IT Arena is a yearly conference that brings together experts in technology and trends in the city of Lviv. This event is a must-visit for those interested in staying informed about the development of the IT industry in Ukraine and around the world. IT Arena was named after the Arena Lviv stadium, where it was held for the first time in October 2014.
The scale of IT Arena has continued to grow each year, with an increasing number of attendees. In 2016, the conference saw over 1800 Members, and this number has steadily increased over the years. In 2017, the attendance grew to 2300, and by 2018 it had surpassed 3300 attendees. In 2019, IT Arena welcomed around 3800 Members, and in 2020 the conference saw 4076 attendees. The 2021 edition of IT Arena had a record-breaking attendance of 5345 Members. In 2022, the event went ahead despite the ongoing war and brought together about 1000 attendees, including international speakers, media and high-profile guests.
IT Arena is an exciting opportunity to connect with other professionals in the tech industry and learn from experts in the field. The event offers something for everyone: for companies, the opportunity to showcase their developments, for attendees, the chance to listen to speakers and network with peers, for startups, the opportunity to secure funding and present their ideas to the world, and more.
IT Arena 2022 brought together tech professionals, government officials, and experts in cybersecurity and digitalization to address issues including cybersecurity, military technology, and the government-business relationship. The event emphasized the role of the tech industry in achieving Ukraine’s victory and the importance of advanced technology in hybrid wars. the event was attended by up to 1,000 people and received media coverage from outlets such as The Economist and TNW. amid safety concerns due to the ongoing war in Ukraine,
The conference featured panel discussions and a startup competition, in which 28 teams out of 70 applicants pitched their ideas on stage, with 10 teams advancing to the finals. The finalist teams focused on addressing technological and humanitarian problems, with a particular emphasis on medical technology solutions. The Best Startup Award and a $20,000 prize was taken by WRAP, an app that automates video production flows. Knopka, a company that developed an IoT/SaaS solution for hospitals to provide medical assistance within three minutes, won the second prize of $18,000. Nanit, an educational robot and EdTech solution that helps identify creative and technical abilities and learn engineering skills, took the third prize of $15,000. The total prize pool for the competition was $340,000, including both money grants and in-kind services.
The eighth edition of IT Arena took place on October 7-9, 2021 in a hybrid format, combining online and offline events. This allowed attendees from all over the world to participate and visit meetups and afterparties in person. A total of 5345 attendees and 172 companies participated in IT Arena 2021, utilizing the B2B matchmaking opportunities on the conference platform. The platform featured both a desktop version and a mobile app, which allowed attendees to switch between conference talks, ask questions to speakers, and network with other Members.
IT Arena 2021 featured 100 speakers from four continents, discussing a range of topics including how to handle competitors and improve functionality, the importance of being in love with your product, cybersecurity risks, mental health, the use of AI and machine learning in the healthcare system, and how to regulate remote work. These discussions were led by representatives from global companies such as Google, AstraZeneca, Microsoft, Headspace, Remote, Airbnb, RollsRoyce, as well as Ukrainian companies that have successfully scaled worldwide.
The seventh edition of IT Arena took place on October 8-10, 2020, in a digital format due to the ongoing pandemic and travel restrictions. This allowed attendees from 28 countries to participate in the event safely from any location. A total of 4076 attendees and 93 companies participated in IT Arena 2020, utilizing the B2B matchmaking opportunities on the conference platform. Accessible on both mobile and desktop devices, our platform allowed attendees to seamlessly switch between conference talks, engage with speakers, and connect with other Members.
The theme of IT Arena 2020 was the speed of change, and Members were invited to consider the question, “Are we ready to embrace changes and withstand new challenges?” The event featured 78 hours of curated content from 88 speakers from four continents, covering a range of topics including deep learning, product building fundamentals, customer trust crisis, and glocalization. The conference also included a notable presentation on freedom and privacy by Dr. Richard Stallman, Founder of the Free Software Foundation.
The 6th IT Arena, held from September 27-29, drew 3816 visitors, 104 media representatives, and 91 speakers to Arena Lviv. It has established itself as a platform that brings together leaders in the global tech industry in Lviv. The conference featured four tracks: Business, Product, Technology, and Startup, and united experts from top companies such as Microsoft, Ajax System, Spotify, Zalando, IBM, Number 1 Agency, and MBition GmbH.
The event’s lineup included Daniel Dines, the Co-Founder and CEO of UiPath, and Oobah Butler, a renowned filmmaker and prankster. During the IT Arena 2019 Startup Competition, 45 startups made it to the semi-finals and had the opportunity to pitch their ideas on stage in front of a jury and attendees. Demo versions of the products were also displayed at the Startup Alley, where attendees could test them out. Legal Nodes, a tech solution that helps companies define their legal needs online, received the main prize of $10,000 from CRDF Global and IT Arena.
In 2018 IT Arena continued to thrive and expand. The conference celebrated its 5th anniversary, a significant milestone in the tech event world, by attracting over 3300 attendees. The event’s program covered the essential aspects of the IT industry through four tracks: business, technology, product, and startup. A hundred top experts from global companies such as Facebook, Tesla, Google, eBay, and Samsung shared their insights and experience at the IT Arena’s stage.
IT Arena 2018 featured top speakers such as Sachin Rekhi, Cassie Kozyrkov, and Martin Villig. Semyon Dukach, the keynote speaker, is a successful entrepreneur and investor who founded the Troublemaker Award for innovative startups. The Startup Competition brought together 150 projects, with 50 making it to the semi-finals and 11 selected as finalists. The main prize of $10,000 was awarded to Liki24, a platform connecting medical professionals, insurance companies, and clients. The total prize fund for the competition was $70,000.
IT Arena 2017 featured a variety of high-profile speakers from leading companies and organizations, including Cambridge Analytica, Bluetooth SIG, Amazon Web Services, Telenor, and Petcube. One of the most highly anticipated speakers at the conference was Alexander Nix, CEO of Cambridge Analytica. His keynote address drew attendees from across Ukraine and other countries. During his speech, Alexander discussed how Big Data can be used to approach electoral and commercial campaigns, drawing on examples from previous projects that his firm had worked on.
The impressive speaker lineup, combined with the enigmatic entrance of the computerized host Arina, helped elevate the conference to new heights. Attendees were treated to two days of informative talks and had the opportunity to engage in more practical, hands-on learning on the third day through a series of meetups held at nine locations throughout the city center. The event was known for its afterparties, including the Futureland Festival, an open-air party held on the stadium field featuring electronic music and a performance by the French duo Cassius.
IT Arena 2016 was a well-attended conference that brought together nearly 1800 Members from 12 countries and regions of Ukraine, including developers, entrepreneurs, business analysts, designers, and startuppers. The conference featured a lineup of speakers from leading companies such as IBM, Philips, Twitter, Spotify, Uber, and Microsoft.
The event covered a range of topics, including breakthrough technologies and challenges facing the IT business in Ukraine, and was divided into four streams: Technology Hands On and Technology Innovation, Product, and Business. Attendees had the opportunity to choose from more than 20 lectures each day and participate in six workshops. The conference also featured after parties as productive sites for networking and ended with the Futureland Festival, a mega-show attended by more than 2600 visitors headlined by world-famous DJ Netsky.
The second IT Arena conference, held in 2015, attracted over 1400 attendees, including IT professionals, top managers, designers, investors, entrepreneurs, and startuppers. Attendees had the opportunity to hear from speakers representing companies such as IBM Design, Amazon, FitBit, Epson, Facebook, SAP, HP, Petcube, and Microsoft. The conference also included an exhibition of hi-tech developments, where attendees could pilot drones, experience virtual reality, and interact with the NAO robot.
The first IT Arena conference was held in 2014 and brought together 800 Members, including IT professionals, CEOs, young entrepreneurs, and startups. The conference featured 11 sections covering a range of topics, including, data science, quality assurance, mobile development, user experience, IT outsourcing, value management and business analysis, information security, and game development. The sections provided attendees with valuable insights and information on a wide range of issues and topics related to the IT industry.
