The Ukrainian Startup Fund (USF), in partnership with Brave1, has announced a new grant program to support the creation of firefighting drones and ground robotic complexes. Developers will be able to receive up to UAH 8 million to build innovative systems capable of extinguishing fires in the most dangerous and hard-to-reach areas. According to First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov, this initiative will help launch a domestic market for firefighting drones in Ukraine and provide rescuers with modern tools that allow them to extinguish fires without risking personnel.
The maximum grant amount per developer is UAH 8 million, while one applicant may receive up to five grants per year, with a total value of up to UAH 30 million. The fund emphasizes that such systems are critically important for the State Emergency Service (SES), as they enable firefighting in areas with an extremely high risk to human life, including active combat zones and potentially mined territories.
The program is being implemented with the support of the Ministry of Digital Transformation, USF, Brave1, and the SES. It aims to stimulate the creation of a full-fledged market for firefighting drones and robots in Ukraine and strengthen the country’s capacity to respond to emergencies. Applications can be submitted via the Ukrainian Startup Fund portal, launched by the Ministry of Digital Transformation in 2019.
Before the full-scale invasion, the fund was among the most active angel investors in the country, awarding $8.2 million in grants to 352 teams, most of which received $25,000–50,000 each. After February 24, the fund shifted its focus to defense-related projects, and in February 2024, the grant program for civilian startups was relaunched with a total budget of $2.5 million.
According to Forbes, Ukraine has around 60 startups per 1 million people, compared to about 500 in Europe. Over the two years since the program’s relaunch, the fund has financed 57 teams with $2 million, 90% of which remain active. After receiving grants, startups increased their workforce by 35%.
