Happy International Day of Democracy: From Kyiv, the City of the Brave!

"Welcome aboard the Bravery Express!"—read the postcard in my train cabin bound for Kyiv, Ukraine.

The Alliance of Democracies Foundation has just returned from Kyiv, where we launched our Democracy Tech Entrepreneur Fellowship cycle. Our mission was to scout for democracy-loving tech entrepreneurs and officially open our call for applications. This was my first visit to Ukraine after four years of working closely with the country and region, and it reminded me of the remarkable bravery of the Ukrainian people.

As the war nears its third year, Kyiv’s air defense creates an almost surreal sense of peace, allowing life to continue—even as Ukrainians innovate and create a better future, a future they believe will come after victory. On this International Day of Democracy, I want to highlight three Ukrainian initiatives that embody the spirit of bravery.

First, Be Brave Like Ukraine. As the official page of Brave.ua states, when the war began, the world gave Ukraine three days to hold out. Ukraine gave the world a lesson in bravery, becoming a global symbol of resilience. During our stay, while having dinner with our hosts, Andriy Zaikin , Marharyta Chernyshova , and Nikita Lukianets air sirens went off. To my surprise, no one flinched. People around us, including potential influencers at a nearby table, carried on taking selfies. Bartenders continued serving, and our hosts calmly checked the latest updates on their phones. While I instinctively got up to check the nearest shelter, I soon realized that this was business as usual for them—this was bravery in action. They explained how life goes on, despite the challenges.

That night, I learned that more sirens went off around 3 a.m. This is the reality for many Ukrainians in Kyiv: young innovators and artists continue to dream, create, and push forward with incredible courage. Amid the echoes of war, life pulses forward with hope and determination. Ukrainians speak passionately about freedom and democracy, as witnessed by the panelists at our event. Thank you Viktor Nestulia, Natalya Сhornogub, Victoria Itskovych, Kseniia Semenova , Roman Gryshchuk, and Tamara Tachynska for a very insightful dialogue. Freedom, it is believed, to even be encrypted in Ukraine's national emblem—a symbol of their steadfast commitment to it.

Second, Brave1—a groundbreaking platform created by the Ukrainian government. Brave1 unites innovative companies, startups, investors, and others, all working towards Ukraine’s victory through technology. Two of our 2024 Democracy Tech Entrepreneur Fellows, Anton Tarasyuk from Mantis Analytics and Dmytro Bilash from Osavul , are members of this cluster. Mantis Analytics, founded in 2022 at the start of the war, enhances security operations with real-time situational awareness powered by AI. Initially a volunteer initiative, Mantis has evolved into a dual-purpose startup, helping governments and organizations manage risks. Mantis won our Copenhagen Democracy Tech Award and has recently secured a $240,000 investment to expand into the US market.

Osavul, another startup born at the onset of the invasion, combats Russian propaganda with advanced AI algorithms. Osavul has just raised $3 million to scale globally. Ukraine’s Minister of Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov , praised Osavul as a prime example of how favorable business conditions in Ukraine can lead to global success.

Lastly, Seeds of Bravery—a €20 million project funded by the European Union to support Ukrainian tech startups and bring them closer to the EU. Our partners, YEP Accelerator and Ukrainian Startup Fund , are both part of the Seeds of Bravery network. Special congratulations to all the future "Seeds of Bravery" who participated in our Democracy Tech Bootcamp, and to Danylo Dermenzhy from Univera , who secured first place and will present at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit in May 2025.

I look forward to returning to Ukraine soon.

Let me close with the words of one event attendee who, while saying goodbye, told me: "See you next year with my own Democracy Tech startup."

With that, I wish you all a Happy International Day of Democracy—from Kyiv, the City of the Brave!