IT Arena 2024: New Dawn

"IT Arena has always been, and will always be, about you — those shaping a better tomorrow." This inspiring message came from Stepan Veselovskyi , the CEO of IT Arena.

IT Arena 2024 in Lviv left a lasting impression on the Reenbit team, with the contagious energy of the Ukrainian tech community being amazing.

Over 100 speakers took the stage to share their valuable insights into business, technology, products, and startups. Here are some highlights:

• Anna Guetat , VP of Data, Analytics, and AI at Recorded Future, started the event with a thought-provoking talk. She emphasized that while intelligence is evolving, its importance has only increased. “AI is crucial for gathering data and making informed decisions,” she said, reminding us how it helps us extract value from information quickly.
• Kateryna Chernogorenko, Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Defense, introduced the new Reserv+ recruiting platform to simplify military deferral processes. She shared her vision of transforming the government into a service-oriented system for everyone.
• At the Business Track, Mykhailo Fedorov , the Minister of Digital Transformation, showcased Ukraine's digital achievements and launched an exciting new service: electronic residency.
• Yevgen Mospan , CTO of EPAM Ukraine, revealed groundbreaking AI tools that are changing the industry. Meanwhile, Monique Brown, former Regional Director for Lockheed Martin, spoke passionately about the need for innovation in Ukrainian defense, stating that the time to act is now.

Every year, IT Arena highlights how Ukrainian startups continue to impress and innovate. The competition was fierce, and the startups truly wowed the audience!

Top Three in the General Category:

?? Extravision ?? BlissBrain ?? Aspichi Luminify

Top Three Defense Category Winners:

?? Oko Camera ?? Vidar Systems ?? Norda Dynamics

These startups have already attracted $1.5 million in investments!

• Experts Dave Morgan and Volodymyr Chyrva offered great advice for those considering selling their companies in the panel discussion, “Selling Your Business: Insights from Both Sides of the Deal.” Dave emphasized the importance of being flexible when buyers are interested, while Volodymyr reminded everyone that the best price isn’t always the best deal.
• In the “Ecosystem of Innovations” panel, industry leaders discussed how innovation ecosystems evolve. Gigi Wang pointed out that true innovation comes not just from resources but also from adapting to local needs. Rhonda Shrader noted that Ukraine can potentially become a hub for future technological breakthroughs.
• At a discussion on “How to Sell Products in Silicon Valley,” experts shared insights on what makes startups successful. Dinkar J. , VP at Uber, noted that luck, resources, and understanding customer needs are vital for success.
• Chris Burry discussed the unique culture of Silicon Valley, stressing the need to understand customer needs: “If you go to a VC asking for money, you’ll get advice; but if you ask for advice, you’ll get money.”

We also heard valuable insights on managing in the age of AI from Dinkar J. , who stressed the importance of minimizing harm when using AI systems and the need for ethical considerations in AI development.

At the meetup, Serhiy Prytula , the founder of the "Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation", covered topics such as defense tech innovations, interceptor drones, and utilizing AI and machine vision in contemporary drone technologies. Serhiy emphasized the urgent need to develop drones capable of countering Shahed drones.

IT Arena 2024 was a fantastic celebration of innovation, collaboration, and the unique potential of the Ukrainian tech community.

Attending IT Arena 2024 reinforced that the Ukrainian tech scene is stronger than ever, with innovation and resilience driving us forward. We’re excited to return these insights to Reenbit and continue shaping a better tomorrow.

We can’t wait to see what the future holds!