War effort, noun: all that is being done to win a war.

In the midst of war, as the vile beast of violence is raging across Ukraine, various entities have been taking part in this modern war effort.

In Europe, this conflict has revived many painful memories. The memories of the previous century, one scarred by wars and the madness of man. This 21st century war has awakened the volcano of horror, one Europeans thought (or hoped) would be asleep forever.

But one thing has kickstarted the Old Continent's heart: The Ukrainian people's resilience. Beyond greed and wrath, resilience has proved to be the most powerful weapon of all.

In this quest for victory, the UK acts as a major ally. Figurehead of the European front, the kingdom has always been and keeps being an invaluable asset to his Eastern neighbour.

It's in this spirit that TechExchange launches. The non-profit startup aims to support UK and Ukrainian technology startups in an effort to turn the tide of war and save lives.

Delivering cutting-edge technology to the front-line

TechExchange is the first non-profit startup support programme of its kind specialising in DefenceTech and AgriTech. The privately-funded programme is seeking to promote effective collaboration between the UK and Ukraine to deliver essential front-line innovation that saves lives today. The inaugural cohort features four Ukrainian companies, Pilotechnika, Skyeton, Transimpex, and Zvook.

Operating on a pro-bono basis, TechExchange aims to connect startups with the investment and commercial opportunities they require to support Ukraine’s war effort, economic survival and future reconstruction. Serving a dual purpose for both DefenceTech and AgriTech startups, the programme supports Ukrainian companies working to help the military and UK-based businesses with an interest in testing their technology in live environments, whether on the fields of battle or agriculture.

Founded by Principal Andriy Dovbenko in 2023, TechExchange’s extensive network is composed of entrepreneurs, investors, government officials and lawyers. Dovbenko, a Ukrainian-born and UK-based former lawyer, has invested heavily in agriculture and technology over his long-standing career. These sectors are crucial to Ukraine (both now and in the future) and Dovbenko’s experience in these fields has enabled him to develop a particular understanding of how digital tools can be used to transform these industries.

Incredible Cohort

The cohort members focus on areas including drones, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), demining and air defence:

  • Pilotechnika (Ukraine) has produced customised unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) fitted with proprietary software that, using direct feedback from the front lines, responds to Ukraine’s specific military requirements. The company uses digital-twin technology to rapidly simulate how the hardware will respond to battlefield scenarios before it’s given to the front line.

  • Skyeton (Ukraine) has manufactured unmanned aerial systems (UAS) since 2014, providing accurate aerial data for precise ground intervention. Its Raybird UAS is capable of flying for around 30 hours covering over 150 kilometres and providing object recognition over vast, remote areas.

  • Transimpex (Ukraine) has created the capabilities to successfully perform humanitarian demining and ammunition disposal tasks. The company conducts manual demining, technical and non-technical surveys, in addition to the neutralisation of mines and the explosive remnants of war to clear areas of land affected by armed conflict.

  • Zvook (Ukraine) has built a scalable network of acoustic sensors to detect missiles, drones and other artillery, increasing air defence efficiency. The sensors consist of a parabolic antenna and a microcomputer, which runs AI-powered sound recognition algorithms. The company’s sensors currently cover around 14,000 sq. kilometres of land.

For Ukraine and for Us All

These startups all have real-world, dual applications to Ukraine, and their commercial success and innovation will provide life-saving solutions to a nation at war and help to accelerate the rebuilding process.

“Agriculture and defence are key components of Ukraine’s economy, and the cutting-edge technologies deployed within Ukraine today will benefit the country, and the rest of the world, in a profound way for years to come." says Andriy Dovbenko, Principal and Founder of TechExchange

To be a part of the TechExchange programme, companies must be developing defence or agricultural technologies, be funded to at least Pre-Seed, be UK or Ukraine-based and deliver impactful innovation that saves lives.

To apply for TechExchange or for further information visit: https://techexchange.network/