In 2022, I came to Ukraine with a shipment of medical aid. What I found wasn’t only a nation under siege – I saw resilience, vision, and a hunger to move forward.
Since then, I’ve returned again and again. We were able to provide $5 million in medical supplies and $1.5 million in humanitarian aid to communities on the frontline in Ukraine. But this summer, I came with a different mission: to build bridges between businesses – specifically Ukrainian innovators and American companies, and particularly in the tech sector. What Ukraine needs now is not charity, but opportunity.
And I’m convinced: the most sustainable aid we can offer Ukraine is a real seat at the table of global economic growth.
Ukraine’s tech sector is ready. Is the world ready for Ukraine?
I’ve met drone engineers, tech founders, and GovTech architects in Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa and Kharkiv. These are not companies “waiting” for the war to end. They are operating, innovating, scaling – often faster than their global peers.
Ukraine now has over 100,000 tech specialists and more than 900 residents in Diia.City, the country’s virtual free economic zone for IT. Brave1, the national defense-tech platform, has supported over 500 dual-use projects since the full-scale war began. Every day, I see founders turning battlefield know-how into products ready for the global market.
Many Americans still assume that Ukraine is stuck in post-Soviet infrastructure, and unable to imagine modern hotels or vibrant urban living. They couldn’t be more wrong.
What I saw in Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv, and Odesa wasn’t just recovery – it was rapid transformation. Ukraine is today a dynamic, tech-savvy, and forward-looking nation.
People in the US don’t realize how smart and driven Ukrainians are, and how much we have in common. Ukrainians share that same entrepreneurial spirit and relentless work ethic that Americans take pride in. In many ways, Ukraine is already ahead of the US in terms of innovation, particularly in areas such as fintech, defense technology, and digital governance.
It’s time we adjust our lens, not to pity Ukraine, but to partner with it.
What US states can offer Ukrainian startups
Here’s what many Ukrainian founders don’t realize: in the US, most economic support for foreign businesses doesn’t come from Washington – it comes from the states, cities, and business districts. In Georgia, where I lead one of the largest Community Improvement Districts (Gateway85), we have over $2 billion in commercial property value in Gwinnett County, more than 550 businesses, and a clear mission: to grow through innovation and global partnerships.
As a Community Improvement District, Gateway85 is a group of private business owners who agree to pay extra taxes to improve their area. We work to improve security, enhance curb appeal, beautify the area, maintain roads, and implement economic development improvements, with the goal of attracting more high-level businesses. That includes Ukrainian companies.
State and local governments in the US actively compete to attract international business. They offer tax credits, soft-landing programs, assistance with hiring, legal support, and access to investors. The Georgia Department of Economic Development is highly advanced and actively works with companies all over Europe to attract them to Georgia, with notable success. They assist people when they relocate to Georgia, providing support with a soft landing and other essential needs to ensure their success.
This isn’t theory. At Gateway85, we’re launching a Tech Office to help Ukrainian founders specifically explore the US market. They’re not “leaving” Ukraine. They’re expanding.
What I tell Ukrainian founders: start small, start now
If I could offer one piece of advice to Ukrainian tech leaders, it would be this: don’t wait for the “perfect moment.”
Start with a minimum viable product (MVP). Start with a pilot. Reach out to US business chambers, attend events like SelectUSA, or partner with local accelerators to expand your reach. At Gateway85, we’ve already hosted joint events with Ukrainian tech companies, and we plan to host more.
US investors value data, speed, and relationships. A test case, a local pilot, or even a strong deck can go a long way, especially when backed by a local partner who can help build trust. And trust is everything.
Don’t fixate on Silicon Valley. Georgia is fast becoming the US hub for electric vehicles, batteries, and (soon) drones. We are more than open to defense technology, agritech, AI, or clean mobility.
Why Ukraine’s future depends on building global ties
Rebuilding Ukraine won’t be a reconstruction project. It will be the most significant innovation opportunity in Europe since World War II. Ukraine is going to get rebuilt, and this will happen in the next couple of years, not ten. My advice for rebuilding is: “Have a plan. Have a rough plan of what you want to do, and then seek the money.”
But to seize it, Ukraine needs not just financial support – it needs visibility, credibility, and direct ties to global markets. Business-to-business partnerships can do that. Every new factory, every tech pilot, every export deal is a vote of confidence in Ukraine’s future.
This is why we’re not just building a Gateway for Ukrainian companies to enter the US. We’re also laying the groundwork to bring 1,000 US mayors, engineers, journalists, and civic leaders to Ukraine – to see its transformation for themselves. And to make sure America never forgets what’s at stake.
A final message
Most Americans I know don’t just support Ukraine – they admire it. But admiration isn’t enough. It’s time to move from support to collaboration.
Let’s build not just after the war, but through it. Let’s stop treating Ukraine as a crisis and start seeing it as a partner.
Ukraine doesn’t need another aid convoy. It requires customers, partners and growth capital. And the world needs what Ukraine is building.
The views expressed are the author’s and not necessarily of Kyiv Post.