The defense technology cluster Brave1, with the support of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, is announcing applications for its annual defense startup competition “Battle Proven.”
This year’s selection partners include the Unmanned Systems Forces, the 3rd Army Corps of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and the 2nd Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine “Khartia.”
Battle Proven 2026 will take place within Defense Tech Valley 2026, the largest defense technology event in Ukraine, scheduled for September 16–17 in Lviv. Organizers expect more than 7,000 participants from 50 countries, including leading international investors and representatives of the defense industry.
Who can apply
Startups from Ukraine and abroad at different stages of development are invited to participate. The main selection criterion is technological readiness: the focus is on products already being used on the battlefield or expected to be deployed within the next year.
As a result of the selection, 30 finalist teams will be chosen across three categories:
- Trail Blazers – teams with conceptual solutions that can unlock new capabilities for the front.
- Gamechangers – developers with products that have already undergone field testing.
- Power Players – teams whose technologies are already systematically used in combat conditions and are ready for scaling.
Partner units—the Unmanned Systems Forces, the 3rd Army Corps, and the 2nd National Guard Corps “Khartia”—will participate in the selection and evaluation process directly on stage at Defense Tech Valley 2026. This ensures assessment based on real combat experience and current frontline needs.
Applications are open until June 15, 2026. Registration is available via an online form.
Defense Tech Valley 2026 is organized by Brave1 with the support of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the Ministry of Digital Transformation. The event will take place on September 16–17 in Lviv and will bring together leading defense sector players from more than 50 countries. More details are available at defensevalley.tech.
