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‘A man can be destroyed but not defeated’

Ernest Hemingway

‘THE FUTURE OF UKRAINE’ SUMMIT

JUNE 7 - 8, 2023, BERLIN, GERMANY

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 OUR PARTNERS

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 WHY DID WE CREATE
‘THE FUTURE OF UKRAINE’ SUMMIT?
‘The future of our Ukraine, and by extension that of my son and mine,
will be largely shaped by the action we take here abroad.’
February 24, 2022… this wretched day has divided my life
into before and after. That winter morning, together with
millions of fellow Ukrainians, I woke up to a reality that
seemed more like a nightmare. Suddenly and unexpectedly,
our peaceful life was thrown into war. My country, my Kyiv,
my home was now threatened by utter destruction.
Just the day before, my son and I were preparing to celebrate
his fifth birthday. It was supposed to take place under the
peaceful sky, embraced by a circle of friends and relatives
who cared for him deeply. But in an instant, all our plans,
dreams and hopes fell apart right in front of our eyes.  Ukraine too with a team that has already delivered more
My sense of security was shattered along with my ability to
sleep without being haunted by the images of the war. At first,
denial was my prevailing emotion. I refused to acknowledge
that something like this could have happened to us.  Are we
not living in Europe in the 21st century?
In a state of shock, I struggled to comprehend what it meant
to have suddenly entered such a dangerous situation. As for
every mother, my first and most important concern was the
safety of my child. Thus, we fled to the neighboring Slovak
Republic.
The experience of fleeing my native country left me with
‘Survivor Syndrome,’ an overwhelming feeling of guilt when
one feels that they have done something wrong by seeking
refuge in a safe place while others did not. Now, with time,
comes the understanding that this was a necessary reaction
to ensure our survival.
But how to live on?  And what can I do now to help my
country in its hour of need?
‘ALWAYS BE CURIOUS’
Lately, I realized one thing for myself: the future of our
Ukraine, and by extension that of my son and mine, will be
largely shaped by the action we take here abroad.
Perhaps by chance or perhaps by the will of fate, I soon
found myself at a Slovak company, ‘Why Summits,’ that had
clearly set goals: organizing international events with the
participation of decision-makers and future leaders from
across the globe. 
After organizing exciting business events while at the
Company, I concluded that we could make a difference for
than 2,000 conferences.
Even though I cannot stop this terrible war from wreaking
havoc on my homeland, I can still raise awareness, bring
people together and, most importantly, promote the best of
Ukraine. It is within my power to join forces with others and
contribute to the efforts of building back my country better.
  To launch a discussion not only about how to survive the
present horror, but also about recovery, prosperity, and ways
of moving forward. 
It is my great honor to invite you to be part of the ‘Future
of Ukraine’ Summit, a conference that highlights  the most
cutting-edge Ukrainian tech startups, and features leading Mark your calendar
voices from industries, government, and academia.  and reserve your seats today.
June 7-8, Berlin.
Join us in our mission of remaking Ukraine for the future,
and celebrate it as a free, democratic, and prosperous Liza Zhaivoronok
European country.
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 WHO ARE THE SPEAKERS OF THE CONFERENCE?

Hergen Wöbken Adam Lazowski Björn Jindra Dariusz Rosati Wilfried Hoop Maxime Lefebvre
Managing Director Professor of EU Law Professor Member of the Sejm Director of Diplomatic Protocol Office Professor of International Relations
Institute for Strategy Development University of Westminster Copenhagen Business School Former Minister of Foreign Affairs (1995- Liechtenstein ESCP Europe and Sciences Po Paris
1997), Poland

Andriy Tyushka Puru Trivedi Jaigeun Lim Kateryna Hrechko Dyma Budorin Robert Govers
Senior Research Fellow in the European Vice President of External and Corporate Director of Policy Evaluation Division CEO Co-Founder & CEO Chairman
Neighbourhood Policy Chair Affairs Seoul Metropolitan Government Ukrainian Tech Ecosystem Overview Hacken International Place Branding Association
College of Europe Meridian International Center

Kim J. Zietlow Gennadiy Chyzhykov (TBC) (TBC) (TBC)

Director President Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine Ministry for Development of Economy and Trade
FDI Center Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ukraine
(TBC)

‘ALWAYS BE CURIOUS’ 4 www.whysummits.com

 WHAT IS THE CONFERENCE’S
INTENDED OUTCOME?
‘The Future of Ukraine’ Summit is Europe’s largest gathering to display the most promising Ukrainian
tech startups and help them to find the next business opportunities and collaborations

‘The Future of Ukraine’

in numbers: 10 20+
Keynotes Roundtable

40+ discussions
2 Speakers in:
Days 6 24
Panel Startups

300+ discussions

Delegates
representing international corporations, investors, policy makers, technology companies, Ukrainian startups

‘The Future of Ukraine’ is a two-day summit where key stakeholders gather to discuss ideas As part of our initiative to generate business opportunities, we will bring together decision-
that will define Ukraine’s economic rebound, all the while providing a platform to assist makers from across the economic ecosystem as well as tech companies and future investors.
Ukrainian technologically oriented, visionary startups in obtaining international funding and
market access.

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 WHO IS ATTENDING THE ‘THE FUTURE
OF UKRAINE’ SUMMIT?

Who Will Be the Speakers at the Conference? 

Representatives from the Leaders of leading Representatives of 24 Leading investment

government, top state officials, Ukrainian Tech Ukrainian innovative firms, innovation
and academics from Ukraine and business sharing their startups pitching their leaders and
other countries will come together personal experience and creative solutions to an innovations scouts from
to talk about building a strong and lessons learned from audience of potential global corporations
prosperous Ukrainian economy. building internationally investors and clients.  sharing their experience
They will discuss what changes prominent businesses. on how they worked
need to be made in the system to with tech startups.
achieve this. High-ranking officials
from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Ministry of Digital Transformation,
and Ministry for Development of
Economy and Trade will be present
at the event

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 WHO IS BEHIND THE CONFERENCE?

Liza Zhaivoronok Balázs Kovács

Startups Scouting Conference Producer
liza.zhaivoronok@whysummits.com balazs.kovacs@whysummits.com
Elizaveta is a tech-savvy business engineer, working International Relations Researcher & Historian
with innovation, technology, and startups.

Inessa Kryvenko Ľuboš Kusý

Government Relationships Partnerships
inessa.kryvenko@whysummits.com lubos.kusy@whysummits.com
Works as a psychology counselor and serves her Veteran Conference Organizer with 2 decades of
country as an active politician. experience putting together over 200 conferences.

DISCLAIMER
Please note – all of the information in this document is subject to change at any time. Whilst every effort has been made to
ensure the accuracy of the information, statements and decisions recorded in them, their status will remain that of a draft
Why Summits
until such time as they are confirmed as a final version prior the subsequent meeting. Additionally, the user information is Tupeho 51/d, Bratislava
only valid at a certain moment in time and is subject to change due to movement and changes in bit rate requirements. Slovak Republic

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 ARE YOU AN INVESTOR
SCOUTING FOR INNOVATION?

Our two-day event will be attended by foremost investment firms, innovation leaders and scouts from global
corporations.

Despite the war ravaging their homeland, the Ukrainians are as determined as ever to pursue a path of national
renewal and an agenda of building back their country better. In line with these objectives, we will launch a
dialogue to fast-track initiatives to enhance mutual prosperity and cooperation across industries.

Discover the latest innovations, meet the trend-setters, and hear the perspective of established business leaders
from Ukraine and abroad at this premier event. Through this conference, you will explore how to cooperate, act,
and influence the professional public to promote common goals across industries and borders.

As an investor, attending this event presents an unparalleled opportunity to connect with a large number of
successful startups in a single day. These connections can potentially lead to valuable partnerships, giving you a
competitive advantage in today’s volatile global economy. Each invited startup at this event has a proven track record
of success in the market, making this a particularly valuable opportunity to expand your network and explore potential
partnerships.

By producing ‘The Future of Ukraine’ Summit, we bring together veteran investors with vested interest in actively
supporting the Ukrainian industry ecosystem to create value, as well as those actively shaping the future of Ukraine’s
economy.

Make the most of the vast opportunities Ukraine’s talent industry has to offer and join us at
‘The Future of Ukraine’ Summit.

D TA B L E S
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 DAY 1
Designing an Environment Where Businesses Can Thrive
7:30 Opening of Registration
8:30 Official Welcome and Opening Remarks: New Economic Diplomacy for Ukraine
8:45 KEYNOTE: Strengthening Knowledge-Based Service Export Capabilities
9:00 PRESENTATION: Inside the Investor’s Mindset: A Corporate Perspective on FDI Attraction
Nations that successfully adapt themselves to ever-changing market dynamics will bring about great
economic advantage to their country. This talk will be about how to pave the path for an environment
that helps to increase FDI inflows, which in turn enables job creation, industry growth and technological
advancement.
9:15 PRESENTATION: Engaging with the Global Value Chain: The Future of Cross-Border
Investments
A presentation to shed light on the main priorities of investors today. Learn which are the most crucial factors
that make a difference when engaging with FDI actors in an interconnected world.
9:30 PANEL DISCUSSION: Economic Diplomacy: How to Turn the Goodwill That Ukraine Has
Earned into Investments?
• Attracting foreign investments will be instrumental both in Ukraine’s post-war recovery as well as in the
country’s integration to the European community. Join knowledge experts from across disciplines as they
assess what actions, solutions and ways of thinking are needed to promote local business opportunities.  • In a historic decision, the European Union in 2022 has granted Ukraine candidate status, opening the door to
• What are some of the exemplary cases of high-value investment attraction in countries that have a proven
record of accomplishment in attracting and retaining foreign investors?  • This session highlights some of the most pressing macroeconomic issues to shed light on the strategies
• How best to harness international investment to drive sustainable growth and development?  which would enable Ukraine to make the most of the integration process and achieve its broader
• This first session will set the scene for the overall conference and reflect upon the ways in which economic
diplomacy could boost prosperity.
Gennadiy Chyzhykov, President, Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Robert Govers, Chairman, International Place Banding Association
Kim J. Zietlow, Director, FDI Center
10:00 Networking Break
‘ALWAYS BE CURIOUS’
10:30 PANEL DISCUSSION: The State’s Emerging Role in Fostering Economic Growth
• Many have argued that the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the inherent vulnerabilities of the dominant
economic model based on fiscal discipline, minimal governmental interference, and prizing efficiency over
resiliency. 
• The argument is increasingly made that governments need to pivot away from trying to fix a failed economic
paradigm and towards fostering a system of public-private collaboration, which would in turn enhance
sustainability as well as allow protection from market disruptions. 
• Discuss how to build a state capable of responding effectively to multifaceted challenges of the current
times and examine how the agenda of Ukraine’s renewal would fit into this new mode of economic
governance.
Björn Jindra, Professor, Copenhagen Business School
11:00 PRESENTATION: Decentralization of Production Capacities: An Opportunity for Ukraine? 
Over the recent years, onshoring and nearshoring strategies have gained prominence as part of company
efforts to ensure business continuity and supply resilience in face of disruptions and disasters. This lecture
seeks to explore how Ukraine could benefit from the increased interest in intra-regional production schemes.
11:15 PRESENTATION: Driving Economic Growth with Technology Innovation and Digital
Transformation
This presentation addresses some of the ways in which knowledge production and adoption of digital
solutions can improve business productivity and help in gaining a competitive edge.
11:30 PANEL DISCUSSION: The Prospects of Ukraine’s Economic Integration Into the EU
full membership. 
development objectives. 
• Gain insight from experienced European leaders and economic scholars as they explore the many potentials
– and pitfalls to avoid – that lie within the prospect of EU integration. 
Adam Lazowski, Professor of EU Law, University of Westminster
Dariusz Rosati, Member of the Sejm, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland
Andriy Tyushka, Senior Research Fellow, College of Europe
12:00 Networking Lunch Break
13:00 CASE STUDY: Expanding Visibility Within the Global Market
A case study delving into the experiences of a Ukrainian company that gained a global foothold. 
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 DAY 1
13:30 STARTUP PITCHES SESSION 1.
In this session, the floor will be given to 6 Ukrainian startup founders who will have the opportunity to pitch
their company in front of an audience. Each presenter will have a 10-minute slot to draw attention to their
solutions. 

14:30 Networking Break

15:00 STARTUP PITCHES SESSION 2.
After the break, the pitching session will be continued with another 6 startup presentations.

16:00 JOINT Q&A FEATURING ALL DAY-1 SPEAKERS

16:30 Day 1 Closing Remarks

17:00 Cocktail Reception

18:30 End of Conference Day 1

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 DAY 2
Sharing Startup Best Practices  • This discussion is dedicated to exploring how best to design an innovation policy that equip the innovators
7:30 Opening of Registration
8:30 WELCOME AND OPENING KEYNOTE: Turning Ukraine into a Startup Nation
This keynote delves into how to foster an entrepreneurial culture that empowers the next generation to think,
create and lead in unconventional ways. 
8:45 KEYNOTE: How Incubators Help Startups Succeed
9:00 PRESENTATION: How to Raise Venture Capital as an Early-Stage Startup?
Raising capital to accelerate growth and expansion is an essential step in a startup’s life cycle. Learn from a
venture investor what funds are looking for and how deal terms might change in the coming years.
9:15 PRESENTATION: Trends and Future Directions in Seed Investment
Angel investors willing to invest their capital, experience, and network to help others make their vision a reality
is a vital part of any healthy startup ecosystem. This talk will be dedicated to the current developments in angel
investment strategies.
9:30 PANEL DISCUSSION: Exploring Corporate Diplomacy: On Building Stakeholder
Engagement
• Mastering the principles, skills and tools of business diplomacy is key to securing partners, investors, and
customers, both in Ukraine and beyond. 
• In this session, corporate diplomacy experts and trade association leaders will offer their thoughts on how to
develop, nurture and manage relationships with external stakeholders that advance knowledge exchange
and facilitate investments.
Wilfried Hoop, Director, Diplomatic Protocol Office of Lichtenstein
Maxime Lefebvre, Professor of International Relations, ESCP Europe and Sciences Po Paris
Puru Trivedi, Vice President of External and Corporate Affairs, Meridian International Center
10:00 Networking Break
10:30 PANEL DISCUSSION: Designing an Ecosystem Where Innovation Thrives: What Policy
Instruments Can Be Deployed to Facilitate Technological Development?
• The Ukrainian tech startup ecosystem has entered a period of rapid advancement over the last few years and
its ingenuity has been further proven by the role it played in supporting the country’s defense efforts.  15:00 STARTUP PITCHES SESSION 4.
‘ALWAYS BE CURIOUS’
and entrepreneurs with the resources they need to succeed. In addition, the panel explores how to stimulate
interaction between knowledge hubs and businesses and presents exemplary practices of fostering
innovation capacities and knowledge building.
Hergen Wöbken, Founder and Managing Director, Institute for Strategy Development
Jaigeun Lim, Director of Policy Evaluation Division, Seoul Metropolitan Government
11:00 PRESENTATION: New Directions in Talent Scouting & Acquisition
• A presentation centered around the newest approaches to tech talent scouting and the ways of helping
these talents to accelerate their growth and develop their potential.
11:15 PRESENTATION: Delivering Business Impact with Data and AI
This case study highlights how data science practices can be harnessed in the drive towards better business
outcomes. 
11:30 PANEL DISCUSSION: Innovation Through the Eyes of Breakthrough Startups
• Ukraine can pride itself with being the birthplace of some of the most innovative tech startups in the world. 
• Hear from leading industry professionals on what makes or breaks an internationally successful startup. 
• This highly interactive conversation will reflect on their experience with Ukraine’s entrepreneurial ecosystem,
and the ways in which it could be transformed into a truly innovation-driven and high-value economy. 
Kateryna Hrechko, Founder, Ukrainian Tech Ecosystem
Dyma Budorin, Co-Founder & CEO, Hacken
12:00 Networking Lunch Break
13:00 CASE STUDY: Startup Acceleration: Best Practices for a Successful Launch
Accelerators are programs geared toward providing support, resources and mentoring for early-stage
entrepreneurs. Hear about the latest methods employed to further opportunities for startups.
13:30 STARTUP PITCHES SESSION 3.
In this session, we will invite onto the stage 6 Ukrainian startup founders who will be pitching their innovations.
Each presenter will have a 10-minute slot to give a short presentation.
14:30 Networking Break
The pitching session will conclude the final 6 startup presentations.
16:00 JOINT Q&A FEATURING ALL DAY-2 SPEAKERS
16:30 Closing Remarks and Official Closure
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