Uncategorized - Ukraine Digital News

Microsoft considers investing $500 million in Ukrainian cloud market

October 9, 2020

On October 2, the Ukrainian Ministry of Digital Transformation and Microsoft Corporation announced the signature of a memorandum of understanding on the potential implementation of the Azure Expansion Program in Ukraine. Such a program would pave the way to the creation of “hyperscale cloud” services as a contribution to the country’s digital transformation. Microsoft’s solutions …

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Ukraine’s LegalTech scene features nearly 50 projects

May 20, 2020

Three years after it emerged in in Kyiv in 2017, Ukraine’s legal tech community is now fairly active – as exemplified by the Telegram-community Kyiv Legal hackers which has more than 750 members. A significant role in developing the community was played by the 2015 law about open data and Denis Gurskiy’s Incubator 1991. Importantly, some large law firms in …

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Ukrainian facial recognition technology facilitates contactless biometrics and touchless payments

May 8, 2020

With the Covid-19 global pandemic still raging, there is new interest in contactless biometrics to authenticate consumers in retail, banking, travel and transportation and make easy touchless payments. In 2017, in Lviv (Western Ukraine), Yuriy Holuzynets and Stanislav Berdnyk co-founded fintech startup Riddletag for the purpose of helping companies better automate their business processes. Their goal was …

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Small round but big ambitions for Ukrainian HR tech startup Skyworker

April 22, 2020

The Ukrainian startup Skyworker has just raised an initial round of funding, as reported by the local tech blog AIN.UA. The deal might not be considerable by its amount (undisclosed), if judging by the $1.5 million valuation – but it is worth of notice given the track record of the startup and the investor. Skyworker was founded just one …

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US firm acquires Ukrainian startup used by Uber, Disney and Nike

February 11, 2020

The U.S. design delivery platform Abstract has acquired Ukrainian startup Flawless App, the Kyiv-born company announced on Feb. 10. While the companies did not disclose the sum of the acquisition, the Ukrainian startup was already a major player with heavyweights like Uber, Disney, eBay, Nike, Spotify among its clients. Flawless App was designed for programmers who create iPhone …

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In Davos, Ukraine House showcases the best of Ukraine with a focus on technology

January 22, 2020

This week for the third consecutive year Ukraine House Davos is offering attendees an opportunity to learn more about the country’s growing economy with a focus on its innovative technology industry. The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos-Klosters is a major global gathering of the world’s top leaders who participate in collective activities to help define the global, …

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European Commission points out Ukraine’s high level of online piracy and other IP protection problems

January 6, 2020

In late December, the European Commission published a report on the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights across the world. China is listed as “the Priority 1 country,” in spite of the recent “substantive reform” of its administration responsible for IPR, because of the scale and persistence of IPR-related issues. Ukraine is listed among …

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Snapchat acquires AI Factory, a deepfake image and video startup with Ukrainian roots

December 31, 2019

Snap Inc. has acquired AI Factory, a startup with Ukrainian roots that develops image and video technologies. In an exchange with Ukraine Digital News, Snap’s press service confirmed the deal, which was initially reported by Ukrainian tech blog AIN.UA. Snap declined to provide any further details, but AIN.UA heard from “a source familiar with the matter” that AI Factory …

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Russian game giant Playrix acquires Ukrainian game studio

November 4, 2019

Last week Playrix, a global Russian-founded gaming giant, announced the acquisition of Ukrainian game studio Zagrava Games. Founded in 2003 (known as ‘Friends’ Games’ at that time), this game development service company is located in Rivne (Rovno), Western Ukraine, and employs 60 people. Its creations include ‘Greedy Bunnies,’ ‘The Hunt for Red Panda’ and ‘Chasing Chaster.’ Among its clients …

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Seedstars invites international innovation lovers to Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan (Nov. 20-22)

October 4, 2019

Seedstars, the leading emerging market startup community and investor, has chosen Nur-Sultan, the capital of Kazakhstan previously known as Astana, to host a Regional Summit of Central Eastern Europe and Central Asia during three days in late November 2019. Presenting itself as “a catalyst to facilitate the best business and investment opportunities in the region,” …

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New deputy prime minister aims to digitize Ukraine, slay corruption

September 13, 2019

Elected to parliament from Zelensky’s Servant of the People party, Mykhailo Fedorov was appointed deputy prime minister and minister of digital transformation on Aug. 29 during the new parliament’s first session. Now 28-year-old, this former digital marketer from the southeastern city of Zaporizhia now aims to make it possible for Ukrainians to vote, run a …

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From messaging to outsourcing to innovation, Japan and Ukraine envision growing tech ties

July 30, 2019

Almost every Ukrainian is using something Japanese — at least, almost every Ukrainian with a smartphone. That’s because 97% of smartphone owners here, or about 40 million people, use the messaging app Viber, which is owned by Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten. Since Ratuken purchased Viber from its Israeli founder in 2014, the app’s popularity in …

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