Quick facts
| Metric | Detail |
|---|---|
| Dates / Venue | 16–17 Sept 2025, “Arena Lviv” expo campus |
| Host ecosystem | Brave1 defence-tech cluster, Ministry of Digital Transformation, Lviv City |
| Expected attendance | >5 000 delegates • 70+ VC & PE funds • 200+ start-ups • 150+ defence OEMs |
| Core themes | Autonomous systems • AI/ML targeting • EW & C-UAS • Secure comms • Additive mfg • Dual-use cyber |
| Flagship pitch-event | Battle Proven competition (see below) |
Why investors are circling Ukraine’s defence-tech scene
“Every day Ukrainian engineers field, iterate and battle-test technology under real fire. That ‘combat lab’ advantage simply doesn’t exist anywhere else.”
— Mykhailo Fedorov, Minister of Digital Transformation
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Live test-bed: front-line feedback loops compress R&D cycles from years to weeks.
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Massive domestic demand: Kyiv’s 2026 budget locks in ₴1.8 trn for security and defence.
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Global dual-use upside: AI, robotics and ISR solutions proven in Ukraine are now sought by NATO and Indo-Pacific partners.
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Regulatory fast track: simplified export licensing and IP-sharing under the Brave1 programme.
New this year → Battle Proven start-up tournament
| Track | Stage | What jurors look for |
|---|---|---|
| Trail Blazers | Pre-seed / idea | Novel concepts, TRL 3-4 prototypes |
| Game-changers | Field-tested | Systems already deployed on front lines |
| Power Players | Scale-ups | Platforms influencing daily combat outcomes |
30 finalists will pitch live to global funds; cash prizes plus MoD procurement pilots are on the table. Application window: 1 July – 15 August at brave1.ua/valley.
How to attend or invest
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Investor pass: curated 1-on-1 schedule with founders, MoD capability briefings, site visits to production lines.
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Corporate exhibitor: 12 000 m² floorplan; early-bird rate until 31 July.
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Virtual stream: live keynotes and demo-day coverage for remote partners.
Registration opens 5 July at defensetechvalley.com
“Defense Tech Valley is not just another conference. It is a deal-floor where capital meets combat-validated IP, and where Ukraine positions itself as the Silicon Valley of security.”
— Olena Kondratyuk, Brave1 Programme Director
