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Applications open for the Challenger Sustainability Accelerator: a program helping Ukrainian startups grow faster, connect with investors, and scale internationally
Challenger launches the Sustainability Accelerator – a new equity-free three-month acceleration program for Ukrainian startups working in the fields of green tech, energy, mobility, construction, demining, and prosthetics.
The program is designed for early-stage startups that aim to improve their product, prepare for fundraising, and scale their business to international markets.
Challenger Sustainability Accelerator is organized by Civitta – a team with hands-on experience in building and scaling accelerator programs. Civitta has already delivered three Challenger cohorts and is currently working with the fourth one within the Challenger AI Accelerator, continuously refining the approach based on real startup needs and market dynamics.
We are launching the Challenger Sustainability Accelerator to support Ukrainian startups developing technological solutions in sectors that are critical for the country’s recovery and development. Ukrainian teams are already demonstrating strong innovation in areas such as green tech, energy, mobility, and other technology fields, and our goal is to help them connect with key industry players, access expert mentorship, and accelerate their path to international markets,
– says Iurii-Volodymyr Blavt, co-founder of Challenger Accelerator and partner at Civitta.
Participants will work with international mentors, investors, and entrepreneurs, and gain access to networks of partners and experts across the European startup ecosystem.
The program is implemented in partnership with THINGS – one of Sweden’s leading deeptech and innovation hubs that connects startups with large corporations to develop technological solutions and international partnerships.
We are very happy to support some of Ukraine’s early-stage startups by providing targeted mentoring and access to our international networks. The program focuses on industries of strategic importance, and we look forward to connecting the participating companies to relevant partners, customers and investors during the program
– says Linda Krondahl, CEO at THINGS.
The program is funded by the Swedish Institute – a Swedish government agency that supports international innovation initiatives and the development of partnerships between startup ecosystems in different countries.
I’m truly glad that the Swedish Institute can support this initiative. Strengthening entrepreneurship in Ukraine is not only vital for inclusive economic development, but also for giving people the opportunity to shape their own future as the country moves closer to the EU,
– Magdalena Ellfors, Programme Manager Ukraine, Swedish Institute.
Benefits for Challenger Sustainability participants
Participants will receive practical support in developing their business and product, including 12 hands-on workshops with international experts, more than 20 hours of individual technical and business mentoring, as well as goal-setting and regular progress-tracking sessions.
The program also includes peer-to-peer sessions between startups, startup roasts, access to a broad network of international investors and corporate partners, a Mentorship Bootcamp during the IT Arena tech conference in Lviv, and a final Demo Day in Kyiv, where teams will present their solutions to investors, partners, and media representatives.
In addition, participants will be able to take part in a study visit to Sweden, during which they will attend Tech Arena – one of Europe’s largest technology conferences – and hold meetings with potential clients, partners, and representatives of the Swedish innovation ecosystem. After completing the program, teams will receive post-acceleration support, including assistance with building international partnerships, finding clients, and preparing for fundraising.
The program is designed for Ukrainian startups that have a pilot-ready prototype, are ready to raise investment and scale internationally, work in the fields of green tech, energy, mobility, construction, demining, or prosthetics, and have a team of at least two people.
Startups participate on an equity-free basis: they do not pay for participation and do not give up any company equity.
Applications for the Challenger Sustainability Accelerator are open until June 21, 2026, via the program website at the following link.
Challenger Sustainability Accelerator is organized by Civitta in partnership with THINGS. This project is funded by the Swedish Institute.
