Ukraine will take part in the main technical conference of the world – WEB SUMMIT

15/ 09/ 2022

The Ukrainian delegation will have one of the largest pavilions For the second year in a row, Ukraine will be represented with its own pavilion at Web Summit – the largest tech conference in the world. The organizing committee, which includes prominent startups, foundations, IT service companies, state institutions, and ecosystem organizations, will present the robust and resilient Ukrainian technological ecosystem. The Ukrainian Startup Fund, with the support of GIST, held a competitive online selection of startups, where an expert jury selected the 24 best teams from more than 100 applications. They will present their projects and innovative potential of Ukraine on the international stage as part of the Ukrainian delegation. The general partner of the project is the innovation park UNIT.City. The project is implemented by the joint efforts of the co-organizers — the Ukrainian Startup Fund, the Ministry of Digital Transformation, the Embassy of Ukraine in Portugal, Sigma Software Group, the Ukrainian Hub, the European Business Association, and partners — Flyer One Ventures, Bitcoin Magazine Ukraine, SID Venture Partners, and Sigma Software Labs. Information support is provided by Tech Ukraine, Kyiv IT Cluster, and IT Dnipro Community. Why is it important? Despite the brutal and audacious aggression from the terrorist state of russia, the Ukrainian IT sector has demonstrated incredible resilience and determination even in the worst times for the country. IT remains the only industry in Ukraine that still shows growth. According to the National Bank of Ukraine, the export volume of computer services in the first half of 2022 reached $3.74 billion, which is 23% more than in the same period of 2021. Ukrainian startups and technology companies attracted almost $350 million in the first half of 2022. The countrys tech talent pool already numbers about 300,000 developers. Participation in an event of such a scale as the Web Summit is not only an opportunity for businesses to find new customers, partners, investors, and talents, but also a great opportunity for Ukraine to attract the much-needed attention of the international community once again. Today, IT entrepreneurs and innovators across Ukraine are united like never before, and they are strengthening Ukraines influence in the world thanks to the spread of international connections. The presentation of the Ukrainian tech ecosystem at the Web Summit is another opportunity to declare to the whole world that the best time for investment in Ukraine is now, not after the war. What do the organizers talk about? “Digital infrastructure has proven to be the most resilient in times of full-scale invasion. So is the digital economy, which continues to operate, keep up with the times and develop. Our team has a vision of how to turn military tech & security solutions into the expertise and main export of Ukraine. For this, we have everything we need: talented and educated people, a growing startup ecosystem, unique wartime experience, and, probably most importantly, the courage to fight for a bright future, says Mykhailo Fedorov, Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine. While Ukraine boldly chooses its freedom and independence, the UNIT.City team works to inspire Ukrainians to transform entrepreneurial culture, the IT sector, educational technologies, and Web.3.0. Europe and the world should learn about our country not only in the context of the brave Ukrainian army but also in the context of the stunning potential of our talented youth and the IT community, said Vasyl Khmelnytskyi, the UNIT.City Founder. Olesya Malyovana, the Ukrainian Hub Co-Founder, is sure that the implementation of the Ukrainian tech ecosystem pavilion happens at the right time. During communication with potential international partners, we create a narrative of Ukraine as an innovation hub, and this increases trust and becomes the main source of strategically relevant information. Olena Bakalo, the Ukrainian Pavilion Co-organizer, adds that despite the full-scale war, Ukraine is open to international cooperation. About 15 years ago, the rapid development of the Ukrainian IT sector began. At the same time, an IT committee was created on the EBA platform, which daily reinforces this trend and actively communicates about the domestic IT industry and its achievements. And even now, in such difficult times for the country, the industry is boldly moving forward, and the number of strong players who are ready to unite for a common future is increasing on the market, which we can see by the number of members joining the European Business Association, emphasized Anna Derevyanko, the EBA Executive Director. How was it in 2021? Last year, the Ukrainian IT industry was represented for the first time by a separate pavilion and track in the official conference program. https://youtu.be/fXSkmwiT9DM

The Ukrainian delegation will have one of the largest pavilions

For the second year in a row, Ukraine will be represented with its own pavilion at Web Summit – the largest tech conference in the world. The organizing committee, which includes prominent startups, foundations, IT service companies, state institutions, and ecosystem organizations, will present the robust and resilient Ukrainian technological ecosystem.

The Ukrainian Startup Fund, with the support of GIST, held a competitive online selection of startups, where an expert jury selected the 24 best teams from more than 100 applications. They will present their projects and innovative potential of Ukraine on the international stage as part of the Ukrainian delegation.

The general partner of the project is the innovation park UNIT.City. The project is implemented by the joint efforts of the co-organizers — the Ukrainian Startup Fund, the Ministry of Digital Transformation, the Embassy of Ukraine in Portugal, Sigma Software Group, the Ukrainian Hub, the European Business Association, and partners — Flyer One Ventures, Bitcoin Magazine Ukraine, SID Venture Partners, and Sigma Software Labs. Information support is provided by Tech Ukraine, Kyiv IT Cluster, and IT Dnipro Community.

Why is it important?

Despite the brutal and audacious aggression from the terrorist state of russia, the Ukrainian IT sector has demonstrated incredible resilience and determination even in the worst times for the country. IT remains the only industry in Ukraine that still shows growth.

According to the National Bank of Ukraine, the export volume of computer services in the first half of 2022 reached $3.74 billion, which is 23% more than in the same period of 2021. Ukrainian startups and technology companies attracted almost $350 million in the first half of 2022. The country’s tech talent pool already numbers about 300,000 developers.

Participation in an event of such a scale as the Web Summit is not only an opportunity for businesses to find new customers, partners, investors, and talents, but also a great opportunity for Ukraine to attract the much-needed attention of the international community once again.

Today, IT entrepreneurs and innovators across Ukraine are united like never before, and they are strengthening Ukraine’s influence in the world thanks to the spread of international connections. The presentation of the Ukrainian tech ecosystem at the Web Summit is another opportunity to declare to the whole world that the best time for investment in Ukraine is now, not after the war.

What do the organizers talk about?

“Digital infrastructure has proven to be the most resilient in times of full-scale invasion. So is the digital economy, which continues to operate, keep up with the times and develop. Our team has a vision of how to turn military tech & security solutions into the expertise and main export of Ukraine. For this, we have everything we need: talented and educated people, a growing startup ecosystem, unique wartime experience, and, probably most importantly, the courage to fight for a bright future,” says Mykhailo Fedorov, Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine.

“While Ukraine boldly chooses its freedom and independence, the UNIT.City team works to inspire Ukrainians to transform entrepreneurial culture, the IT sector, educational technologies, and Web.3.0. Europe and the world should learn about our country not only in the context of the brave Ukrainian army but also in the context of the stunning potential of our talented youth and the IT community,” said Vasyl Khmelnytskyi, the UNIT.City Founder.

Olesya Malyovana, the Ukrainian Hub Co-Founder, is sure that the implementation of the Ukrainian tech ecosystem pavilion happens at the right time. “During communication with potential international partners, we create a narrative of Ukraine as an innovation hub, and this increases trust and becomes the main source of strategically relevant information.” Olena Bakalo, the Ukrainian Pavilion Co-organizer, adds that despite the full-scale war, Ukraine is open to international cooperation.

“About 15 years ago, the rapid development of the Ukrainian IT sector began. At the same time, an IT committee was created on the EBA platform, which daily reinforces this trend and actively communicates about the domestic IT industry and its achievements. And even now, in such difficult times for the country, the industry is boldly moving forward, and the number of strong players who are ready to unite for a common future is increasing on the market, which we can see by the number of members joining the European Business Association,” emphasized Anna Derevyanko, the EBA Executive Director.

How was it in 2021?

Last year, the Ukrainian IT industry was represented for the first time by a separate pavilion and track in the official conference program.