Engineering the US-Ukraine Defense Tech Partnership
A focused platform connecting Ukrainian defense tech innovators with U.S. investors, policymakers, and technology companies — for those who want direct access before everyone else does.
The context
Global military expenditure hit $2.7 trillion in 2024 — a post-Cold War record. NATO's new 5% GDP target adds over $1.5 trillion in additional annual spending. That capital needs technology. Ukraine has it, and has already proven it under conditions no testing ground can replicate.
Ukraine's defense tech sector is conservatively estimated at $6.8B in 2025. UAV production reached $6.3B with 137% YoY growth. Unmanned ground vehicles grew sixfold to $252M. Electronic warfare systems expanded 3.4x to $220M. These are outputs from companies whose products are actively deployed in live operational environments.
Why you should be there
For U.S. investors, policymakers, and technology companies — this is direct access to an innovation pipeline the rest of the world is now racing to reach. Ukrainian founders bring products already tested in combat, iterated in weeks, and scaled under pressure.
For Ukrainian participants, this is a rare room where the conversation about scaling, co-development, and long-term U.S. partnership happens.
Agenda
16:00 – Welcome Remarks
Olga Stefanishyna, Ambassador of Ukraine to the USA
16:10 – Panel: Battle-Tested Innovation: Scaling Ukraine's Defense Tech Globally
Stanislav Hryshyn, General Cherry
Valery Krasovsky, Sigma Software Group
Vitaliy Goncharuk, CEO of A19Lab, ex CEO and founder of Augmented Pixels (acq. By Qualcomm)
Moderator: Debra Cagan, Atlantic Council
17:10 – Fireside Chat: UA Tech's Role in DoD Programs, Middle East and Beyond
Stanislav Hryshyn, General Cherry
Moderator: Valeria Kushnerchuk, Diia.City Union
17:30 – Networking & Dinner
Who's behind it
Organized by Ukraine House, Diia.City Union — Ukraine's leading tech industry association — and Defence Builder, Ukraine's most active defense tech ecosystem founded by Sigma Software, Kyiv School of Economics, and Buntar Aerospace. Defence Builder operates as end-to-end infrastructure for the sector: an accelerator, an investment fund, and a capabilities platform connecting innovators with production, expertise, and international partners.
The event partner is General Cherry — a Ukrainian defense tech company that developed a codified, MoD-approved line of FPV drones actively deployed by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Media partner — Defender Media: covering Ukrainian defence tech innovation, investments, developments, and the events shaping the future of security and defence.
On the registration form, please fill out your first and last name.