Running a startup is never easy—but for Ukrainian founders, the past three years have presented some of the most unimaginable challenges in recent memory. Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion, startup teams have endured missile strikes, widespread displacement, power outages, and the conscription of key employees. Yet through it all, a surprising trend is emerging: resilience is fueling a rebound in Ukraine startup sector.
In Kyiv, the threat of Russian drone attacks—commonly referred to as “flying mopeds” because of their buzzing sound—remains a part of daily life. Startup teams sometimes hold meetings and investor pitches from bomb shelters. But despite these conditions, Ukrainian entrepreneurs say that wartime urgency has created a sharper sense of mission. The constant awareness of danger, according to founders, has instilled a mindset of speed and purpose that rarely exists in peacetime.
A Rebounding Ecosystem with Global Reach
After a difficult 2022, Ukraine’s startup sector is seeing signs of revival. According to data from AVentures Capital, venture investment into Ukrainian startups surged by 102% last year, reaching $462 million. Although this figure is still below the 2021 peak of $832 million, the momentum is clearly building.
Investors are showing particular interest in defence tech, healthtech, AI, and robotics, as startups in these sectors demonstrate both innovation and real-world impact. Ukraine has already produced six unicorns co-founded by Ukrainians—Grammarly, GitLab, Bitfury, People.ai, AirSlate, and Creatio—even if some of these companies now operate internationally.
To stay operational, many startups have made strategic pivots. YouScan, a social media intelligence company that previously served clients in Russia, was forced to withdraw from that market. The team reconnected with employees who had relocated to Poland and Austria, and successfully turned to new customers in the United States and Latin America. These shifts paid off: the company achieved 50% revenue growth last year, proving that adaptation can lead to opportunity.
Even with the upheaval, Ukraine continues to offer strong tech talent. Its universities are producing skilled software engineers, and the tech community remains highly capable despite the disruption. Still, Kyiv’s startup density has thinned. Co-working hub Lift99, once home to over 100 startups, now hosts just 47. The space now doubles as a blood donation centre and warehouse for drone jammers, stark reminders of the conflict.
Trust, Access, and the Power of Community
One of the biggest barriers Ukrainian founders face is access to customers and investors. Travel constraints, combined with the unpredictability of war, make it difficult to establish trust—something that’s hard to build over screens alone.
Despite that, Ukraine’s founders have tapped into the power of community, technology, and optimism to keep going. A Slack channel created in the early days of the invasion quickly evolved into a full-scale NGO supporting Ukraine’s war effort. That same channel also connected founders with remote coaches and mentors across Europe, giving entrepreneurs a vital link to expertise and emotional support.
Ukrainian startups are also leveraging the latest technologies to address wartime challenges. The country has become a global leader in drone innovation, and more than 800 defence tech startups have emerged to meet national needs. Founders believe this wave of innovation is driven by sheer belief—not necessarily in the war ending soon, but in their own ability to overcome the impossible.
Ukraine Startups shows Resilience in the Face of the Impossible
The Ukrainian startup community continues to push forward, powered by a mindset that thrives on adaptability, collaboration, and hope. Entrepreneurs say they don’t need certainty to continue—they need belief in themselves, their teams, and the mission.
Startups, by nature, run on optimism that defies logic, and Ukraine’s ecosystem is proving just how powerful that optimism can be. In the midst of war, these founders are not just surviving—they’re innovating, scaling, and rebuilding.
