Startup Breakfast at GGTC Kyiv: More GovTech, Less Slides!

On 3 October, the Global Government Technology Centre Kyiv (GGTC Kyiv) hosted a Startup Breakfast bringing together members of Ukraine’s tech ecosystem for a morning of engaging dialogue and networking.


The focus of the event was on GovTech Lab programme, Ukraine's first open innovation programme that brings together government institutions and tech companies to co-create practical digital solutions for the public sector. The programme is implemented by the Global Government Technology Centre Kyiv, in collaboration with the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, the World Economic Forum, and with the support of Switzerland within EGAP Program, which is carried out by East Europe Foundation.

Event participants learned about the programme’s ongoing open call and the potential benefits for the winners, including up to €150,000 in pilot funding, access to the global GovTech network, and the possibility to test solutions addressing real public-sector challenges. This year’s focus areas include urban planning, automatic legal assistance for citizens, and transparent tourism management. Startups, IT companies, and innovation-driven teams from Ukraine and abroad are invited to apply. Applications are open until 28 October 2025 on the UpLink platform.

The speaker line-up included Volodymyr Sichka, CTO at Kitsoft, and Roman Lanskii, CEO of Strimco — companies already developing GovTech solutions — as well as Iryna Zabolotna, Deputy Head of the Ukrainian Startup Fund. They presented their perspectives on Ukraine’s evolving GovTech landscape, shared lessons learned and practical advice from their own experience in the field, helping participants better understand what successful public-private partnerships in GovTech can look like in practice.

The interactive format — with short talks, Q&A, and informal conversations over coffee and croissants — fostered a friendly and open atmosphere. Participants engaged with questions about how the programme works in practice, from selection criteria to collaboration with government institutions, reflecting strong interest in the GovTech field.

“When startups and government work together, the impact can be transformative. At Global Government Technology Centre Kyiv we are proud to act as a bridge between the public and tech sectors, opening doors for innovators to shape better public services. We encourage startups in Ukraine and worldwide to apply to the GovTech Lab UA and turn their ideas into impactful digital solutions that create public value.”

Zoya Lytvyn

Head of GGTC Kyiv

The open call for submissions for the GovTech Lab Ukraine programme is open from 17 September to 28 October 2025. Selected winners will be announced on 19 November 2025. Interested startups and innovators can find full details on the application process, selection criteria, and how to apply on the UpLink platform.

Disclaimer:

With support from our tech ecosystem partners — Ukrainian Startup Fund, Civitta, and Radar Tech — this event is part of the broader effort to develop Ukraine’s GovTech community.

GovTech Lab Ukraine is an open innovation program for public sector, implemented by the Global Government Technology Centre Kyiv (GGTC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, the World Economic Forum, and with the support of Switzerland within EGAP Program, which is carried out by East Europe Foundation. To learn more about the GovTech Lab programme, visit this page.

The Global Government Technology Centre (GGTC) in Kyiv became the second GovTech centre in the world after Berlin and the 21st Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) in the World Economic Forum network. GGTC Kyiv is supported by Switzerland within EGAP Program, which is carried out by East Europe Foundation, and initiated by the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine and the World Economic Forum.

Global Government Technology Centre in Kyiv

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