The Ukrainian Startup Fund has launched a new grant program, Startup EDGE, targeted at early-stage startups, with a total budget of €1 million. The initiative was announced at IT Arena 2025 by Natalia Denikeeva, Deputy Minister for Digital Economy, and Julien Smitt, Director of the EU4Innovation East program.

Funding Opportunities

The program will provide:

• Up to €20,000 for startups at the pre-seed stage
• Up to €40,000 for startups at the seed stage

Focus Areas

Startup EDGE will prioritize projects in three high-impact sectors:

• Deep Tech: AI and machine learning, biotechnology and life sciences, robotics, 5G, Web3, and other breakthrough technologies.
• Green Tech: sustainable development, renewable energy, clean technologies, and resource-saving solutions that reduce environmental impact.
• EdTech: digital learning platforms and technologies that transform education and expand access to knowledge.

Applications will open soon. Each submission will go through a transparent, multi-stage selection process: compliance review, expert evaluation, commission presentation, and a final decision by the Supervisory Board.

About USF

• The Startup EDGE program is implemented by the Ukrainian Startup Fund with the support of EU4Innovation East, funded by the EU, co-financed by the French government, and implemented by Expertise France.
• USF has become the largest angel investor in Ukrainian startups, awarding grants to 470 companies totaling ₴380 million. With Startup EDGE, the fund is committing €1 million more toward strengthening entrepreneurship and innovation in Ukraine.
• Earlier, USF completed a program with the support of the Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund (UMAEF), which provided $2 million in funding to 57 Ukrainian civil startups at the pre-seed and seed stages. That initiative concluded in early September 2025.