2nd Ukrainian PE & VC Summit Summary

On April 9 in Warsaw, the second Ukrainian PE & VC Summit concluded, marking a vital milestone in cooperation between the Ukrainian and international investment communities.

As a sequel to the first-ever meeting back in 2024, we needed to keep the bar high, thus, we hope all of you — the guests, the speakers or mere readers — enjoyed it as much as we did. It started with an idea over two years ago — a shared belief that the reconstruction of Ukraine must happen now and not in the distant future after the war is over.

After a debut, a bold experiment quickly turned into something much bigger. The overwhelmingly positive feedback, the energy in the room, and the momentum it created made it clear: this could not be a one-time discussion.

Followed by months of planning, here’s a short breakdown of the event’s main points.

Like the last time, the big focus was on private equity. By channelling essential capital and expertise into key sectors such as energy, infrastructure, agriculture, and technology, private equity plays a pivotal role in Ukraine's post-war recovery.

The next chunk of conversation was dedicated to international financial institutions (IFIs). For example, since the onset of the full-scale invasion, the World Bank Group has mobilised over $47 bln in financing, including grants and loans, to support Ukraine’s government services, healthcare, energy restoration, and housing repairs.

On the other hand, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) has invested $1.6 bln, focusing on enhancing financial sector resilience, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and advancing digital financial services.

Development finance institutions are an additional hot take these days. In June 2023, EBRD and 19 DFIs signed a Memorandum of Understanding establishing the Ukraine Investment Platform, aiming to coordinate co-investments in Ukraine's private sector. This collaborative effort seeks to bridge Ukraine's substantial financing gap by focusing on sectors such as energy, infrastructure, and housing.

Although Ukraine remains a risky environment, DFIs seem to be more committed to supporting new teams of fund managers to mobilise private money into the economy.

We have a good feeling about all of it. From the European Commission's €9.3B facility to significant commitments from major financial institutions like EIB, it's clear that international appetite for Ukrainian investments is growing, not diminishing.

Most impressive was seeing how Ukrainian businesses continue to innovate and adapt, with fund managers successfully deploying capital despite wartime conditions. On top of that, the emergence of over 700 defence tech companies showcases Ukrainian resilience at its finest.

We’ll be covering in-depth all the panels featured at the event, including VC, M&A, and more; hence, keep an eye on our website and social media.

Don’t be hesitant, as it’s time to act now. Scout, invest, and watch your efforts bear fruit. See you next year.

Organised by UVCA in joint efforts with Rymarz Zdort Maruta, ICU Ventures, Google for Startups Warsaw and the Polish Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (PSIK). Technical partner — DreamX.