2026. Organized by Lviv IT Cluster, this year’s conference ran under the theme Leading the Way, focusing on how Ukrainian companies are building technology, businesses, and partnerships under conditions few other markets have experienced. Over three days, the event brought together 3,021 participants from Ukraine and abroad, with five stages, three venues, two expo zones, and the Startup Competition final. Here are the key moments and ideas that defined IT Arena 2026.
The first day opened with a conversation between Andriy Sadovyi, the Mayor of Lviv, and Shelby Wilder, a Newsmax correspondent, about how Ukraine’s international image is taking shape. They discussed reconstruction, the UNBROKEN ecosystem, and why international visitors should come to Lviv now.
“Every guest who comes to Lviv becomes our ambassador. Being here helps people better understand the price Ukraine is paying for its independence,” said Andriy Sadovyi.
Next, on the Business Stage, representatives of the European Investment Bank, IFC, EBRD, and Ukraine Phoenix Tech Fund explained why partners are moving ahead with investments in Ukrainian tech before the war is over. Mark Lennon, a former US Navy intelligence officer and founder of Polar Spark, added practical advice: keep the product simple, speak the customer’s language, and look for partners in the US rather than entering the market alone.
One of the most talked-about sessions featured an announcement by Mykhailo Fedorov, former Minister of Defense of Ukraine. He presented the Army of Robots, a project under which the most dangerous battlefield tasks could be handed over to robotic systems. In his words, Ukraine needs a new “Manhattan Project” that unites talent, capital, and technology. Fedorov emphasized that Ukraine must move faster than Russia and take the lead in the next technology cycle.
AI was a recurring theme throughout the program. Eric Maroyan of RSM US LLP reminded the audience that people often mistake productivity for transformation, while humans remain accountable for AI-driven decisions. Anna Bulakh, Head of Government Affairs and Public Policy for Ukraine at Google Ukraine, and Oleksandr Tsybort, Deputy Minister of Economy, spoke about public-private partnerships and the Obrii platform, designed to connect job seekers with vacancies and training opportunities.
Serhii Pavlyk, General Manager of Bolt in Ukraine, spoke about leadership. He explained why the most dangerous decisions in a company are successful ones that have outlived the conditions in which they were right.
Forty startups showcased their products on the Innovation Stage. The Startup Competition final took place on the second day of the conference, with participants competing for access to a $65,000 prize pool from the Ukrainian Startup Fund and a $12.5 million investment fund, mentorship from international investors and entrepreneurs, PR support in Ukrainian media, and the opportunity to pitch their products to investors.
First place and $30,000 went to Sirocco Energy, which develops wind turbines for businesses in low-wind areas. Second place and $20,000 went to Zmiyar and its HYDRA network of ground-based AI sensors, and third place and $10,000 to Versi Bionics, makers of an affordable Ukrainian-made bionic hand. A special prize from INNOVA (Tequila Night Batch) and $5,000 went to Rainbow, an app that helps children build healthy habits.
On its third day, IT Arena moved to venues in central Lviv, where more than 30 meetups explored topics including startups, investment, international cooperation, media, innovation, M&A, and more. The small-group format allowed participants to engage with speakers directly and continue conversations that began on the stages.
Organizer: Lviv IT Cluster
Main Partners: F-Drones, FirePoint
Exclusive Government Partner: Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine
Exclusive Banking Partner: UKRSIBBANK
Exclusive Partners: Lviv Polytechnic National University, Lviv City Council, Google, EU4Innovation East
Gold Partners: N-iX, TAITRA, SoftServe, EPAM, Ukrainian Startup Fund, JETRO, Aleph, IITD, CrowdStrike, MISTO, Everstar, blago, EveryMatrix, TAF Industries, Morshynska
General Media Partner: LIGA.net
The conference is organized by Lviv IT Cluster with the support of the EU4Innovation East project, funded by the European Union, co-funded by the Government of France and implemented by Expertise France.
2026. Organized by Lviv IT Cluster, this year’s conference ran under the theme Leading the Way, focusing on how Ukrainian companies are building technology, businesses, and partnerships under conditions few other markets have experienced. Over three days, the event brought together 3,021 participants from Ukraine and abroad, with five stages, three venues, two expo zones, […]
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