Defense Tech
Valley 2026
16-17 September
Ukraine
World’s only defense summit that
doesn’t feel like a museum
Join the Event

Organised by Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Digital Transformation, Brave1 and Ukrainian Defense Development Charity Fund

About
01/04
Brave1 Defense Tech Valley is a unique international event dedicated to investing in Ukrainian defense tech solutions, proven on the frontline.
02/04
Building on the success of 2025 — which saw record-breaking investments and over 5,000 global participants — this year promises even more high-stakes deals, strategic partnerships, and major announcements.
03/04
But more than the numbers, it is about the vibe. Defense Tech Valley captures the raw, "garage tech" energy reminiscent of early Silicon Valley. Many solutions here may lack the polished aesthetic, but they are combat-proven in real-time against the most sophisticated electronic and kinetic threats on Earth.
04/04
Join us this year to witness how the new global tech standard is forged from these prototypes. Defense Tech Valley is moving to the next stage — and we invite you with us.
DTV 2025 Highlights
For Ukrainians, tech is not just money, contracts and fancy exhibitions. It helps us protect our freedom and stop the Russian war machine.

That’s why our tech is not about looks, it’s about raw effectiveness. To win vs bigger opponents, everything is turned into data and measured. And that’s why our weapons are so effective.
5,000+
visitors
50+
countries
300
international investors
Biggest investment round in Ukraine’s defense tech to date announced
$100
million investments announced
1,000+
frontline end-users
Program
//Full program coming soon//
SPEAKERS 2025
Defense Tech Valley features perhaps the most diverse crowd in the industry. From camouflage-clad commanders to geeky inventors to savvy investors in suits—our speakers are the visionaries forging new standards in defense.
Mykhailo Fedorov
Minister of Defence of Ukraine
Andrius Kubilius
EU Commissioner for Defence and Space
Andrii Lebedenko
Brigadier General, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Yurii Myronenko
Lieutenant Colonel, Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine
Valeriya Ionan
Advisor to the Minister of Defense of Ukraine
Haluk Bayraktar
CEO Baykar Technology
Dr. Kimberly Kagan
President of the Institute for the Study of War
Pavlo Yelizarov
Colonel, Deputy Commander of the Air Force
Seppo Aaltonen
Vice President of Nordics and NATO at ICEYE
Kyrylo Veres
Lieutenant Colonel, Commander of 20th Separate Brigade of Unmanned Systems "K-2"
Mary Beth Long
Fmr. U.S Assistant Secretary of Defense
Oleg Guyt
Lieutenant Colonel, Commander of 427th Separate Brigade of Unmanned Systems "RAROG"
John Ridge
Chief Adoption Officer of Nato Innovation Fund
Andrii Hrytseniuk
CEO Brave1
Gene Keselman
Lecturer and Director at MIT and Colonel, United States Air Force Reserve
Taras Chmut
Director of "Come Back Alive" Foundation
SPEAKERS 2026
//coming soon//
Battle Proven
If you are a startup working in defense tech — this is your moment to shine. “Battle Proven” is the world’s most authentic startup competition, where winners are measured not by how well they can craft a presentation, but by the real-world potential their products bring to the battlefield.
3 categories
TRAILBLAZERS
The Visionaries
Got a breakthrough concept? Pitch it here. Winning this category is your fast track to proving your theory and securing the resources to move to the next stage.
GAMECHANGERS
The Builders
Already have a working prototype? Compete for direct access to real-world battlefield testing and unfiltered feedback from operators who know what works.
POWER PLAYERS
The Scalers
Your tech is already in combat. Now, it’s time to scale.
Winning here is about bridging the gap between a successful prototype and mass production.
Investor
Become a verified investor to be part of the audience and attend pitches on the main stage. 
Get early access to pitch presentations.
Visit
Free Admission
If you belong to one of the following categories, you are eligible to attend Defense Tech Valley free of charge.
Military
- Ukraine military personnel
- Unit commanders
- General Staff officers
General (limited quota)
- Brave1 defense tech developers
- Government officials & foreign delegations
Media
- Ukrainian and global media outlets
- Accredited freelance journalists
Please note: free registration is subject to verification and availability.

Your free pass is only valid after you receive a confirmation message from the Brave1 team.
//Registration starts soon//
Tickets
Not in the free admission categories? Choose your access level below and secure your spot at the heart of defense tech innovation.
Standard
- 2-day access to the event
- Event mobile app
- App messaging function
- Personalised schedule builder
- Searchable attendee list
Senior
- Everything in the Standard +
- Access to event materials and video-recordings (some limited part of materials might not be distributed due to the content sensitivity)
- Event merch
Executive
- Everything in the Senior +
- pre-event cocktail networking eve (exclusive event)
- access to the executive lounge with drinks and snacks
- Exclusive event merch
- Reserved front-row seating at the main stage
- Fast-track registration
Purchase tickets
Mobile App
For a seamless experience, we invite you to use the official mobile app of the event. Navigate Defense Tech Valley right from your phone. Use the app to see other participants, book meetings, get instant notifications, and follow the agenda in real time.
Security
For Brave1, guest safety is paramount. To ensure this, the venue is securely protected, and a professional security team will provide comprehensive oversight 24/7. Focus on innovation — we’ll take care of the rest.
We will inform confirmed participants about the venue's exact place before the event.
Partnership
From battlefield end-users to global investors, Defense Tech Valley is the hub for high-stakes networking. Secure your place at the center of the ecosystem through strategic partnerships tailored to your scale and mission.