What Brave1 does

Brave1 is a Ukrainian government-coordinated defense technology cluster established in April 2023 under the Ministry of Digital Transformation, with co-stewardship by the Ministry of Defense, General Staff, Ministry of Strategic Industries, Ministry of Economy, and the National Security and Defense Council. Administered by the Innovation Development Fund, it operates as a coordination platform and grant program for Ukrainian defense tech developers, having disbursed over 2.2 billion UAH (~$50-60M) across 540+ grants in its first two years and acting as the largest angel investor in Ukrainian defense tech. Brave1 runs a stack of digital platforms: the Brave1 Grants Portal on USF for developer registration and applications, Brave1 Market for military procurement with ePoints combat-reward integration, Test in Ukraine for foreign defense company validation in live combat, Brave1 Dataroom (built on Palantir) for AI model training on battlefield imagery, Brave1 Chat inside the Delta military system for secure developer-military communication, and bilateral co-development programs (UNITE-Brave NATO, BraveTech EU, Brave France, Brave Germany, Brave Lithuania, Brave Norway) under the Brave International framework.

Brave1's business model is B2G and grant-driven rather than commercial: it distributes national budget allocations (2.9 billion UAH in 2025) and international co-funding (over €100M cumulatively) to defense tech startups based on TRL tiers from 500K UAH (Idea stage) to 8M UAH (combat-ready), with larger Brave Competitions up to 150M UAH for priority technologies. It does not take equity but facilitates private capital flows (over $129M raised by Ukrainian defense tech startups in 2025) through events such as Defense Tech Valley (Lviv, 7,000+ visitors from 50+ countries) and the USA Investment Roadshow. Primary customers are the Ukrainian Security and Defense Forces (end users) and 1,500+ Ukrainian defense tech startups/manufacturers (suppliers); secondary customers are NATO and European partner countries (France, Germany, Lithuania, Norway) and Western primes such as Airbus. Distribution is concentrated through Brave1 Market, which has processed 240,000 drone orders in six months with 10-day average delivery to frontline units.

Name

Brave1

Legal name

Brave1

Website

https://brave1.gov.ua

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Brave1 is a Ukrainian government defense technology cluster established in 2023, coordinating grant funding, battlefield testing, and procurement for over 1,500 Ukrainian defense tech companies serving the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Defense Technology Innovation Cluster

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Defense R&D, Test, Evaluation & Innovation (BPAIAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Autonomous Defense Systems (AI/ML, Swarming, MUM-T) (IMABAOAI)

Keywords

• Defense technology cluster
• Military grant programs
• Defense marketplace
• Combat testing platform
• Defense innovation ecosystem

Headquarters

HQ city

Kyiv

HQ country

Ukraine

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grant Funding: Brave1 serves as the largest government venture investor in Ukrainian military technology. It distributes state budget grants to defense tech developers through multiple programs: standard grants (500K–8M UAH per project based on TRL stage), special grants for missiles and AI (up to 8M UAH), Brave Competitions for specific priorities (up to 150M UAH per project), and international co-funded programs. The national budget allocated 2.9 billion UAH for Brave1 grants in 2025, with total grants exceeding 2.2 billion UAH by early 2025.
2. EU and International Co-Funding (BraveTech EU, UNITE-Brave NATO): Brave1 coordinates international defense technology programs co-funded by the EU (BraveTech EU: €100M total with €50M from Europe), NATO (UNITE-Brave NATO: €10M first round), France (Brave France: €20M), Germany, Norway, Lithuania, and others. These programs provide grant financing for joint Ukrainian-foreign defense tech development.
3. Private Investment Facilitation: Brave1 facilitates private capital investment into Ukrainian defense tech companies, having helped attract over $65–129 million in private investment. The cluster connects startups with international VCs through events like the Invest in Bravery Summit and the USA Investment Roadshow. This is an indirect revenue stream as Brave1 does not take equity but enables funding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Brave1 is a Ukrainian government defense technology cluster coordinating the full lifecycle of defense innovation from need identification through grant funding, battlefield testing, and deployment. It operates the Brave1 Grants Program (500K–8M UAH per project across TRL tiers), the Brave1 Market digital marketplace integrating the ePoints combat-reward system, the Brave1 Dataroom AI training platform built with Palantir, and the Test in Ukraine real-combat testing platform for foreign manufacturers, alongside international co-development programs like UNITE-Brave NATO.

Product overview

Brave1 is a Ukrainian government defense technology coordination cluster launched in April 2023, functioning as a platform-plus-program architecture. The platform core consists of the Brave1 Grants Program (500,000–8 million UAH per project across TRL tiers, the largest angel investor in Ukrainian defense tech with 600+ grants and 2.2+ billion UAH disbursed) and Brave Competitions (targeted 100–150 million UAH competitions for specific battlefield needs including missiles, autonomous drones, and AI). These are complemented by: Brave1 Market (a military procurement marketplace integrated with the ePoints combat-reward system, listing 2,600+ products from 600+ manufacturers); Brave1 Dataroom (a Palantir-powered AI training platform for computer vision on battlefield imagery); Test in Ukraine (a real-combat testing platform for foreign defense manufacturers); UNITE — Brave NATO (a joint Ukraine-NATO co-development program requiring cross-border company partnerships); Brave1 Chat (a secure Delta-system-embedded communication channel for military-technology feedback); Defense Tech Valley (an annual international investment summit); Brave Students (student engineering challenges and internship platform); and the Brave1 Investment Portal (a unified web portal for all Brave1 programs and investor matchmaking). The ecosystem is coordinated by the Ministry of Digital Transformation, Ministry of Defense, General Staff, and other key defense ministries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• UNITE - Brave NATO: Joint Ukraine-NATO defense innovation program focused on counter-drone technology and NATO interoperability.
• BraveTech EU
• Brave France
• Brave Germany
• Brave Lithuania
• Brave International
• Brave1 Market
• Brave1 Dataroom
• Test in Ukraine
• Brave Students
• Brave1 Chat

Products and services

• Brave1 Grants Program A multi-tier grant program providing 500,000 to 8 million UAH per project to Ukrainian defense tech startups and developers based on their technology readiness level (TRL), from concept validation to combat-ready product deployment. Maximum 30,000,000 UAH per developer per calendar year. Over 600 grants totaling more than 2.2 billion UAH awarded since 2023.
• Brave Competitions Targeted grant competitions for specific defense technology challenges with budgets of 100–150 million UAH per competition, requiring defined technical deliverables and battlefield-ready results. Topics include explosives manufacturing, tactical ballistic missiles, surface-to-air missile systems for counter-UAV defense, and autonomous AI-enabled drones.
• Brave1 Market A defense technology marketplace ('Amazon for the military') enabling military units to purchase drones, UGVs, electronic warfare systems, and other equipment directly from Ukrainian manufacturers. Includes integration with the ePoints battlefield reward system, allowing units to redeem combat-earned points for equipment procurement. Over 2,600 products from more than 600 registered manufacturers listed.
• Brave1 Dataroom A secure AI defense platform built with Palantir software, providing vetted Ukrainian engineers access to curated battlefield visual and thermal datasets of aerial targets (including Shahed-type drones) to train computer vision models for autonomous detection and interception. Field trials reported 90% faster dataset labeling and up to 40% improvement in drone interception accuracy.
• Test in Ukraine A platform launched by Brave1 enabling foreign defense manufacturers to officially test their drones, robotics, and electronic warfare systems in Ukraine under real combat conditions. Part of the Brave International framework, the program allows international companies to gain battlefield validation that no laboratory can replicate.
• UNITE - Brave NATO The first joint Ukraine-NATO defense innovation program, managed by Brave1, requiring Ukrainian and NATO-based companies to form joint partnerships for co-developing defense technologies. First round (2026) focused on counter-UAV solutions with a €10 million budget and maximum grants of €1 million per joint application, with testing in real Ukraine combat conditions as a mandatory final stage.
• Brave1 Chat A secure communication channel within Ukraine's Delta military system, enabling direct information exchange between the Brave1 cluster and verified military units about defense technologies, test results, manufacturers, and battlefield feedback. Access restricted to military personnel authenticated in the Delta system.
• Defense Tech Valley Summit Ukraine's largest international defense technology investment summit, held annually in Lviv (September 16-17, 2026), bringing together defense startups, military engineers, investors, and policymakers to showcase combat-proven technologies and facilitate technology exchange. Previous editions attracted over 7,000 visitors from more than 50 countries and secured over $100 million in investment commitments.
• Brave Students An initiative launched by Brave1 to engage students in defense tech during their studies, combining engineering challenges with industry mentorship from Ukrainian defense companies. Includes a student internship platform developed with robota.ua connecting technical students with defense tech companies for paid part-time placements.
• Brave1 Investment Portal A web portal (portal.usf.com.ua) serving as the unified entry point for all Brave1 programs, including grant applications, the Brave Competitions, UNITE Brave NATO matchmaking, Brave1 Club membership, and defense expert registration. Facilitates compliance verification, company profiling, and the investment roadshow connecting Ukrainian defense tech companies with international investors.

Quantifiable outcome

• 819,737 video-verified Russian targets struck in 2025, with nearly 240,000 enemy personnel eliminated; over 80% of enemy targets destroyed by Ukrainian drones
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability18 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, secondary and core.

• Airbus Defence and SpaceflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026Airbus signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Brave1 on July 1, 2026, in Kyiv — Brave1's first strategic industrial partnership with a Western aerospace and defense company. The agreement establishes joint working groups covering scientific research, applied engineering, systems integration, and equipment modernization. Airbus technologies will integrate into Brave1's 'Test in Ukraine' program for live frontline testing and operational data feedback. Airbus will participate as a key partner in the Defence Tech Valley summit in Lviv, combining aerospace expertise with Ukraine's battle-tested R&D capabilities.
• NATO (Innovation Directorate / NCIA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 March 2026UNITE — Brave NATO is the first joint Ukraine-NATO defense innovation program, launched March 2026, focusing on counter-UAV solutions and GPS-denied navigation. Total budget of €10 million for the first round, with up to €1 million per joint application requiring Ukrainian companies to partner with NATO-state companies. The program uses a matchmaking platform to connect Ukrainian and NATO defense companies for joint product development at TRL 7+, with mandatory testing in Ukraine. Budget planned to expand to €50 million. Topics include active protection against FPV drones, counter-Shahed systems, SIGINT, electromagnetic attack, autonomous guidance, and high-altitude platforms.
• Rakuten Group (Japan)secondaryGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 May 2025Brave1 and Rakuten announced a joint initiative in May 2025 to support Ukrainian defense tech companies' entry into the Japanese market. The initial phase involved powering the Brave1 booth at DSEI Japan (May 21–23, 2025, Makuhari Messe). Rakuten has significant presence in Ukraine (Viber messaging app with 98% penetration) and established a Kyiv office in 2024, becoming a resident of Diia.City. Future steps include potential collaboration with the Japanese government.
• PalantircoreTechnology or IntegrationBrave1 partnered with Palantir to launch Brave1 Dataroom in January 2026, a secure AI defense platform using Palantir software to enable vetted Ukrainian engineers to train computer-vision models on curated frontline visuals and thermal feeds for countering Shahed-type drones. Palantir has operated in Ukraine since spring 2022 providing Palantir Edge AI software for real-time analytics combining sensor, radio, acoustic, and geo-registration data. The partnership aims to share combat-tested AI algorithms with allied countries globally.
• Ministry of Digital Transformation of UkrainecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrave1 was established at the initiative of the Ministry of Digital Transformation, which also houses the parent Innovation Development Fund. The ministry provides strategic direction, digital infrastructure (Diia, Delta system), and ongoing governance oversight. Deputy PM / Minister Mykhailo Fedorov serves as the key political sponsor of the cluster.
• Ministry of Defence of UkrainecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Ministry of Defence provides military requirements, conducts defense expertise reviews of grant applications through the General Staff, operates the Army of Drones / ePoints system, and co-manages the Test in Ukraine platform. Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov and Minister Dmytro Shmyhal are key institutional sponsors.
• BRDO (BRDO UA)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerThe Ukrainian NGO 'Better Regulation Delivery Office' (BRDO) partners with Brave1 to implement EU4UA Defence Tech grant program, contributing organizational and regulatory expertise. BRDO assists with compliance checking and project evaluation alongside Brave1 and EU Defence Innovation Office.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• NATO DIANA (Defense Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic): NATO's pan-alliance defense innovation accelerator with test centers and dual-use technology programs. Closest structural analog to Brave1 as a multinational government-coordinated defense tech cluster, though operating at an earlier stage and without a peer equivalent of Brave1's real-combat testing data.
• AFWERX: U.S. Air Force technology accelerator that funds, tests, and transitions commercial and dual-use tech into military use. Operates a similar model to Brave1 — challenge-based funding, military-customer matchmaking, and rapid prototyping — at much larger scale and with established U.S. Air Force procurement integration.
• U.S. Defense Innovation Unit (DIU): DoD organization that contracts commercial technology for military use and bridges Silicon Valley to the Pentagon. Closely parallels Brave1's role as a government interface translating commercial/startup innovation into defense capability, with comparable grant/contract vehicles and dual-use technology focus.
• UK Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA): UK MOD's innovation funding arm that finds and funds innovative ideas to support defense and security. Operates a comparable grant and challenge model to Brave1, with similar cross-Whitehall coordination and a focus on transitioning technologies from concept to military adoption.
• Agence de l'Innovation de Défense (AID): France's defense innovation agency within the Ministry of Armed Forces, funding breakthrough defense technologies and coordinating with armed forces. Direct partner in the Brave France bilateral program and structurally the closest European national analog to Brave1's cluster model.
• Israel DDR&D (Directorate of Defense R&D / MAFAT): Israel's defense R&D directorate, responsible for R&D, prototyping, and acquisition of advanced military technologies. Operates a similar model of state-coordinated defense innovation and battlefield-driven technology development, with decades of operational testing data as a comparative moat.
• European Defence Agency (EDA) Innovation Hub: EU agency coordinating defense R&D and capability development among member states. Co-manages the BraveTech EU program with the European Commission and is the institutional counterpart to Brave1's role in channeling EU funding into joint Ukrainian-European defense technology development.

Broad incumbents

• DARPA: U.S. DoD's advanced research projects agency, the largest and most established defense R&D coordinator. Far broader in scope and scale than Brave1, but shares the model of government-funded, high-risk breakthrough research feeding into military capability — a benchmark for the upper bound of what a defense innovation cluster can scale to.

Regional players

• Bundeswehr Cyber Innovation Hub (CIH): German Bundeswehr's innovation unit rapidly integrating commercial and dual-use technologies. Direct partner via the Brave Germany initiative and structurally comparable to Brave1 as a national military innovation interface, though operating primarily within German defense procurement and digitalization.
• Japan ATLA (Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency): Japan's defense procurement and R&D agency, coordinating acquisition, technology, and logistics for the Japan Self-Defense Forces. Comparable in coordinating state-backed defense technology development, and an emerging partner via Brave1's Rakuten-backed entry into the Japanese market at DSEI Japan.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BRAVE1ua
• Facebookfacebook.com/Brave1ua
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/brave1ukraine

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments7 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Brave1