TRANSFORMATION OF UKRAINE'S STARTUP ECOSYSTEM IN TIMES OF WAR: CHALLENGES, TRENDS, AND DEVELOPMENT PROSPECTS
Abstract
The article examines the transformation of Ukraine’s startup ecosystem under wartime conditions and identifies the prospects for its further development in the context of digital transformation and post-war economic recovery. The relevance of the research is determined by the growing importance of innovative entrepreneurship as a driver of technological modernization, economic resilience, and sustainable development amid unprecedented external challenges. The ongoing war has significantly affected the conditions under which startups operate, creating both new barriers and new opportunities for entrepreneurial initiatives. In this regard, a comprehensive understanding of the current state of the startup ecosystem and the factors influencing its transformation is of scientific and practical importance. The purpose of the study is to identify the key challenges and development trends of Ukraine’s startup ecosystem, systematize the factors affecting its functioning, and substantiate promising directions for strengthening innovative entrepreneurship in the context of wartime and post-war reconstruction. The research methodological framework is based on a combination of general scientific and specialized methods, including analysis and synthesis, comparison, systematization, abstraction, generalization, and structural-logical modeling. These methods enabled the investigation of the interconnections among the main elements of the startup ecosystem and the assessment of the influence of external and internal factors on its development. The Ukrainian startup ecosystem is undergoing a profound structural transformation. The study identifies the main groups of barriers affecting startup development, including financial, institutional, human capital, technological, and war-related constraints. At the same time, the analysis reveals emerging opportunities in technological innovation, digital solutions, international cooperation, and the increasing demand for advanced products and services. A conceptual model of startup ecosystem development under wartime conditions is proposed, highlighting the interaction between human capital, venture financing, digital infrastructure, institutional support, international cooperation, and war-related risks. In addition, a typology of the most promising sectors for startup activity is developed, reflecting the changing priorities of the national innovation environment. The value of the study lies in its potential to inform the design of public policies that support innovative entrepreneurship, improve mechanisms for startup financing, strengthen innovation infrastructure, and enhance international integration. The proposed approaches may also be used to develop strategic programs for post-war economic recovery and to increase the competitiveness of Ukraine’s innovation ecosystem in the global technological landscape.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Олександр Кубатко, Вʼячеслав Вороненко, Юлія Чорток, Владислав Півень, Вероніка Барсук
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