Ukraine is an IT country with many talented IT professionals. Even after the Russian invasion, many IT startups have continued to grow through friendly competition, and JICA had been promoting business support for Ukrainian startups since 2022, but was interrupted when the Russian invasion began. It resumed this past April after more than a year, culminating in a culminating event in May. There, we saw Ukrainian entrepreneurs who are strongly continuing their businesses with an eye on the country’s future even under difficult circumstances.
Ukraine, one of Europe’s leading IT countries
Ukraine’s IT sector has attracted a lot of attention in recent years. It has been selected as one of the top 30 startup ecosystems in the world ranking, where startups are created and developed through the network of investors, universities, public institutions, and large companies surrounding startups. The reason for this growth is that the government has been actively promoting the IT industry for some time and has been enhancing higher education in science and mathematics, resulting in the creation of a large number of human resources skilled in IT technology. The number of IT professionals, currently estimated at 2.4 million, is expected to increase further to 4.5 million by 2024.
Four unicorn companies (unlisted companies with an enterprise value of $1 billion) have already emerged from Ukraine, including Grammarly, an AI-based English correction software company. According to the National Bank of Ukraine and the Ministry of Digital Transformation, the country continues to grow strongly even in wartime, with exports of IT software services in the first half of 2022 at $3.74 billion, up 23% from the same period last year, while GDP is down about 30% due to the war.
Source: World Bank
NINJA Program” resumes after interruption due to invasion
In January 2022, JICA launched “Project NINJA (Next Innovation with Japan)” in Ukraine with the aim of further developing such fast-growing Ukrainian IT startups and stimulating employment. This is a program to accelerate the growth of startups in developing countries through support activities such as interviews and workshops, etc. Six IT startups were selected through a rigorous selection process from among 54 applicants, and the “Acceleration Program” was implemented to brush up their businesses in a companion program over a period of about 12 weeks. The Acceleration Program is a 12-week program in which six IT startups selected through a rigorous selection process from among 54 applicants are given a dedicated mentor. Each company was assigned a dedicated mentor (advisor) who helped them strengthen their management skills and brush up their business plans, as well as matchmaking with companies and promoting investment.
While preparing for the “Pitch Event,” in which they would present their business to investors and others to raise funds and increase awareness, the Russian invasion of Ukraine broke out, forcing the NINJA program to be suspended. A little over a year later, the Pitch Event was finally held in May 2023. The event featured heated presentations by entrepreneurs who continued to work positively despite the difficult circumstances.
Pitch event held in the capital city of Kieu. The event was conducted as a hybrid of online and
Utilizing the learning and networking gained from the program
The NINJA program has taught me the importance of leadership, never giving up in any situation, and putting all my energy into improving my company’s technology and services. In addition to brushing up my business content, the NINJA program taught me how to be an entrepreneur.”
MISU has developed an application that uses AI to monitor health conditions and detect signs of heart disease. By wearing a wristwatch equipped with this application, serious events related to heart disease can be predicted and alerted at an early stage, allowing the wearer to receive appropriate medical care quickly. It also enables emergency contact notification to medical professionals who can provide lifesaving emergency care if the wearer no longer responds.
Heart-related diseases are one of the leading causes of death in the world. Mental health issues that cause heart disease are particularly prominent in Ukraine, and Vova, who studied applied mathematics at university, set out to develop this app to help people stay healthier. Today, the MISU app is offered on smartwatches such as the Apple Watch and is also used by medical institutions in Ukraine and Poland.
A wristwatch equipped with the MISU application, which alerts users to possible health abnormalities and prompts them to seek medical attention
Vova Shevchuk, founder of MISU, interviewed online from the capital city of Kieu.
MISU members are still based in Ukraine, and during the suspension of the NINJA program, an air raid alarm sounded during an online meeting with JICA, forcing an abrupt end to the meeting. Despite the difficult situation, Vova says, “Startups that are passionate about their business and continue to grow are a major force in supporting a country’s economy. This past April, Vova was named one of the top 12 wearable technology startups in Europe.
In the future, MISU aims to expand its business not only in Europe, but also in Asia and Japan, utilizing the network cultivated through the NINJA program. I want everyone to be able to monitor their health status every day with the MISU app and live happier, healthier, and longer lives. I want everyone to be able to monitor their health status every day with the MISU app and live longer, happier, and healthier lives.
MISU’s presentation at the Pitch Event
The other five companies participating in the program also have unique businesses, including an AI-based video content marketing service and a platform that allows investors and music lovers to invest in Ukrainian music. After the presentations at the pitch event, officials from government funds and organizations that support startups expressed their expectations for the future expansion of their businesses both domestically and internationally.
Six companies participating in the pitch event. Clockwise from top left: Djooky, MISU, Cardio.AI, V-Art, Wantent, Pleso Therapy
Looking ahead to co-creation with Japan for the reconstruction of Ukraine.
The startups that participated in the NINJA program were active in their businesses, offering their services free of charge to Ukrainian citizens during the interruption and expanding overseas. The mentors who have followed each startup pointed out that while the Ukrainian startups had very unique technologies, they had many areas for improvement in terms of market development and marketing. Therefore, the friendly consultation in the program played a major role in helping each company expand their business. The program also made it clear that each startup has a strong sense of mission that “it is the IT sector that will rebuild the country,” and that it will play a major role in the country’s future reconstruction and economic revitalization.
As mentioned above, while some startups are highly motivated to expand their business in Japan and other parts of Asia, concrete collaboration requires mutual understanding and interaction, which requires the presence of advisors and intermediaries to connect both sides. There are also a number of challenges, such as raising funds. According to a survey by a Ukrainian government startup support organization, 90% of startups reported needing financial support.
While there are concerns about the shortage of IT personnel in Japan in the future, co-creation with fast-growing Ukrainian startups will stimulate Japanese society and companies, leading to win-win cooperation for both parties.
JICA will continue to support Ukraine’s efforts to build a resilient nation through comprehensive and multifaceted assistance that goes beyond wartime and postwar reconstruction.
© Source JICA
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