UK-Ukraine
TechExchange
TechExchange
Connecting tech innovators
to build peace
to build peace
Advocacy and defence ecosystem leadership
UK–Ukraine TechExchange was founded by Andriy Dovbenko in 2023, following his direct involvement in supporting Ukraine’s defence effort from the earliest stages of the full-scale invasion.
From the outset of the war, Andriy became an active private contributor to Ukraine’s Armed Forces, working through charitable initiatives to fund and deliver critical equipment and technologies to the frontline. This work provided him with continuous, detailed feedback from operators and units engaged in active combat — insight into what technologies were effective, what failed under real conditions, and how rapidly battlefield requirements were evolving.
Alongside direct support, a significant part of this effort involved identifying and sourcing technologies — both Ukrainian and international — that could strengthen frontline capability and save lives.
From frontline insight to ecosystem building
Through this work, Andriy developed a clear view of the Ukrainian defence technology landscape.
He saw that many of the most effective solutions were being developed inside Ukraine by local engineers, startups, and defence companies responding in real time to battlefield needs. These technologies demonstrated speed, adaptability, and cost-efficiency that were often unmatched by traditional defence systems.
At the same time, it became evident that this ecosystem faced structural constraints:
limited access to international capital, restricted exposure to Western defence markets, and a lack of structured pathways to scale beyond wartime deployment.
TechExchange was created to address this gap.
Through this work, Andriy developed a clear view of the Ukrainian defence technology landscape.
He saw that many of the most effective solutions were being developed inside Ukraine by local engineers, startups, and defence companies responding in real time to battlefield needs. These technologies demonstrated speed, adaptability, and cost-efficiency that were often unmatched by traditional defence systems.
At the same time, it became evident that this ecosystem faced structural constraints:
limited access to international capital, restricted exposure to Western defence markets, and a lack of structured pathways to scale beyond wartime deployment.
TechExchange was created to address this gap.
Supporting the companies behind life-saving technologies
In its initial phase, TechExchange operated as a platform supporting Ukrainian defence and dual-use technology companies working on systems with direct operational relevance.
This included:
In its initial phase, TechExchange operated as a platform supporting Ukrainian defence and dual-use technology companies working on systems with direct operational relevance.
This included:
- facilitating access to international funding and investors
- supporting commercial sustainability and scaling
- creating visibility within the UK defence and policy ecosystem
- enabling structured engagement with partners, institutions, and decision-makers
How we help companies succeed
TechExchange provides comprehensive advisory and support for market entry into the UK, acting as a launchpad and advocate for Ukrainian tech companies.
- Investor Readiness & Fundraising Support
- Strategic Introductions & Networking
- Media Visibility & Narrative Building
- Exclusive Events & Forums
- Market Insight & Advisory
- Donor Engagement & Fundraising Campaigns
Media Visibility & Narrative Building
TechExchange actively promotes its cohort companies in the media and shapes narratives to prime the cohort for international scaling.
Investor Readiness & Fundraising Support
TechExchange mentors startups on crafting compelling pitch decks. The project team assisted with polishing pitch presentations and storytelling to meet international venture capital standards.
Strategic Introductions & Networking
A hallmark of TechExchange is brokering the right connections. The program provides bespoke introductions to potential partners, clients, mentors, and investors in both the UK and Ukraine. TechExchange leverages its membership in elite networks like The D Group (a UK private business network) and relationships with UK MoD to give Ukrainian founders access to decision-makers.
Ecosystem Visibility
A core part of TechExchange’s work is positioning cohort companies within the UK defence ecosystem by securing the right speaking opportunities.
This means working directly with organisers of leading defence conferences and industry platforms to ensure that founders and operators with real frontline experience are present in the rooms where capability, procurement, and investment decisions are being shaped.
As a result, cohort companies have been invited to speak and present at major defence platforms, including Defence IQ conferences, the London Defence Conference, Future Forces demo days, and UK–Ukraine DefenceTech Forums convening policymakers, industry, and capital.
This means working directly with organisers of leading defence conferences and industry platforms to ensure that founders and operators with real frontline experience are present in the rooms where capability, procurement, and investment decisions are being shaped.
As a result, cohort companies have been invited to speak and present at major defence platforms, including Defence IQ conferences, the London Defence Conference, Future Forces demo days, and UK–Ukraine DefenceTech Forums convening policymakers, industry, and capital.
For Ukrainian companies, these engagements provide a pathway from battlefield deployment to structured engagement with industry, government, and investors — enabling technologies that have proven effective in combat to be understood, evaluated, and adopted within a UK context.
I believe that supporting innovative tech is one of the key factors bringing Ukraine's victory closer. While DefenceTech is ultra important today, AgriTech will play a crucial role in rebuilding our country post-war. I am committing the work of UK-Ukraine TechExchange to supporting those companies whose technology has a real potential to save lives.
Andriy Dovbenko
Founder of UK-Ukraine TechExchange
Opinions
Strategic direction
As the war in Ukraine continues to redefine the character of modern conflict, a growing focus of Andriy’s work is on how these lessons are understood and applied within the UK.
Through his ongoing engagement across defence, policy, and industry, he contributes to bridging the gap between battlefield innovation and institutional capability. This involves translating real-world experience into forms that can inform procurement decisions, industrial development, and long-term resilience planning.
The emphasis is on ensuring that insights shaped under conditions of active conflict are not lost in abstraction, but are reflected in how the UK approaches defence technology, supply chains, and operational readiness.
In this context, TechExchange continues to evolve as a platform through which this translation takes place — connecting those building and deploying technology in Ukraine with those responsible for shaping capability in the UK.
As the war in Ukraine continues to redefine the character of modern conflict, a growing focus of Andriy’s work is on how these lessons are understood and applied within the UK.
Through his ongoing engagement across defence, policy, and industry, he contributes to bridging the gap between battlefield innovation and institutional capability. This involves translating real-world experience into forms that can inform procurement decisions, industrial development, and long-term resilience planning.
The emphasis is on ensuring that insights shaped under conditions of active conflict are not lost in abstraction, but are reflected in how the UK approaches defence technology, supply chains, and operational readiness.
In this context, TechExchange continues to evolve as a platform through which this translation takes place — connecting those building and deploying technology in Ukraine with those responsible for shaping capability in the UK.