When edtech company Preply reached unicorn status earlier this year, its Kyiv office celebrated with cake, despite the ongoing war. In the four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukrainian startups have continued to thrive. Preply plans to use its recent funding to hire 100 engineers globally, including in Ukraine, where a third of its engineering team is based.
Preply is just one example. Defense tech has gained attention for its rapid battlefield innovations, but talent and creativity are also boosting other sectors in Ukraine. Startups can receive special status to shield critical employees from the military draft if they support the country. Aspichi, a startup founded by Victor Samoilenko, pivoted in response to the war and is now known for Luminify, a mixed-reality mental health platform that supports Ukrainians dealing with trauma.
With many displaced people and those living in constant stress, the psychological impact is severe. “Everybody is suffering,” Samoilenko noted, emphasizing the significant effects on his family.
Amid frequent power grid attacks, Kyiv’s residents have adapted with power banks, stoves, and generators, used sparingly due to high costs. Offices have become warm refuges during these times. Preply’s CEO, Kirill Bigai, mentioned their office’s readiness to provide space for team members around the clock.
For smaller startups, coworking spaces have become essential. LIFT99 Kyiv Hub, damaged in a missile strike, has seen increased membership since reopening. Kyiv remains a startup hub, though not the only one. Lviv, near the Polish border, has grown its creative ecosystem and hosted IT Arena 2025, attracting 6,450 participants despite fewer foreign visitors.
Ukrainian tech workers also travel abroad for conferences, like Techarena in Stockholm. A Ukrainian delegation expressed exhaustion but continued to list Ukraine’s unicorns, maintaining optimism amid the challenges.