On April 11, Lviv became a center for young people aspiring to build a career in tech. The city hosted IT Future Fest 2025 – the largest educational event of the year, bringing together 40 company members, nearly 7,000 participants, with over 3,000 attending in person. High schoolers, university students, educators, and tech professionals came together to connect with leading companies and explore how artificial intelligence is transforming the tech landscape, labor market, and career development strategies.
“I am glad that you are here today. Your presence is a confirmation that we are doing the right things. Such events contribute not only to the development of education, but also to the shaping of the future of the industry”, — said CEO of Lviv IT Cluster Stepan Veselovskyi.
From Idea to Prototype: How AI Is Shaping a New Reality
One of the central themes of the festival was artificial intelligence. Oleg Ponomaryov, CTO at It-Jim, spoke on the main stage, emphasizing that AI is already transforming the modern technological landscape. ChatGPT has 400 million weekly active users, and in 2024 alone, $56 billion was invested in generative AI. According to McKinsey, 76% of respondents already use AI for at least one business task.
“AI is a highly complex and constantly evolving field. That’s why it’s crucial for young people to pursue studies in mathematics, AI, and neural networks – fresh minds with innovative approaches are essential for progress in this domain. Events like this are important for our company because they allow us to meet, talk, and connect – and potentially find future teammates,” he shared.
Education Aligned with the Times
During the panel discussion “Starting a Career in Tech,” Head of L&D office at Eleks, Oleksandra Mokiy, stressed the importance of developing soft skills:
“When studying technical disciplines, you often focus on hard skills. But if you can’t present your solution to a client or your team, your work loses value. That’s why many companies are more and more focusing on soft skills when hiring.”
She also highlighted the need to make fast decisions and think ahead.
Maria Mashkovska, a student in the Internet of Things program at Lviv Polytechnic National University and CEO & Co-founder of the startup GrainMole, shared her experience, noting that the university offered many opportunities for growth, including access to different contests. However, she emphasized the need for technical education to continue evolving to meet modern challenges.
Internship That Prepares for Real Work
In the career zone, attendees explored booths of over 40 tech companies. They connected with company representatives, learned about current job market trends and junior-level role hiring criteria, and took part in interactive sessions.
“It was great not only to see but also to talk with company representatives and learn more about what they do and what they expect from potential employees. It really helps to understand where to go next,” said Kateryna Shynkar, a 9th-grade student from Solonka Lyceum.
“We joined the event to find young talents – they are always the driving force. They bring fresh energy, new technology, and new ideas into our teams. We’re regularly hiring young specialists. Students from technical universities have a strong background; they easily integrate into the team, progress quickly, and grow. We’ve already seen a positive impact after filling such positions – teams seem to come to when young people join,” said Olha Bilyk, HR Director at EveryMatrix Ukraine.
The event featured interactive workshop zones, emphasizing the practical skills required to kickstart a tech career. Special attention was given to communication, adaptability, and teamwork – all of which are increasingly critical in the rapidly evolving tech landscape.
“The event didn’t just provide basic info — it delivered real insights, relevant topics, experienced mentors, and lots of practice,” said Yurii Novak, a student at Lviv Higher Vocational School №29.
Education in Action: From AR to Career Discovery
Representatives of leading Ukrainian universities, including Lviv Polytechnic, presented programs covering machine learning, computer vision, and big data analysis. They also hosted a practical workshop where participants created AR objects and integrated them into real-world settings – the same technology used in TikTok filters and games like Pokemon GO. Discussions also focused on how educational programs must adapt to the fast-changing tech world.
“This year, in partnership with the Lviv IT Cluster, we’re launching a new program — Virtual Reality Systems. Students will be trained in VR and AR development. We’re confident this field has great potential – from military applications to education, healthcare, and entertainment,” said Uliana Marikutsa, Head of the VR Systems Department at Lviv Polytechnic.
In addition to Lviv universities, Kyiv Aviation Institute (KAI) was also represented. Their team showcased student-developed innovations and announced the launch of two new academic programs in partnership with Lviv IT Cluster.
“KAI is Ukraine’s first defense tech university. We want to show that this is not something to be feared – it’s important and useful for strengthening our country’s defense. We also want future students to know that we’re not only about aviation – we offer training in cybersecurity, IT, robotics, and telecommunications,” said Alla Pinchuk, an engineer at the Department of Telecommunications and Radio-electronic Systems, KAI.
Key Takeaways: How Technology Is Shaping the Future of Youth
IT Future Fest 2025 once again highlighted the fast pace of change in the tech world – and the need to stay prepared. Events like this help young people navigate trends, understand which skills will matter tomorrow, and discover new opportunities for growth today. This awareness is already influencing their choices and shaping a new tech ecosystem in Ukraine.
For companies, participating in events like this is more than just supporting education—it’s an investment in our country’s future. It’s a chance to engage directly with talented students and graduates, build a strong employer brand, and demonstrate social responsibility by contributing to youth development and tech education. It’s also a unique opportunity to show young Ukrainians that promising careers and education can thrive right here, not just abroad. Together, we can build the industry and contribute to rebuilding Ukraine’s future.
Organizer of the event: Lviv IT Cluster
Silver partners: EveryMatrix, It-Jim, Raiffeisen Bank
Media partner: Mezha
Info partner: J.A.S, Diva.Education,Work.ua, Zaichenko.team
On April 11, Lviv became a center for young people aspiring to build a career in tech. The city hosted IT Future Fest 2025 – the largest educational event of the year, bringing together 40 company members, nearly 7,000 participants, with over 3,000 attending in person. High schoolers, university students, educators, and tech professionals came […]
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