Ukraine’s energy tech start-ups blooming in the fields

Ukraine’s inefficient energy sector leaves it vulnerable to being stretched over a barrel – literally – by Russia.

Roman Zinchenko says the answer lies in start-ups. “We don’t believe only presidents and prime ministers can solve this. Let’s treat the problem of this country as a start-up – and invite people to hack solutions for this.” He has begun a series of solar-powered “hackathons” – festivals for computer coders – in fields around Kiev, and a “Greencubator” to help energy start-ups gain funding.