Kyiv International Economic Forum

What Kyiv International Economic Forum does

The Kyiv International Economic Forum (KIEF) is a Kyiv-based, private event and platform organization that has, since 2014, run Ukraine's flagship annual international economic forum convening government ministers, foreign ambassadors, and senior executives of Ukrainian and multinational companies. Its core product is a multi-track annual conference held in late October, with a Business-tier ticket priced at 12,500 UAH (UA version) or 545 EUR (EN version) that grants access to panel discussions, coffee breaks, forum materials, and evening networking. The underlying technology is conventional event management — a website registration funnel integrated with a third-party ticketing widget (ticketcrm.com), Telegram and WhatsApp support channels, and email newsletter communications — rather than a proprietary software platform. Revenue is generated through a mix of individual and corporate ticket sales and a multi-tier sponsorship structure comprising Title Partners (e.g., Mastercard, AEQUO, UFuture, WORK.ua), Strategic Partners (e.g., DTEK, Kyivstar, PrivatBank, Metinvest, EFI Group, UMGI), Media Partners (Forbes Ukraine, 1+1 Media, Starlight Media, KyivPost), and Info Partners (American Chamber of Commerce, European Business Association, Aspen Institute Kyiv).

The organization has expanded beyond the flagship event into three sub-products: KIEF Academy (educational programs in economics, management, finance, AI, and advocacy), Industrial Evolution (a co-organized international forum on Ukraine's industrial recovery, scheduled for 18 June 2026), and KIEF Talks (year-round intimate-format side events). The team comprises a small core staff under CEO Yurii Pyvovarov, with governance provided by an advisory board that includes international figures (Garry Jacobs, Erik Reinert, Arturo Bris) and Ukrainian business leaders (Vasyl Khmelnytskyi, the UFuture founder who initiated the forum). KIEF targets three primary customer personas — government officials and policy makers, international and Ukrainian business leaders, and think tanks/academia — but its revenue mechanics are weighted toward the corporate sponsorship side. No venture capital, private equity, or institutional investment ownership is evidenced; funding appears to derive entirely from ticket sales and partnership contributions.

Name

Kyiv International Economic Forum

Legal name

Kyiv International Economic Forum

Website

https://forumkyiv.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Kyiv International Economic Forum (KIEF) is a private Kyiv-based organization that runs Ukraine's flagship annual international economic forum, convening government ministers, foreign diplomats, and senior business executives, complemented by educational (KIEF Academy), industrial (Industrial Evolution), and year-round (KIEF Talks) sub-events funded by ticket sales and corporate sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Forum and Business Conference Services

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAGAGAK

Executive Summits & Invitation-Only Forums

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Conventions & Conferences (Business Events)

SECONDARYTHAHAJAF

Government, Public Policy & Regulatory Congresses

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Association, Government & Academic Congresses

SECONDARYMPAGAGAH

Government & Public Sector Conferences

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Conventions & Conferences (Business Events)

SECONDARYBPADAMAJ

Economic Research, Statistics & Policy Advisory

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/International Trade & Economic Development

Keywords

• Economic forum
• Business conference
• Networking events
• Executive education
• Policy dialogue

Headquarters

HQ city

Kyiv

HQ country

Ukraine

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue generated from individual attendee tickets (Business tier at 12,500 UAH or 545 EUR) and corporate/group ticket packages. The Business tier includes access to all panel discussions, coffee breaks, forum materials, and evening networking.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Kyiv International Economic Forum (KIEF) organizes an annual international economic conference held in Kyiv that convenes Ukrainian government ministers, international diplomats, and senior business executives for multi-track panel discussions, keynote dialogues, and networking. The organization also operates KIEF Academy (educational programs in economics, management, finance, AI, and advocacy), KIEF Talks (year-round side events), and co-organizes the Industrial Evolution forum focused on industrial recovery in Ukraine.

Product overview

Kyiv International Economic Forum (KIEF) operates as an annual economic forum platform with three associated products: the core KIEF annual forum (a two-day multi-track conference in Kyiv with discussion panels, dialogue sessions, and networking), KIEF Academy (an educational offering with programs in economics, management, finance, AI, and advocacy), and Industrial Evolution (a co-organized international industry-focused forum on manufacturing and production in Ukraine). KIEF Talks serves as year-round side events in a smaller format. The platform also maintains extensive media archives including video recordings and photo galleries from forum sessions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Industrial Evolution: International forum co-organized by KIEF focusing on restoring and developing production in Ukraine
• KIEF Academy
• KIEF TALKS

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

27 partnerships are on record, tiered title partner, partner, analytical partner, business expert, title media partner and core.

• Mastercardtitle partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as Innovation Partner and Title Partner for KIEF 2025. Mastercard participates as a key sponsor of the forum.
• AEQUOtitle partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as Exclusive Legal Partner and Title Partner for KIEF 2025. The law firm Aequo also organizes a panel discussion on investor protection.
• UFuturetitle partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as Strategic Partner and Title Partner. UFuture Holding is the organization founded by KIEF initiator Vasyl Khmelnytskyi, representing a deep strategic connection.
• WORK.uatitle partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as HR Partner and Title Partner for KIEF 2025. Work.ua is a major Ukrainian job search platform.
• Sense BankpartnerGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization for KIEF 2025, participating in financial system discussions.
• EFI GrouppartnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for KIEF 2025. Organizes a panel discussion on connecting with global capital. EFI Group is an investment company.
• UMGIpartnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for KIEF 2025. Co-organizes the 'Make Ukraine Industrial Again' panel discussion. UMGI is an investment company.
• MHP (Mriya)partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for KIEF 2025. One of Ukraine's largest agricultural holdings.
• PUMB (First Ukrainian International Bank)partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for KIEF 2025. One of Ukraine's major banking institutions.
• DTEKpartnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for KIEF 2025. Organizes the 'Keeping the Light: Energy System' panel discussion. DTEK is Ukraine's largest private energy company.
• PrivatBankpartnerGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for KIEF 2025. Ukraine's largest commercial bank.
• Neqsol HoldingpartnerGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for KIEF 2025. Azerbaijan-based holding company with operations in Ukraine.
• KyivstarpartnerGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for KIEF 2025. Ukraine's largest telecommunications operator.
• InterpipepartnerGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for KIEF 2025. Ukrainian pipe and wheel manufacturer.
• Biosphere CorporationpartnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for KIEF 2025. Organizes the 'International Business in Ukraine' panel discussion. Ukrainian manufacturer and distributor.
• Ajax SystemspartnerGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for KIEF 2025. Ukrainian security systems manufacturer.
• CEO Club UkrainepartnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for KIEF 2025. Organizes the 'New Horizon of Business Responsibility' panel discussion.
• BiopharmapartnerGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for KIEF 2025. Ukrainian pharmaceutical company.
• OKKO GrouppartnerGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for KIEF 2025. Ukrainian fuel and retail group.
• MetinvestpartnerGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for KIEF 2025. Major Ukrainian mining and steel holding.
• American Chamber of Commerce in UkrainepartnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for KIEF 2025. Organizes the 'Ukraine's Battle for the Future in the New World Disorder' panel discussion.
• Gradus Researchanalytical partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnalytical Partner for KIEF 2025. Provides sociological research and data for forum discussions.
• Forbes Ukrainebusiness expertGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness Expert Partner for KIEF 2025. Leading Ukrainian business media outlet.
• 1+1 Mediatitle media partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle Media Partner for KIEF 2025. Major Ukrainian media group.
• Starlight Mediatitle media partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle Media Partner for KIEF 2025. Major Ukrainian media group.
• Industrial Evolution ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organized by KIEF. Industrial Evolution is an international forum bringing together industry, business, and government leaders around recovery and development of production in Ukraine. Scheduled for 18 June 2026.
• KIEF AcademycoreOthersEducational project of KIEF offering programs in economics, management, finance, AI, advocacy and more. Equips leaders from business, government, and public sector with modern tools for effective decision-making.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ukraine Recovery Conference: A government-led annual conference series (Lugano 2022, Berlin 2023, etc.) convening international donors, governments, and private sector around Ukraine's reconstruction. Directly comparable to KIEF in audience and theme, though typically hosted outside Ukraine by host governments.
• European Business Association (EBA) Ukraine: EBA is a major Kyiv-headquartered business association that organizes events, roundtables, and advocacy on Ukraine's economic policy for its multinational and Ukrainian corporate members. Functions as both a peer (organizing policy dialogue with overlapping audience) and a partner (info partner of KIEF 2025).
• Yalta European Strategy (YES): YES is the most direct comparable — a major international conference focused on Ukraine's economic and political future, historically held annually and convening government, business, and civil society leaders. Like KIEF, it operates as a high-profile annual policy forum anchored by a Ukrainian sponsor foundation (Victor Pinchuk).
• American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine: AmCham Ukraine convenes the international business community in Ukraine through events, advocacy, and policy programming. Overlaps significantly with KIEF's audience of multinational and Ukrainian business leaders; co-organized a KIEF 2025 panel, making it both peer and partner.

Broad incumbents

• Munich Security Conference (MSC): The world's leading security and foreign-policy forum, convening heads of state, ministers, and top security experts annually. KIEF's defense-tech, energy-security, and geopolitical panels position it as a smaller, Ukraine-focused analog to MSC's format and audience profile.
• Web Summit: One of the largest global technology and business conferences, with comparable sponsor-driven revenue model, multi-track programming, and corporate attendee base. While tech-focused, the event-management mechanics (ticketing, sponsorship tiers, partner content tracks) are analogous to KIEF's operating model.
• Forum économique de Lémanique / Davos-style regional summits: The World Economic Forum (Davos) and its regional spin-offs represent the apex tier of annual invitation-only economic forums that KIEF's format directly emulates at a regional scale. Comparable in audience (ministers, CEOs, central bankers, thought leaders), sponsorship tiers, and agenda design (industrial policy, finance, energy, geopolitics).
• The Ambrosetti Forum (Cernobbio): An invitation-only annual economic forum held at Lake Como, convening heads of state, ministers, and CEOs on European and global economic strategy. Closely comparable to KIEF in format (single venue, multi-track policy and business program) and audience profile, though at a much larger and more established scale.
• Atlantic Council events: Atlantic Council runs global policy conferences (e.g., Global Citizen Award, Eurasia conferences) and convenes senior government and corporate leaders. Comparable as a high-profile international policy forum platform with overlapping Ukraine-related programming; broader geographic remit and well-resourced institutional backing.

Regional players

• Kyiv Security Forum: Annual Kyiv-based forum organized by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk Foundation focused on security, defense, and foreign policy. Comparable as a high-level international forum in Kyiv serving a Ukrainian government and international policy-maker audience, though with a security-policy rather than economic-development focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Kyiv International Economic Forum