening Ukraine’s startup ecosystem,” says Mykhailo Lemak, CEO of Lviv IT Cluster.
All 10 projects will go through a 6-month mentorship program, after successful completion of which the teams will be eligible to receive $12,500 in funding. This support format is designed to help teams refine their products, test them in real-world conditions, and prepare for scaling.
According to Yuliia Parkhomenko, Director of the Digital Economy Directorate at the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, “this competition marked an important step in developing Ukraine’s Web3 ecosystem and supporting teams creating digital solutions with social value. For the Ministry of Digital Transformation, this was an opportunity to test the mechanics of public project selection, engage the Ukrainian community in supporting innovative initiatives, and gain practical experience for improving future programs.”
Max Semenchuk, Program Director of the Web3 Institute, expands on this point: “This is the first program of its kind at the intersection of civic tech and Web3 in Ukraine, creating tools for impact verification and building digital trust while supporting students and veterans. Our role at the Web3 Institute is to turn this potential into scalable impact, together with mentors and industry representatives.”
On July 30, IT Meets Women in Tech took place in Lviv, gathering 350 participants. The event explored leadership without formal status, impostor syndrome and self-sabotage, and decisions that society tends to label as “unconventional.” The event also served as a platform for the “Women Can Do Anything” charity fundraiser by the VETERANKA movement.
Mykhailo Lemak, CEO of Lviv IT Cluster, and Olha Honchar, Executive Director of VETERANKA Movement Lviv Chapter, opened the event with a welcome address, setting the tone for a day of honest conversations about navigating change and turning fear into new possibilities. They also highlighted the importance of amplifying women’s voices and building meaningful professional connections that support career growth.
Leadership was the focus of the conference’s opening panel, where speakers talked about both formal and informal leadership through the lens of trust, responsibility, and competence. They shared practical perspectives on building strong teams through consistent leadership, strategic thinking, and empowering others.
The discussion also explored the evolving role of women leaders, highlighting how stereotypes can still slow career growth while emphasizing the increasing value of authenticity and diverse leadership styles.
The panel also discussed how leaders can delegate effectively, including the principles of situational leadership, where early-career and fast-growing professionals are given opportunities to mentor others. The speakers emphasized that clear boundaries within a team help maintain accountability and prevent relationships from becoming overly informal at the expense of results.
The second discussion focused on internal barriers. Speakers distinguished healthy self-criticism from self-sabotage: the former moves you forward, the latter stems from a lack of self-belief and social anxiety. One practical piece of advice was to track goals and results over a year or a quarter in order to see one’s own progress, along with a perspective-shifting technique: thinking about what advice you would give a friend in the same situation.
Larysa Didkovska, Ukrainian scholar and psychologist, Rector of the Ukrainian Free University, noted: “Focus on what we need and what we’re capable of — the main thing is to be yourself. That doesn’t mean being good, it means being genuine — and only you know what that looks like.”
The closing session focused on the courage to make decisions that may seem unexpected to others. From joining the military to pursuing an MBA later in life, the speakers challenged conventional expectations and argued that the right timing is deeply personal, not defined by others.
Speakers also reflected on the confidence gap in the workplace, discussing how women are more likely to underestimate their readiness for new opportunities, while men often apply for roles before meeting every requirement.
Closing the conference, the speakers encouraged participants to trust themselves, embrace uncertainty, and remember that there is no single path to success. Their message was simple: allow yourself to dream — because today’s ambitions become tomorrow’s achievements.
Co-financed by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Early Bird ticket sales for Ukraine’s leading tech event, IT Arena, begin on April 20. The event will take place on September 25–27, 2026, at Arena Lviv stadium and is set to scale up even further, with over 7,500 attendees expected.
Each year, IT Arena serves as a key meeting point for the global tech community, bringing together IT leaders, CEOs and founders of technology companies, entrepreneurs, investors, media, and government representatives from Ukraine and around the world.
In 2026, IT Arena will expand its program with new thematic tracks and formats, with a strong focus on Ukrainian experience – increasingly shaping new approaches not only in the global tech industry, but also in digital transformation, defense, and cybersecurity.
New Stages and Expo Zones: Development and Defense Tech
In 2026, IT Arena introduces new stages and expo zones, creating an even deeper experience for attendees. Among the key updates are the launch of the Dev Stage and the expansion of the Defense Expo. These additions provide access to more specialized content and create new opportunities for interaction between developers, entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders.
Overall, the conference will feature thematic stages – Business, Dev, Product, Startup, and Defense – allowing attendees to fully personalize their experience or dive deep into a specific domain.
Expo zones will include Startup, Defense, Partner, and the Made in Ukraine Showcase, featuring innovative products and services from Ukrainian companies, startups, and next-generation defense tech solutions.
IT Arena 2026 Speakers: From Ukrainian Experience to Global Expertise
Speakers at IT Arena 2026 will cover both Ukrainian experience – shaped by large-scale challenges and rapid transformation, and now driving global innovation – and deep international technological expertise.
Ukraine continues to strengthen its position as a key hub for innovation and technological development, and these topics will be at the center of the conference agenda.
Among the confirmed speakers:
Startup Competition and Next-Level Networking
As part of IT Arena, the Startup Competition – Ukraine’s leading startup contest – will once again bring together founders of high-potential projects, offering opportunities to scale and attract investment. In 2025, the Startup Competition investment fund reached $15,000,000, underscoring strong investor and partner trust. Applications will open in May.
IT Arena will also expand its networking opportunities, featuring large-scale networking events, meetups, parties, and live performances during the afterparty. On the third day, discussions will continue across Lviv’s most popular venues, creating space for informal conversations around business, technology, product development, and startups.
In 2026, IT Arena will create an environment for innovation, strategic partnerships, and new business opportunities for tech companies and startups.
Get your Early Bird ticket – lock in the best rate and become part of Ukraine’s largest tech community.
Buy your ticket here.
On April 1, 2026, data collection begins for the new edition of IT Research: Salary Report — one of the key analytical B2B tools for tech companies that helps them make well-informed decisions on compensation, budgeting, and hiring planning.
IT Research: Salary Report is created based on real data provided by tech companies and is released twice a year. This allows businesses to work with the most up-to-date figures without aging data for inflation or market fluctuations.
The B2B analytics is useful for CEOs, HR Directors, CFOs, Total Rewards Specialists, Compensation & Benefits Managers, and department heads responsible for reward strategy, hiring, and the company’s financial stability.
“Compensation is one of the largest expense categories in tech companies, and mistakes here can be costly. The Salary Report helps reduce risks: it allows companies to check whether they remain competitive, whether pay levels are fair within teams, and whether expenses reflect the real market situation,” comments Yaryna Voznyak, Research Lead at Lviv IT Cluster.
Most companies that regularly use the Salary Report highlight its practical impact:
Participation in the Salary Report is an opportunity not only to gain access to analytics but also to influence the quality and completeness of market benchmarks.
Companies that contribute data receive several benefits:
A favorable price for the report. Participants who provide data receive the Salary Report on special terms.
A contribution to the development of the tech community. Data sharing helps build transparent market benchmarks that strengthen the Ukrainian tech industry as a whole.
An invitation to Peer Talks. Companies that share their data will have the opportunity to join a closed Peer Talks meeting, where business representatives discuss compensation market trends, reward practices, and current challenges.
“Being a data contributor is always about partnership. Companies that join not only receive favorable access conditions to the report — they help shape an accurate market snapshot. This is an example of healthy industry cooperation that strengthens the Ukrainian tech market,” notes Yaryna Voznyak.
The Salary Report is released twice a year: the Spring Edition and the Autumn Edition. Each stage has a clear schedule for data collection, analytics preparation, and discussion of results with the market.
Spring Edition 2026
Autumn Edition 2026
You can learn more about the IT Research: Salary Report and join the research via the link.
Lviv IT Cluster is launching a new season of IT Meets – a series of one-day conferences for the tech community. In 2026, six thematic events will take place in Lviv, Kyiv, and Ivano-Frankivsk. The program covers Product, AI, Women in Tech, Legal & Finance, and HR.
Event schedule:
Employees of Lviv IT Cluster member companies can attend events free of charge with prior registration.
Please note that the number of free tickets is limited and depends on venue capacity.
The first event, IT Meets Product: Ukrainian Products on the Global Market, will take place on April 30 in Lviv at LEM Station.
Participants will explore practical insights into building and scaling tech products, including entering global markets, raising investments, and achieving product-market fit.
Speakers:
The event will bring together founders, CPOs, product managers, investors, and tech leaders sharing hands-on experience – from idea to global expansion.
Topics include:
Attendees will also have the opportunity to network, exchange expertise, and build new partnerships.
If you’re not an employee of a member company, you can purchase a ticket via the link.
IT Meets is a series of events dedicated to key areas of the tech industry, bringing together professionals for knowledge sharing and networking.
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the European Commission can be held responsible for them.
Lviv IT Cluster invites high school students, prospective applicants, university students, and educators to IT Future Fest 2026– the largest event for those interested in technology and dreaming about a career in tech. Participation is free.
On April 24, Lviv will host IT Future Fest — Ukraine’s largest event focused on career development in the tech industry for school students, university students, and young professionals. The event is organized by Lviv IT Cluster. With a five-year history, IT Future Fest annually brings together thousands of young people interested in technology and exploring their path in the industry. This year, the event will gather 7,000 participants, with around 4,000 attending the event in person in Lviv.
Guests can expect a packed program: talks by experienced tech professionals on the main stage, an extensive expo zone featuring tech companies and educational institutions, three workshop zones for teachers, university, and high school students, as well as interactive activities, speed interviews, and plenty of networking opportunities.
Speakers at IT Future Fest 2026 will include experts from leading tech companies such as N-iX and SoftServe, who will help participants explore topics such as:
Among the speakers:
After the event, all participants will receive certificates.
As usual, all registered school and university students will have a chance to win the grand prize — HP OmniBook 3 laptop — along with other valuable gifts from our partners.
IT Future Fest will help participants better understand how the tech industry operates and the opportunities it offers young people. School students and applicants will learn more about modern tech areas and connect with university representatives. University students will receive practical advice on starting their careers, meet potential employers, and take part in their first speed interviews.
At the same time, for companies, IT Future Fest is an opportunity to connect with future specialists, strengthen their employer brand, and find motivated trainee and junior candidates.
A dedicated program is also provided for teachers of computer science and related disciplines. They will be able to join professional networking, exchange experiences with peers, and learn about new teaching approaches. After participating in the event and completing a test, educators will receive a professional development certificate with ECTS credits.
IT Future Fest 2026 will take place in a hybrid format — offline in Lviv and online for participants from across Ukraine.
Participation is free. You can register and learn more about the program on the official IT Future Fest website.
The Organizing Committee has made a strategic decision to postpone the launch of the tech event in Warsaw until 2027 and to focus 100% of its resources, expertise, and innovative potential on preparing IT Arena Lviv.
We have intentionally taken this step, allowing additional time for preparation and ensuring the event is delivered to the highest organizational standard. Our goal is to create a high-quality program and bring together leading global speakers and partners to host the event in full alignment with the highest standards and expectations of the tech community.
Instead, we invite the entire international community to join us this autumn in Lviv. All the energy, networking, and innovation planned for both locations will be integrated into a single large-scale event in Ukraine.
All ticket purchases will be fully refunded to the original payment method, minus any processing fees. Refunds may take up to 120 days to process.
For any additional questions, please contact us at: refund@itarena.pl.
Thank you for your trust, understanding, and support.
See you in Lviv this autumn.
As part of IT Arena Warsaw, the international IT Arena Warsaw Startup Competition will take place, open to startup teams from across Europe and beyond.
The competition will be held within a single track, bringing together general category startups and dual-use projects. This format combines civilian and defense technologies, creating a platform for presenting dual-use solutions to international investors.
“Today, access to international investors and markets is critical for startups, especially at the early stages of scaling. IT Arena Warsaw Startup Competition provides teams from Ukraine and across Europe with an opportunity to gain visibility in a global environment, receive valuable feedback, and build long-term partnerships,” says Ihor Markevych, Program Lead of IT Arena Warsaw.
Startups eligible to apply for the IT Arena Warsaw Startup Competition must meet the following criteria:
Within IT Arena Warsaw, startups will present their solutions to international investors in Poland, unlocking opportunities for cooperation with European funds and strategic partners.
The prize pool of the IT Arena Warsaw Startup Competition amounts to $20,000 and continues to grow. Additionally, participants will compete for an investment fund of $5,000,000, which is currently being scaled.
Application deadline — April 1, 2026.
Applications can be submitted via the link.
Startups can secure their spot at IT Arena Warsaw by choosing the Startup Expo Pack, which includes:
More details are available via the link.
Important: participation in the Startup Expo Pack does not guarantee selection for the Startup Competition. To compete, startups must submit a separate application and pass the selection process.
The IT Arena Warsaw Startup Competition will serve as a platform for international startups, particularly in the dual-use and defense tech sectors, to present their solutions to investors and build partnerships at the European level.
The year 2025 marked a period of active growth and scaling for the Lviv IT Cluster team. We introduced even more valuable products and services for tech companies, gained public and international recognition for our initiatives, united the tech community around supporting Ukrainian service members, and exceeded our own records from previous years.
We are sincerely grateful to everyone who contributed to our projects. Thanks to your support, we once again proved that even in times of the greatest challenges, together we are capable of strengthening the industry and reaching new heights.
See the results of our work in numbers below.
IT Arena 2025: Attracted a Record Number of Participants
On September 26–28, Ukraine’s largest technology conference, IT Arena, brought together entrepreneurs, investors, engineers, and startup founders at Arena Lviv Stadium. The event attracted over 6,450 participants from more than 40 countries worldwide — the highest attendance in the event’s history.
More than 230 top experts and thought leaders took the stage across five thematic tracks: Business, Technology, Product, Startup, and the newly introduced Defense Stage dedicated to defense technologies.
Participants also had the opportunity to visit four expo zones — Startup Expo, Defense Expo, Partner Expo, and this year’s new addition, the Made in Ukraine Showcase. Ukrainian companies developing products and services for the domestic market presented innovative solutions for agriculture, hospitality, healthcare, and education. A total of 120 exhibition booths were showcased at the conference.
IT Arena participants also enjoyed three evening networking events, including vibrant parties and a live performance by singer Jamala. Executive and Top Tier ticket holders had access to the Executive Lounge — a dedicated space for industry leaders to discuss key business topics in an informal setting.
The third day of the conference featured live discussions on business strategy and product development, hosted in popular cafés, restaurants, pubs, and hotels throughout Lviv’s city center. In total, participants could attend 51 meetups.
Traditionally, IT Arena also hosted Ukraine’s largest and most reputable battle of ambitious innovations — Startup Competition. This year, our team received a record 202 applications from startups around the world, including Warsaw, Berlin, Tallinn, Kaunas, Minnesota, Boston, Dundee, and even Hong Kong. Sixty of the most promising teams advanced to the semifinals and pitched their solutions in two categories: the general track and a special category for defense tech startups and cybersecurity projects. In 2025, the Startup Competition investment fund reached a record amount. Even before the finals, participating startups secured preliminary agreements with investors totaling $15,000,000.
Next year, Ukraine’s largest tech conference will take place abroad for the first time. We will meet in Warsaw on May 15–16 at IT Arena Warsaw, and traditionally reunite in Lviv on September 25–27.
Interested in becoming a partner? Contact Deputy Director of Lviv IT Cluster, Yurii Ohonovskyi: yurii.ohonovskyi@education.itcluster.lviv.ua.
IT Research Ukraine 2025: Conducted the Largest Study of the Tech Industry
In December, our analytics team presented the results of IT Research Ukraine 2025. This is the only comprehensive study of Ukraine’s tech industry during wartime, providing answers to critical questions through data. The report contains exclusive insights into industry dynamics, the talent market, changes in company and specialist revenues and expenses, migration trends, and economic expectations of IT market participants. The findings help companies make strategically sound and predictable business decisions.
The IT Research Ukraine 2025 report is available in both basic and extended versions, in Ukrainian and English. A shortened version is publicly available for download via the link.
The full version is available free of charge to employees of Lviv IT Cluster member companies — access it by completing the form via the link. Companies that are not members of the association may purchase the full report by submitting a request.
IT Research: Salary Report — Expanded Analytics and Professional Dialogue on Compensation
In 2025, the IT Research: Salary Report significantly expanded beyond its original salary analytics format. We added 24 new roles, including high-demand positions such as AI Engineering, engaged more than 30 companies in a partner initiative supported by KredoBank and Mastercard, and broadened the sample to include hardware companies and large product businesses. Prepared twice a year, the Salary Report has become an even more valuable tool for budgeting and informed compensation decisions in tech companies.
A key milestone this year was the first invite-only event — Compensation Trends & Pay Decisions Talks. Autumn Edition 2025. Participating companies discussed management decisions, salary trends, key challenges, and approaches shaping compensation strategies for 2026.
In 2026, we plan to further scale the number of project participants, including the expansion of the hardware segment, involvement of game development companies, and the advancement of professional discussion formats. A special focus will be on international presence — Salary Report. Poland | Autumn Edition 2026.
The Autumn Edition of IT Research: Salary Report 2025 is already available for purchase. To proceed, please complete the contact form via the link.
M&A Office: Delivered Comprehensive Solutions for Business Growth
In 2025, together with Wiseboard experts, we launched Ukraine’s first practical M&A Accelerator for IT companies. The program helps companies prepare for investment, strategic partnerships, or business sales. Designed for companies with teams of 20 to 150 employees or more, the initiative supports businesses considering partial or full exit within the next 12–24 months. Under the guidance of experienced professionals, participants go through all key stages of M&A preparation — from financial valuation to operational analysis. The M&A Ready Acceleration Program is also suitable for companies not yet planning a sale but aiming to increase market value, improve operational efficiency, or prepare for scaling.
In spring 2025, the M&A Office team officially closed its first deal: Ukrainian IT company TechMagic acquired the Polish Salesforce consultancy Hitteps. The acquisition will enable TechMagic to enhance its consulting services and create new jobs in Ukraine and Poland.
Learn more about M&A Office services and book a consultation via the link.
Legal Consulting: Provided Professional Legal Support for Tech Companies
This year, the Cluster’s legal team expanded its client portfolio. More than 20 companies began using our services on a subscription basis, while over 10 companies opted for on-demand legal support.
New specialists joined the team, strengthening expertise in legal consulting. We expanded our service offering, with a particular focus on Diia.City support and business criticality assessment. Today, our experts provide a full range of legal and financial consulting services: more than 120 companies use our services, including 50 long-term partners.
In addition to continuous legislative monitoring and participation in specialized working groups, the team actively develops the professional community. Over 100 webinars and expert meetings were held throughout the year.
To receive a consultation from the Legal Consulting team, contact Nestor Shvets: nestor.shvets@education.itcluster.lviv.ua.
CodeUA: Promoted the Ukrainian Tech Marketplace on the Global Stage
In 2025, the Ukrainian tech marketplace CodeUA received international recognition. The platform won a Silver Award in the Website and Web Design category at the A’ Design Award & Competition, one of the world’s most prestigious design awards. The website was recognized for its modern, intuitive interface and strong visual identity.
Additionally, CodeUA was shortlisted for the 29th Webby Awards, often referred to as “the Oscars of the digital world,” and ranked among the top five nominees in the Websites and Mobile Sites, Employment category.
Throughout the year, CodeUA was also presented across Europe and beyond at major international events, including Invest in Bravery Summit (Prague), We Make Future (Bologna), London Tech Week, Ukrainian Tech Night at VivaTech (Paris), New Zealand–Ukrainian Business Forum, as well as conferences in the United States and Bulgaria, webinars, and online exhibitions.
The CodeUA platform was jointly created by the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine and Lviv IT Cluster to help global companies easily find verified Ukrainian IT partners.
Join CodeUA via the link — registration is free.
IT Meets: Hosted a Series of One-Day Professional Events
This year, our team organized 9 professional IT Meets conferences, covering more than 5,340 kilometers across Ukraine. Events took place in three cities: 5 in Kyiv, 3 in Lviv, and 1 in Vinnytsia. Over 1,500 participants attended throughout the year.
A total of 113 speakers from diverse fields — business, technology, law, and civil society — delivered over 49 hours of high-quality content. Speakers included Oleksandra Matviichuk, Nobel Peace Prize laureate (2022); Kateryna Chernohorenko, Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine; and Sevhil Musaieva, Editor-in-Chief of Ukrainska Pravda.
Employees of member companies also gained exclusive free access to IT Meets events with prior registration.
To become an IT Meets partner in 2026, contact Yurii Ohonovskyi: yurii.ohonovskyi@education.itcluster.lviv.ua.
Founders’ Dialogue: Hosted a Series of Private Meetings for Industry Leaders
Throughout 2025, Lviv IT Cluster organized six closed-door Founders’ Dialogue meetings for company owners, founders, and CEOs — three in Lviv and three in Kyiv. More than 200 participants joined, with nearly half representing non-tech industries, fostering new cross-sector business partnerships.
Discussions focused on building successful products and resilient teams, making strategic decisions amid uncertainty, leadership effectiveness, integrating veterans into corporate teams, as well as topics like biohacking and longevity.
Guest speakers included Glovo co-founder Sacha Michaud, Advisor to the President of Ukraine on Reconstruction and Investment Oksana Markarova, business leader and founder of pomitni music label Iryna Horova, medical experts, and veterans of the Russian-Ukrainian war. Each meeting concluded with high-quality networking and thematic activities such as golf, coffee workshops, or shooting range sessions.
For ideas or questions regarding Founders’ Dialogue, contact Viktoriia Fedorenko, Director of Business Development: viktoriia.fedorenko@education.itcluster.lviv.ua.
Scroll.media: Supported the Launch of an Online Media About Ukrainian Tech Business
At the beginning of the year, Lviv IT Cluster initiated the launch of Scroll.media, a new media outlet focused on the Ukrainian tech business. The project followed a non-traditional launch model — nearly 30 IT companies signed partnership agreements to support the initiative.
The editorial team is led by Illia Kabachynskyi. Scroll.media regularly publishes analytical and exclusive materials on technology business, startups, investments, legislation, marketing, recruitment, partnerships, and M&A deals. In less than a year, the platform reached over 70,000 article views.
To enhance your brand visibility through media presence, contact Illia Kabachynskyi: ik@scroll.media
Educational Initiatives: New Bachelor’s Programs and IT Future Fest
For the second consecutive year, half of all applicants to tech specialties in Lviv region chose educational programs developed by Lviv IT Cluster. Within the IT Expert project, we launched five new bachelor’s programs, two of them in Kyiv.
In partnership with the Kyiv Aviation Institute, we launched Intelligent Systems and Electronics programs — an important step toward modernizing technical education in the capital and developing in-demand engineering specialties.
Three additional programs — Computer Engineering, Virtual Reality, and Applied Mathematics and Informatics — were launched at Lviv Polytechnic National University, which ranked first nationwide by number of enrolled students in its specialty.
Currently, Lviv IT Cluster supports 24 bachelor’s programs across five universities in Lviv and Kyiv, with over 5,000 students enrolled.
To inspire young people to pursue careers in IT, in May 2025, our education team organized IT Future Fest — the largest career-oriented IT event for students and high schoolers. More than 7,000 participants joined, including 3,000 offline. Representatives from 40 member companies, students, and educators participated.
During IT Arena 2025, we also hosted the Education Community Event, bringing together over 120 participants — university leaders, lecturers, program mentors, and company partners. Active contributors received special recognition as part of the Educational Lights awards.
Additionally, 26 new mentors of our educational community earned recognition for shaping the next generation of tech talent. Last year, they took on the role of mentors in our educational programs for the first time.
To join our educational initiatives, please contact Julia Tsymbala at julia.tsymbala@education.itcluster.lviv.ua.
IT Club Loyalty — Among the Top Mobile Solutions of the Year
The IT Club Loyalty mobile app became a finalist in the Best HR Mobile Application category at Mobile-First Award 2025, recognizing solutions that improve employee experience and automate HR processes.
The app provides access to Ukraine’s largest loyalty program for IT professionals, partnering with over 1,000 brands nationwide. In 2025 alone, we attracted 208 new partner brands and 5,230 new users. Today, the app is used by more than 35,000 specialists from over 300 tech companies.
This year, we also launched the Member2Members (M2M) section, available exclusively to Cluster member companies. It enables companies to exchange services within the association — from legal and financial consulting to technology products in software development, cybersecurity, AI, and more.
Would you like your company to fully experience the benefits and opportunities of the IT Club Loyalty program? Write to Iryna Skits: iryna.skits@education.itcluster.lviv.ua.
Victory Projects: Ensured Support for the Defense Forces of Ukraine
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Lviv IT Cluster has been systematically supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine within the Victory Projects initiative. During this time, together with member companies of our association, we have directed UAH 177,840,000 to strengthen the technological capacity of the Ukrainian army, create better conditions for our soldiers, and protect critical and civilian infrastructure from enemy attacks.
Thus, this year we provided tablets, photo recording devices, and network equipment to representatives of the 7th Carpathian Border Guard Detachment. The equipment will help units promptly detect enemy targets and respond quickly to threats. The total cost of the equipment is UAH 1,400,000. The transfer of equipment took place within the Guardian project of the Victory Projects initiative.
Also in 2025, we transferred 10 Starlink terminals to the 59th Separate Assault Brigade of Unmanned Systems named after Yakiv Handziuk, Battalion “Predators of the Heights,” with a total value of UAH 275,000. The equipment will help the military maintain stable communication in the combat zone and effectively manage unmanned systems operations. The equipment was transferred at the request of our member company Lionwood.software, whose employees are currently serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
To protect Ukrainian skies from enemy missiles and drones, in September 2025, our team purchased a modern unmanned aerial system “ELF.” It was transferred to the Air Command “West” within the SKY project. Unlike a single drone, such a system enables full control of the flight and coordination of combat missions in real time. This will help to detect aerial threats in a timely manner, track the movement of enemy drones and missiles, and respond quickly to changes in the situation.
The cost of such a system exceeds UAH 4,000,000. It was purchased thanks to financial contributions from the companies Romexsoft, Linkup ST, Intellias, Devlight, CodeLions, CharStudio, Relevant Software, Indeema, DevCom, and EveryMatrix.
Additionally, with the assistance of the Lviv Regional Military Administration, in the summer we opened a training center for drone operators based on the Air Command “West.” Military personnel from different regions of Ukraine undergo basic training in operating reconnaissance drones, FPV drones, and modified unmanned systems for engaging aerial targets. Six workstations were equipped, and modern equipment was purchased for training. The total cost of all works exceeded UAH 7,355,000. The project was made possible thanks to the financial support of EveryMatrix.
Also this year, we completed the restoration of the building at 46 Konovalets Street. The building suffered significant damage from a Russian missile strike on Lviv in September 2024. As a socially responsible business, Lviv IT Cluster could not stay aside. Therefore, our team immediately responded to the Lviv City Council’s initiative “Take a Building Under Care” and undertook to bring life back to the building destroyed by the enemy.
The Cluster team took full responsibility for all stages of the work — from preparatory to emergency and restoration works. And by the end of August this year, nine families who had lost their homes were able to return to their apartments.
The project was implemented thanks to financial support from the Lviv IT Cluster’s charitable foundation and member companies, including Intellias, Avenga, Sombra, Linkup ST, Forbytes, Impressit, Relevant Software, PLVision, Embrox, CharStudio, Jappware, Deviark, Scimus, Simulmedia, in partnership with Kormotech and Enzym Group. Together, UAH 10.5 million was raised for the rebuilding.
Would you like to aid the Armed Forces of Ukraine? Join Lviv IT Cluster and support the Victory Projects initiative. For details, please contact Yurii Ohonovskyi at yurii.ohonovskyi@education.itcluster.lviv.ua.
Lviv IT Cluster continues to maintain its status as the largest association of tech companies in Ukraine, bringing together more than 300 members.
The Lviv IT Cluster team presented the findings of IT Research Ukraine 2025: From Adaptation to Transformation. This is the only detailed, comprehensive study of Ukraine’s tech industry during the war. The report highlights key market trends, company and specialist perspectives, and outlines forecasts for the upcoming year.
IT Research Ukraine 2025 addresses the key questions of the tech industry:
“We systematically study Ukraine’s tech industry because high-quality data allows both business and the state to act confidently even in times of uncertainty. IT Research Ukraine 2025 continues this mission — it is a comprehensive analysis of the state of the market, the impact of the war, specialist outlooks, and company strategies. Our goal is not only to outline the changes but to demonstrate how the industry can adapt and grow. This research will become a practical tool for decision-making that will define the development of Ukraine’s tech sector,” says Stepan Veselovskyi.
For the fourth consecutive year, the IT Research Ukraine project is supported by the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine.
“For us at the Ministry of Digital Transformation, it is crucial to understand the real perspectives of companies and specialists, as well as the challenges and growth opportunities they see. The key distinction of the IT Research Ukraine study is its comprehensive approach to data collection and analysis, which makes its results highly representative. They provide us with an end-to-end view of the industry’s current state. I am grateful to the Lviv IT Cluster for its systematic analytics, which enables the government to calibrate support and development policies for the entire industry,” says Mykhailo Fedorov, First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine — Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine.
Dynamics of the tech sector: stabilization despite challenges
Despite the challenges of full-scale war, the tech industry remains one of the key sectors of the Ukrainian economy, providing significant foreign currency inflows. The tech sector is the largest exporter of services in Ukraine:
In 2024, the sector’s turnover reached $7.48 billion, and exports — $6.45 billion. Even amid global economic headwinds and wartime pressures, the domestic market continued to expand, achieving 1–2% nominal growth and demonstrating remarkably stable demand.
The forecast for the 2025 financial results suggests potential stabilization:
The share of tech industry in Ukraine’s GDP decreased from 4.43% in 2023 to 3.92% in 2024. This relative decline occurred due to the increasing contribution of the military-industrial complex (MIC), manufacturing, construction, and energy sectors to Ukraine’s GDP, driven by reconstruction programs and military contracts fulfillment, while the tech sector maintained a relatively stable level of nominal volumes in 2024. Under favorable business conditions and increased involvement of companies in dual-use and defense solutions, it may return to 4–4.2% in 2026.
By hiring one tech specialist, companies create and sustain 2.7 jobs*. Overall, the industry generated around 644–645 thousand direct and indirect jobs.
*An indicator demonstrating the indirect interdependence of jobs in adjacent industries through the lens of consumer spending dynamics by those employed in tech sector within a year after creating one tech specialist job.
Transformation of companies, the talent market, and mobility
There are currently 2,062 active verified tech companies in Ukraine. The market structure is as follows:
Most Ukrainian tech companies have stabilized after the challenges of recent years and are actively seeking paths for further growth. 13% of companies have experience attracting investment and plan to continue; another 13% — have not worked with investors before but plan to start; 30% — have no experience and do not plan to raise funding soon.
Regarding corporate deals and development strategies, companies are considering:
Awareness among tech specialists about Diia.City — Ukraine’s unique legal and tax framework for technology businesses — continues to grow. Today, Diia.City has 3,095 resident companies and over 130,000 specialists working for them. According to the research findings, 9 out of 10 tech professionals are familiar with this project.
27% of tech companies expanded with new representative offices in 2025: among them, 23% — internationally and 4% — locally in Ukraine. 8% of tech company CEOs plan to open new offices in the coming year, with target countries including Spain, Germany, the UAE and Australia.
The tech industry continues contributing to Ukraine’s victory in the full-scale war. 75% of surveyed companies have mobilized specialists on staff; 35% — have veterans. Many companies also support employees currently serving in Ukraine’s Defense Forces by preserving their jobs, providing fixed payments, or partially compensating military remuneration.
As for specialists working in the tech industry, their number remains nearly the same as last year — 303,000 professionals. Among them, 245,000 live and work in Ukraine — 2.9% more than in 2024.
The number of Ukrainian specialists abroad decreased by 10% and now stands at 58,000, compared with 62,000–64,000 last year. Still, the risk of losing human capital remains. The outflow of specialists has been a consistent trend over the past three years, though only a small percentage actively plan to move abroad.
Ukraine has a strong pool of highly qualified tech talent driving the global technology market. Among technical specialists, 43% have 6–15 years of experience, and 12% — more than 15 years. Over 88% of the entire technical talent pool are Middle, Senior, and Lead specialists.
Half of those employed in the tech sphere have completed or are completing a technical degree related to computer science; over a quarter — a technical degree not related to computer science. Around 5% of tech professionals possess two or more specialties.
Portrait of tech specialist: incomes and savings slightly decreased, while expenses increased
In Ukraine, most tech specialists — over half — are aged 31+. The average age continues to rise: the 2023 study recorded 30.9 years, 2024 — 31.5, and in 2025 — 32.8.
The majority — 48% of Ukrainian tech specialists — are still working in service companies. However, the market continues to shift: the share of specialists working in product companies declined relatively — from 33.6% to 19.2%, while those in mixed-model companies increased — from 17.4% to 28.2%.
The median income of a tech specialist in Ukraine, according to IT Research Ukraine 2025, increased by 4.2% compared to 2024 and now totals $2,700. At the same time, most respondents reported that their expenses have grown: 82.9% in 2025 versus 75.6% last year.
78.6% of tech specialists are able to save money. In 2025, they save an average of 20% of their income. This indicator continues to decline: it was 23% in 2024 and 26% in 2023. Meanwhile, every tenth specialist still manages to save more than half of their monthly earnings. The largest share of spending goes to basic needs — rent, food, etc.
90% of tech specialists donate part of their budget to charity. Among them, 4.3% donate more than a quarter of their income. The average monthly charitable contribution of one tech specialist increased to $243, compared to $235 last year.
Read more about the most important trends of Ukraine’s IT industry in the fourth year of the full-scale war in the IT Research Ukraine 2025 report: From Adaptation to Transformation. Download the report at the link.
IT Research Ukraine 2025: From Adaptation to Transformation was implemented by the Lviv IT Cluster team with the support of the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine.
The research was conducted within the IT Research project, which has been thoroughly studying and analyzing Ukraine’s tech sector since 2015. Explore the research portfolio at the link.
The data from prior market monitoring and its structural understanding were used for sample weighting to optimize representativeness. With indicators close to 50% and a confidence probability of 0.954, the theoretical margin of error does not exceed 3.5%. The sociological and economic analysis, as well as data verification, were provided by Fama Research Agency, at the request of Lviv IT Cluster.
The study did not include territories temporarily occupied by russia or areas with active hostilities.
IT Arena, known as Ukraine’s biggest tech event, is launching a new edition in Warsaw, set to take place on May 15-16. Evolving from its flagship event in Lviv, the Warsaw edition marks IT Arena’s first international expansion.
Founded in Lviv, IT Arena has welcomed nearly 40,000 attendees since 2014 and today brings together around 6,500 participants annually from more than 40 countries. Over the years, IT Arena has hosted standout speakers — from globally notorious figures like Alexander Nix, now under investigation, to media personalities such as Oobah Butler, Mike Butcher, and Maye Musk.
The first Warsaw edition is expected to welcome about 3,500 attendees from 20 countries and will be held at the Palace of Culture and Science, one of Warsaw’s historic landmarks.
“Over the past 12 years, IT Arena has grown from a tech event into a platform connecting industry leaders, startups, and businesses from across the globe. We’ve always been global at heart, with a lineup and audience that reflect that mission. Ukrainians have incredible tech and innovation to share with the world, and we’re thrilled to bring IT Arena to Warsaw — this is just the beginning,” says Stepan Veselovskyi, founder of IT Arena.
IT Arena has grown into one of the most influential tech events in Eastern Europe, earning the title of Best Tech Event three times according to DOU, Ukraine’s largest developer community. A key focus of the event is the showcase of cutting-edge dual-use and defense technologies, reflecting Ukraine’s growing leadership in this sector. IT Arena also hosts an annual Startup Competition — a pitch battle for early-stage tech teams — and this year’s investment fund has reached a record $15 million.
Building on this success, the Warsaw edition will bring together industry leaders, professionals, startups, investors, government representatives, and media for two days of insights and innovation. Like its Lviv counterpart, the Warsaw edition will focus on bringing the global tech community together in one place and showcasing Ukraine’s leading expertise in dual-use technologies, alongside expo zones and other signature IT Arena formats. Networking and a festival-like atmosphere are hallmarks of IT Arena, with many of the best conversations happening after hours. The first speakers for 2026 have already been announced.
Joining the 2026 lineup are:
IT Arena Warsaw takes place May 15-16, 2026 at the Palace of Culture and Scientists. Tickets are already on sale at itarena.pl.
Links & Resources
About IT Arena
IT Arena is Ukraine’s largest tech event, held annually in Lviv since 2014. The 2025 edition brought together more than 6,000 participants from over 40 countries, hosted 100+ speakers and startups, and introduced a new Defense stage alongside its established Business, Tech, Product, and Startup stages. In 2026, IT Arena will expand beyond Ukraine for the first time, bringing over a decade of experience to Warsaw. The event is recognized for its distinctive mix of professional networking, business matchmaking, and dynamic festival atmosphere, creating a space where innovation and collaboration thrive.
With leading international speakers from top tech companies and startups, IT Arena is an English-language event that attracts tech professionals, entrepreneurs, and investors from around the world.
Startup Competition, Ukraine’s largest and most reputable startup contest, held as part of IT Arena 2025, once again broke its own records. The participants secured the largest investments in the competition’s history and received significant cash prizes to further develop their products. Arena Lviv Stadium was transformed into an epicenter of creativity and innovation, sparking ideas that are reshaping technology, business, and the defense sector. Ukrainian teams once again proved that, even against the backdrop of a full-scale war, business continues to grow and deliver world-class products
Unstoppable energy, fierce fight to the finals
The organizers set a new record this year, receiving 202 applications from teams around the world — including Warsaw, Berlin, Tallinn, Kaunas, Minnesota, Boston, Dundee, and even Hong Kong. 60 of the most promising startups advanced to the semi-finals, pitching their ideas and solutions in two categories: general and special for defense tech startups and cyber defense projects.
Over two intense days, participants impressed the judges with ambitious products in finance, healthcare and mental health, education, agriculture, real estate, logistics, and marketing, as well as AI-driven solutions and defense technologies. Each pitch reflected a drive to solve real-world problems. 12 teams, 6 per category, earned their coveted spots in the grand finale.
Startup Competition culmination: who determined the finalists’ fate
The thrilling Startup Competition Finals traditionally marked the end of IT Arena’s second day and drew huge excitement among attendees. Participants competed for a $60,000 prize fund, which was distributed among six main winners. Half of the sum was provided by the Ukrainian Startup Fund (USF), and the other half was provided by Brave1 defense cluster.
The finalists’ pitches were delivered from the main stage of IT Arena. This year, the Startup Competition Finals was hosted by Viacheslav Drofa, CPO at Alty, also known as the musical artist OTOY, whose work combines social awareness with a contemporary sound.
Each team had just 7 minutes to present their idea and answer questions from the jury of leading entrepreneurs and investors from across Europe and Ukraine.
This year, the winners in the general category were determined by:
The best defense startups were selected by:
Defense tech of the future: top three teams
Dwarf Engineering won the defense category with its B2B platform, which connects developers of autonomous control systems to manufacturers of UAVs, UGVs, munitions, and surface and underwater drones. The team received $15,000 for developing their product.
“Right now, we are the first on the market. Of course, other teams may have similar solutions, but they are made for their own purposes, while our development can be used by anyone. Currently, our technical capabilities allow us to provide an autonomous system for a large number of manufacturers in a short time. This is a direct path to accelerating Ukraine’s defense capability, which is our main priority,” emphasized Vladyslav Piotrovskyi, Co-Founder and CEO of Dwarf Engineering.
The company already has several clients among Ukrainian drone manufacturers, as well as the first serial modules.
“At IT Arena, several companies from different defense industry niches approached us, and all of them said they face the problem of serial software delivery. That’s why they want to collaborate with us. So, winning the Startup Competition 2025 only confirmed the need for our product. We received a lot of feedback and understood that we are on the right track,” Vladyslav concluded.
$10,000, and second place went to the BabAI startup, a developer and manufacturer of electronic warfare (EW) tools for drone protection. Thanks to artificial intelligence technologies, these EW systems operate fully automatically, allowing effective responses to threats without operator intervention. The company’s products demonstrated high efficiency in real combat conditions, safeguarding crews and equipment from enemy FPVs and other UAVs. One of BabAI’s EW tools’ advantages is invisibility: in “silent mode,” the system does not emit signals into the air, providing additional safety and camouflage for military personnel.
The third place with a prize of $5,000 was taken by Bravo Dynamics. The company developed a mesh system for ground robots — Phantom 3.0. It ensures stable communication without the need for aerial relays, even under heavy EW conditions. Bravo Dynamics already has initial contracts worth about $25,000, including an agreement with Dwarf Engineering for the supply of Phantom systems.
From medical innovations to corporate security solutions
First place in the general category and the main prize of Startup Competition — $15,000 — was awarded to the Ukrainian startup Ovul. The team developed the world’s first home fertility tracker for women. The idea came after the wife of one of the startup’s co-founders struggled to conceive for a long time. The team realized that existing home ovulation tracking methods were already outdated. They created a digital microscope that analyzes saliva samples using artificial intelligence.
“The procedure is very simple. A woman opens our device and applies a drop of saliva onto the slide. That’s it. No other consumables. After the saliva dries, the result is sent directly to the app, regardless of the woman’s location. Our device is fully autonomous, works via Wi-Fi. Users also receive daily useful tips on physical and mental activity, as well as nutrition recommendations,” says Ihor Kovalenko, CTO and Co-Founder of Ovul.
It took almost three years from idea to implementation. The team has already sold over 200 devices worldwide, including in the US market. The standard price is $189, which includes a one-year subscription. The cost may vary depending on the subscription model.
“We need investment to scale up and complete costly certifications. Moreover, we want to expand into a full-fledged women’s health platform,” he added.
Second place in the general category went to the startup Heft. The team received $10,000 for the development of their product — a health and fertility monitoring system for cows. This gadget helps monitor animal behavior, tracks reproductive cycles, and detects health issues at an early stage, assisting farmers in optimizing reproduction and increasing herd productivity.
The third place in this category went to StackBob, whose participants received $5,000 from the prize fund. Additionally, the team received a special award of $7,000 from Vector Media and Linkos Group, which together established their own prize for the most interesting startup. StackBob is an AI-powered platform for employee identity and access management. The solution automates onboarding and offboarding processes and manages passwords and licenses.
Record-breaking investments and first arrangements
This year, the Startup Competition investment fund reached a record sum. Even before the finals, startups secured soft commitments from investors totaling $15,000,000. Among the investment companies, venture funds, and clubs that declared readiness to invest in Ukrainian projects were Tilla Ventures, 1991 VC, Radix VC, Presto VC, Vesna Capital, DTI, Geir Myhre, UAN, Yaradin, DEPO Ventures, Wolver Ventures, NewFrontier Fund, Rockaway Ventures, Purpose Tech, and MITS Capital.
According to investors, when making decisions about funding startups, they primarily focus on the teams and their leaders.
“We look for great founders because, first of all, we invest in people, and you need to convince us that you are the best. Obviously, we also want to see what you are building and how well you understand the needs you are going to solve,” commented Petr Sima, Founder and Partner of DEPO Ventures.
Teams that managed to convince experts of the potential of their products already got an opportunity to raise nearly $2,500,000 — another record in Startup Competition’s history. The distribution is as follows:
Besides this, the Ukrainian-American investment group MITS Capital has announced its intent to invest in five teams: Blue Arrow, DroneMate AI, Zmiyar, STOZHAR, and SlimBeam. The founders of these startups have received soft commitments to join the MITS LAB and MITS Accelerator programs, with the accelerator currently forming its third batch. Successful graduates of the MITS Accelerator receive $200,000: 50% in the form of direct investment, and the remaining 50% as legal, consulting, educational, and mentoring support, network building, achieving product-market fit, and facilitating fundraising and scaling.
Also, 1991 VC continues negotiations for $500,000 with selected teams, and Double Tap Investments is agreeing on final amounts with DroneMate, Strug, and Barvinok5.
The co-organizers of IT Arena Startup Competition 2025 — IT Arena, Brave1, and USF.
Startup Stage Partner — u.ventures
Pitch Partner — keywords.agency
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the European Commission can be held responsible for them.