Over the years as a journalist, I’ve kept a close eye on Ukraine’s vibrant startup ecosystem. These companies aren’t just solving consumer and business pain points; they’re pioneering important R&D, creating new business models, and operating with an international mindset from day one.

On the 3rd anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, I want to reaffirm Tech.eu’s commitment to spotlighting Ukrainian founders, innovations, and investors. Here are a few standout startups on my radar:

Embedd

The world of semiconductors is rapidly evolving, driving an exponential increase in the complexity of devices built from them. Equipped with poor documentation and outdated tools, embedded software engineers cannot keep up with this change. 

Embedd generates standardised and predictable hardware abstraction, simplifying development, testing and compliance of low-level firmware. It makes chip integration as easy as connecting to an API.

By reducing prototyping time, Embedd helps improve supply chain decisions and ensures code base and documentation uniformity. 

Headway

Headway develops educational applications focused on lifelong learning and has reached more than 130 million users worldwide. The company operates in over 170 countries, including North America and the UK. 

After dominating the book summary market with its Headway app, the company expanded into lifelong learning, launching five educational products. In 2024, its Impulse app ranked among the top 10 highest-grossing iOS apps in the Health & Fitness category. It remains the most-downloaded brain training app worldwide.

The company was recently the first ever Ukraine-born business to get selected into the global entrepreneur network, Endeavor, providing access to a network of 2,800 entrepreneurs who support each other with IPOs, M&As, expansion, hiring, and connections with tier-1 VCs. It unlocks potential funding through Endeavor Catalyst, the organisation’s rules-based fund, investing up to $2M.

HIREMA

HIREMA has developed a universal communication system for civil and emergency use, offering robust resistance to electronic warfare through FHSS technology and 256-bit encryption. 

HIMERA MESH enables a mobile ad hoc ( MANET) type network that ensures data delivery even when direct connections are unavailable, maintaining the same level of encryption and frequency-hopping spread spectrum protection throughout.

It can be easily set up via Bluetooth and a smartphone, eliminating the need for specialised software and its battery can last up to four days without charging.

The company recently announced a partnership with Quantropi Inz., a pioneer in quantum-secure encryption. 

Mantis Analytics

Mantis Analytics is an AI-powered platform designed to provide situational awareness and real-time incident verification by analysing vast amounts of data across various sources, including media outlets, social networks, and other information platforms.

It can identify fake news and disinformation to detect enemy propaganda and digital fake news, and monitor ongoing events and display critical information through an interactive map. 

The startup serves government agencies, media organisations, businesses, and security firms, helping them identify manipulations, respond to emerging threats, and maintain a reliable picture of the information landscape. 

PIBOX

Pibox is a collaboration platform that streamlines audio and video project workflows. It centralises feedback, file management, and team communication to reduce production time and enhance team collaboration.

 The platform offers a range of features, including centralised commenting on audio and video with time-stamped annotations, version management for comparisons, and project management tools that provide an overview of progress with customisable views and filters. 

The software is used by music producers, sound engineers, production managers, A&Rs, clients, and heads of production, with the goal of reducing production time and improving team collaboration.

Pleso 

Pleso is a mental health support startup that uses AI-powered technology to connect users with psychologists who best meet their individual needs.

The company aims to break down the stigma around psychological help. Its platform rigorously vets therapists, requiring both higher-level psychological education and continuous professional development to ensure high-quality care. 

The company has monthly sales of over $200,000 and offers services to both individuals and corporates in Ukraine, Poland and Romania.