Starting today, Ukrainian startups can register for the Startup Competition 2024. That is a pivotal part of the Startup Track at IT Arena — Ukraine’s largest English-language technology conference, which will take place from September 27th to 29th in Lviv. This year marks the eleventh edition of the conference, which will bring together thousands of IT professionals, experts, and investors from dozens of countries worldwide.

The Startup Competition offers a unique opportunity to showcase your project on Ukraine’s main IT stage, win cash prizes, and attract investments. Top investors, major technology media, and thousands of IT Arena participants will see your pitch. The total prize pool of the competition is $60,000, and it will increase. The deadline for applications is June 6th.

Technological startups meeting the following criteria are eligible to participate in the Startup Competition:

• Founded no earlier than 2021;
• Have a demo version of the product and first traction;
• Have raised at most $1 million in investments, excluding grants.

Additionally, at least one representative from the startup must be ready to personally participate in the semi-finals and finals of the competition on September 27th-29th in Lviv during IT Arena 2024.

For the second time, the Startup Competition will feature two tracks: the main category and a special one dedicated to defense technology and cybersecurity developments.

Participants of the Startup Competition will have access to:

• Cash prizes ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 and awards from partners;
• Mentorship from investors and mentors from Ukraine and around the world;
• Promotion of the startup to the conference audience and global tech media;
• Professional networking opportunities.

To learn more details and submit an application to participate, visit the Startup Track page.

It’s worth noting that last year, the total prize pool of the Startup Competition amounted to $489,000. During the competition, startups also received investments. The winners of “S.Lab” secured $100,000 from ZAS Venture, $10,000 from angel investor Sasha Reminny, and €100,000 from Vesna Capital. The defense tech startups Zvook, Falcons, Mantis Analytics, and Griselda have received $200,000 in investments from an angel investor who wished to remain unnamed.

The Startup Competition is organized by Lviv IT Cluster, Startup Depot, and Ukrainian Startup Fund.