Ukraine’s Tech Landscape Expands with Key Industry Events, Including IT Arena

Ukraine’s tech sector is experiencing rapid growth, with multiple industry events serving as platforms showcasing its expanding capabilities. Held annually in Lviv for 11 years, IT Arena stands out for its English-language focus and its commitment to showcasing Ukraine’s tech potential to Europe and global markets. This mission has drawn new clients, investments, and skilled talent to Ukraine’s tech sector, promoting its capabilities on the world stage.

Organized by Lviv IT Cluster, IT Arena 2023 set a record: 100 speakers and over 5,500 attendees from 30 countries, marking the largest turnout in the event’s history. Interest in Ukraine is surging, particularly in the rapidly advancing field of defense tech. How are events like IT Arena driving growth in Ukraine’s tech sector and on the global stage?

An unmatched networking hub

In 2023, as the world witnessed Ukraine’s resilience in the face of Russian aggression, IT Arena attracted many international attendees, including general partners from funds looking to invest in defense tech. In just one year, the number of companies involved in drones, robotics, and other innovations grew from a handful to over 400. Investments are flowing into Ukraine, and the momentum continues: out of 5,500 attendees, every fourth was an international guest eager to explore this burgeoning market.

Across its multiple venues, participants could visit over 120 booths featuring various tech companies and startups, 55 of which specialized in defense tech. IT Arena also included a dedicated expo space for defense technologies, showcasing solutions in development and live demonstrations of drones, robotics, and more. Here, attendees could directly connect with manufacturers and representatives.

Networking is the essence of IT Arena, providing not only notable speakers but also interactive opportunities for the C-level audience to ask questions, discuss industry trends, and make meaningful connections.

One of IT Arena’s long-standing keynote speakers, Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov, returned this year to share the country’s digital advancements, announcing a new service: e-Residency. Another key government speaker was Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Defense, Kateryna Chernohorenko.

The lineup also featured global leaders: Monique Brown, former regional director for Lockheed Martin in Central and Eastern Europe; Anna Guetat, VP of Data, Analytics, and AI at Recorded Future; and the standout keynote from Dinkar Jain, VP of AI and Marketplace at Uber, who shared career insights and case studies on the business application of AI. Jain’s impressive resume includes leadership roles at Meta, Google, Twitter, and Amazon, making his session a highlight.

The high profile of IT Arena attracts decision-makers from around the world who come to Lviv to forge new connections, establish partnerships, and exchange knowledge. For focused discussions, the conference hosted 45 meetups at Lviv’s best venues, blending networking with entertainment.

Local experience meets global insight

IT Arena is uniquely hosted in Lviv, the largest city in western Ukraine. Although not a capital city, the event attracts a substantial, engaged audience that comes ready to do business. This gives the event a special character and appeal, offering the kind of purposeful networking that makes a difference.

Bringing together a diverse array of international speakers and attendees, IT Arena showcases the resilience and ambition of Ukraine’s tech community to the world. Here, people are ready to work, innovate, and drive business forward, despite the challenges of full-scale war.

Resilience is a defining trait of Ukrainian tech entrepreneurs, and events like IT Arena embody this spirit. Mornings are filled with discussions on AI technology and cybersecurity, while evenings feature charity dinners and auctions for investors from Scandinavia and the Baltics — all proceeds go toward supporting Ukraine’s needs.

The event concludes with one of its signature highlights: the Startup Competition, where young startups are awarded grants after a two-day pitch marathon. This annual event draws hundreds of startups, some of which receive investments directly from international backers they meet in Lviv. For many, it’s the first step in a promising journey that started at IT Arena.