Ukraine hosts global defense tech summit to attract investment
Ukraine welcomed defense innovators, investors and military leaders from more than 50 countries to Lviv for the second annual Defense Tech Valley Summit and Exposition, organized under the government’s Brave1 initiative. Brave1, a state-backed program designed to accelerate the development of advanced military technologies, served as the centerpiece of the summit.
The initiative connects startups, scale-ups and defense contractors with funding and strategic support to bring battlefield-ready solutions to life.
“This year’s summit is expected to be the largest defense tech investment event in the world,” said Artem Moroz, director of investor relations for Brave1. “We have representatives from more than 50 countries and thousands of attendees, ranging from startups to scale-ups.”
Focus on next-gen defense
The summit featured a wide range of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), drone interceptors and electronic warfare systems. Moroz said Brave1 prioritized emerging technologies over legacy systems.
“We focus on unmanned systems across all domains — air, ground, water and underwater,” Moroz said. “Artificial intelligence plays a critical role in our strategy. We aim to move personnel away from the front lines and make equipment smarter to save lives.”
Signal intelligence platforms and advanced communication systems were also showcased, designed to enhance coordination and maintain a technological edge over Russian forces.
$100 million in new investments
During a press conference, officials announced more than $100 million in new investment agreements with Ukrainian defense companies. Among the deals was a $16 million Series A round led by U.S. investors for a company developing drone swarming technology.
“We act as a bridge between private investors and Ukraine’s defense ecosystem,” Moroz said. “Many international investors do not know how to engage with our market. These agreements help close that gap.”
Moroz noted that Brave1 had supported more than 2,000 companies to date, providing grants and early-stage funding to reduce risk for future investors. He said the initiative had helped many companies transition from prototypes to battlefield-ready solutions.
Ukraine’s global role in defense innovation
Ukraine’s defense technology ecosystem has drawn attention from American defense officials, who have acknowledged the country’s leadership in drone innovation.
“One U.S. startup told me they struggled to find a suitable platform in the United States for their visual navigation module,” Moroz said. “They found one here in just two hours. That speaks to the maturity and diversity of our ecosystem.”
Moroz emphasized that Brave1’s success should not be measured solely by investment totals.
“Our goal is to create impact on the battlefield,” he said. “These resources help keep our technologies cutting-edge and one step ahead of Russian capabilities.”
A call to global investors
Moroz invited investors from around the world to explore Ukraine’s defense tech landscape, emphasizing both the moral and commercial value of supporting democratic resilience.
“These companies are not just building for Ukraine,” he said. “They have global potential and could become unicorns. We welcome investors to be part of that success story.”
Access the full Weapons and Warfare episode here.
Access all Weapons and Warfare podcast episodes here.
The post Ukraine hosts global defense tech summit to attract investment appeared first on Straight Arrow News.
Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
