Ukrainian Defense Tech Night: Protect & Innovate #SFTechWeek
Connect with visionaries pioneering advancements in drone technology, Artificial Intelligence, and battlefield management systems.
Whether you're an investor, industry professional, or tech enthusiast, this event offers unparalleled insights into the future of global defense tech.
Hosted and supported by the Consulate General of Ukraine in San Francisco, IT Ukraine Association 🇺🇦 🇺🇸
Agenda
6:00 PM - Doors Open & Welcome Drinks
Networking, casual mingling, and opportunity to meet key speakers and attendees
6:20 PM - Opening Remarks
Introduction by @Artur Kiulian, @Nazar Gulyk, @Alexander Ravski & Dmytro Kushneruk
Overview of the event's mission to support Ukraine and promote defense innovation
Quick introduction of the goals of Victoria Venture Studio
6:30 PM - Block 1: Ukrainian Defense Perspectives
Speakers: Dmytro Kushneruk, Gauthier Vasseur, Kostyantyn Shysh, Alexander Ravski
Dmytro Kushneruk
Consul General of Ukraine in San Francisco. Previously served as a Counsellor at Ukraine's Permanent Mission to the UN (2012-2014) and as Deputy Chief of Protocol to the President of Ukraine (2014-2020).
Gauthier Vasseur
Executive Director of the Berkeley Fisher Center for Business Analytics and AI & Business Analytics Ambassador for the UN Global Compact Ukraine. A thought leader with 10+ years of experience in empowering organizations through data mastery and digital transformation.
Kostyantyn Shysh
Founder and CEO of Traces, a deep tech AI company operating in the security sector. A combat veteran with two years of frontline deployment in Ukraine, possessing hands-on experience with both conventional and next-gen military technologies. Combines entrepreneurial vision with recent battlefield insights to drive innovation in countering evolving threats.
Alexander Ravski
Corporate attorney in the Bay Area and Founder of Nebo Legal, P.C., specializing in venture capital and mergers & acquisitions, with a focus on startups and emerging tech. Immersed in the defense, emerging tech and startup ecosystem. Super connector, fixer, operator.
Topics:
Current needs of Ukrainian defense (adaptation to evolving threats, sustainable supply chains)
Role of private sector and volunteers (gaps, role of government and phenomenon of decentralized efforts)
Importance of global partners (strategic alliances, diplomatic support and joint ventures)
Challenges of balancing defense, humanitarian and rebuilding efforts (resource allocation, infrastructure, planning)
7:00 PM - Block 2: Innovation in Defense
Speakers: Junaid Islam, Steve Taub, Anton Borzov, Artur Kiulian
Junaid Islam - OODA
Junaid has 35 years of experience in secure communications and has developed network protocols that have been adopted by the DoD. Junaid made major contributions to MLPP buffer management for weapons systems and MPLS priority queuing for global communications, Mobile IPv6 for netcentric warfare and is the inventor of Software Defined Perimeter which was used as a Zero Trust Network access solution by the US Intelligence Community.
Steve Taub - DARPA
Steve Taub has had a long career in venture capital, investing in nearly three dozen startups focused on energy and climate, industrial technology, robotics, aerospace, and other markets during his time at GE Ventures, In-Q-Tel, and JetBlue Ventures. Steve currently works with DARPA to explore the commercialization of groundbreaking innovations. Previously, he was a partner at In-Q-Tel, where he led 21 investments in "hard tech" startups with national security potential.
Anton Borzov - STRATMINDS.VC
Ukrainian entrepreneur and VC partner at StratMinds, SF-based VC firm focusing on applied AI. Anton was one of the first employees at WhatsApp. He and his colleagues from Dnipro in Ukraine were responsible for the product's design from its earliest days, even before the messenger app gained popularity
Artur Kiulian - VICTORIA
Ukrainian entrepreneur leading AI/ML direction at Victoria. He began his career in venture capital, building a successful venture studio that launched 65 startups and achieved 7 exits. As the founder of the non-profit UkraineNow.org, Artur is a dedicated advocate for Ukraine's technology ecosystem and an active supporter of its innovation-driven growth.
Topics:
Role of venture capital in defense innovation
Cutting-edge technologies reshaping the industry
The intersection of private innovation and government needs
Dual-use investment thesis and its limitations
7:30 PM - Block 3: Startup Pitches (5 min + 3 min Q&A)
Nazar Gulyk, Ukrainian tech entrepreneur and co-founder of Victoria venture studio. With a strong background in business, technology, and entrepreneurship, Nazar is dedicated to helping young founders bring innovative ideas to life. Additionally, he serves as a TechStars Community Leader in San Francisco, where he leads a local pre-acceleration program, guiding early-stage startups through the challenges of launching and scaling their businesses. Nazar will introduce and lead the dynamic session of defense tech startup pitches.
The Startup Pitches block will feature three promising startups pushing the boundaries of AI and defense technology:
Bavovna is a dual-use AI-driven alternative navigation for Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles operating in GNSS-denied and electronic warfare-threatened environments. Bavovna combines modular hardware and SaaS AI for aerial, surface, and subsurface UV platforms to address malicious and natural challenges to Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) systems. Bavovna has been recognized as the Best Solution at Commercial UAV Expo 2024.
Mara
Mara is revolutionizing anti-drone defense by creating high-tech, single-purpose robots designed to neutralize drone swarms using mass-produced, consumer-grade parts. Assembled near the point of sale via decentralized light industry, Mara's solution is cost-efficient and quick to deploy. Mara's innovative approach accelerates development through advanced training and red-team simulations in a video game environment, ensuring real-world readiness and cutting-edge performance
Moodro produces portable, autonomous counter-drone systems that use cyberattack technologies to first detect drones and then precisely neutralize them. With a range 10 times greater than standard electronic warfare, each device in Ukraine mitigates up to 30 drones daily. Michael has been selling solutions to Ukrainian Armed Forces since the very first invasion happened in 2014.
DroneWall
DroneWall combines cutting-edge laser and AI technology with the unparalleled expertise of 27-year veteran of military intelligence, counter-terrorism, and federal law enforcement. DroneWall's AI-powered platform identifies drones and neutralizes threats in seconds using precision high-energy lasers, ensuring rapid, safe protection.
8:30 PM - Networking
Attendees have a chance to network with founders, speakers, investors, and industry professionals
9:30 PM - Doors close
Brought to you by Consulate General of Ukraine in San Francisco, UkraineNow & Victoria - the first defense venture studio with roots in Ukraine - showcases groundbreaking innovations born from real-world challenges. Meet the Ukrainian entrepreneurs behind technologies reshaping modern warfare and peacekeeping efforts.
This event is a part of #TechWeek - a week of events hosted by VCs and startups to bring together the tech ecosystem.