Rakuten Viber joins Lviv IT Cluster as a new member

Rakuten Viber is one of the world’s most trusted and downloaded apps. Rakuten Viber creates meaningful connections, bringing people together safely to enjoy precious moments with their families and friends, manage business relations, or pursue their passions in one place. As a super app, the company offers the users services that cover every aspect of their day-to-day needs and make their lives easier.

Rakuten Viber is installed on 98% of smartphones in Ukraine. Rakuten Viber is part of Rakuten Group, Inc., a global technology leader in e-commerce, fintech, digital content, and communications services. In 2024, Rakuten opened an office in Kyiv, and the Ukrainian representative office of Rakuten Viber became a resident of Diia.City.

“Rakuten Viber has always been actively involved in Ukrainian digital ecosystem development. Starting from maintaining constant and secure connection for millions of Ukrainians and ending with partnerships with market leaders, businesses’ support, and anti-fraud initiatives. We are happy to join the Lviv IT Cluster, which unites the largest IT companies to develop innovations and establish a world-class technology center in Ukraine,” noted Illia Boshniakov, Rakuten Viber Country Director.

“We are delighted to welcome Rakuten Viber to our association! This is one of the most renowned and trusted technology brands in the world, making a significant contribution to the development of Ukraine’s digital ecosystem. The company’s membership in the Cluster is another step toward strengthening the Ukrainian IT industry and creating an innovative environment that brings together leading market players. I am confident that together we can implement new large-scale initiatives and drive Ukraine’s digital transformation,” commented Stepan Veselovskyi, CEO of Lviv IT Cluster.

Rakuten Viber has actively supported Ukraine since the first day of the war.

Hiroshi Mikitani, CEO of Rakuten Group, donated 1 billion yen ($8.7 million) directly to Ukraine in February 2022, as well as funds for 500 inverter generators GV-16i Koshin in December. He was among the first technology company leaders to publicly support Ukraine.

The messenger’s team supports state institutions, organizations, media, and utilities in Ukraine in creating channels. For instance, the team assisted the DIU, the Ministry of Defense, the NSDC, the Office of the President, the Ministry of Digital Transformation, and many more, which have millions of subscribers. Rakuten Viber also provides free promotional support to state bodies’ channels.

The Rakuten Viber team has always advocated freedom of speech and constant access to truthful information. Thanks to the constant fight against fake news, including anti-Ukrainian, Rakuten Viber supports the hygiene of the information space, despite the possible consequences (the news speaks for itself).

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the Rakuten Viber team has created and maintained 13 channels and chats for refugees abroad. During this time, more than half a million Ukrainians in the Chezh Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Moldova, Romania, and Slovakia joined these channels.