As war rages, Ukrainian startups spread message of hope

By Catarina Demony

LISBON – Ukrainian entrepreneurs introduced a message of hope to this week’s Internet Summit in Lisbon, Europe’s largest tech gathering that ended on Friday: the battle has made them extra resilient than ever.

Standing subsequent to her firm’s stand, Olga Shapovalova, who works at training know-how firm Headway, stated Russia’s invasion on Feb. 24 modified the whole lot. Working from a bomb shelter grew to become regular. A number of the startup’s staff fled.

However whilst Russian missiles rained down, Headway grew its enterprise. It employed dozens of employees, opened an workplace in neighbouring Poland, and used its studying app to fight the invader’s propaganda.

“That is how we present that Ukrainians are so robust and we are able to get enterprise achieved,” stated the 31-year-old. “We try to develop – it’s how we battle, in our personal manner, to assist Ukraine and our economic system.”

Alexander Sobolenko, the chief govt of Releaf Paper, which is headquartered in Kyiv and transforms biowaste into sustainable paper, struck an identical chord.

“Many extra Ukrainians got here to the Internet Summit this time,” he added, standing in entrance of the Ukrainian pavillion.

Internet Summit chief Paddy Cosgrave informed Reuters final week 59 Ukrainian startups had been on the 2022 occasion. The nation’s first girl Olena Zelenska and digital minister Mykhailo Fedorov additionally attended.

“It is a good signal that the Ukrainian tech and startup ecosystem is creating even throughout a time of battle,” stated Sobolenko.

With over 2,000 startups, Ukraine’s know-how scene was thriving earlier than the battle. Now, 9 out of ten want monetary assist, in line with a survey by TechUkraine. Nevertheless it additionally discovered the overwhelming majority had saved going and maintained at the least some operations or employees in Ukraine regardless of the battle.

“Our principal energy is our individuals,” stated Olesya Malevanaya, from Ukrainian Hub, an organisation supporting entrepreneurs. “They're robust and inventive … we now have the whole lot to proceed to develop our innovation sector.”