The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the Consulate General of Ukraine in San Francisco are proud to announce the partnership of the inaugural cohort of 22 innovative deep tech startups from Ukraine graduated this January from the SRI Deep Tech Security Accelerator in California, USA. This prestigious two-week intensive program was created and run by Kateryna Akymenko and Gauthier Vasseur with the support of US donors and in strategic partnership with SRI International, a renowned independent nonprofit R&D institute with nearly 80 years of Silicon Valley legacy. This project seeks to accelerate Ukraine’s path to victory by equipping startups with smart capital from investors, expert guidance, and strategic partnerships.
"The selection of these teams is a testament to our country's innovation, and commitment to developing technological solutions. We are confident that this collaboration will provide a strong boost to the advancement of defense and security technologies," said Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Kateryna Chernogorenko.
This cutting-edge curriculum was powered by world-class mentors, including leading faculty from UC Berkeley, Stanford University, and Northeastern University, as well as experts from SRI International and top consulting firms. The program also included mentoring sessions led by innovation leaders from the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU).
“Ukraine has quickly developed a well-deserved reputation as the most innovative nation in drone technology. Ukraine offers a unique combination of innovative weaponry, innovative tactics, and an adaptive organizational structure in a constant feedback loop. Investment in the Ukrainian defense and dual-use startups is not charity, but a promising rising market bet and an input into the security of the entire Euro-Atlantic community and the world”, stressed Dmytro Kushneruk, Consul General of Ukraine in San Francisco.
“We are honored to host such a talented group of Ukrainian entrepreneurs. Their ingenuity and drive align perfectly with the spirit of innovation that thrives in Silicon Valley, and we look forward to helping them grow their businesses and contribute to global security,” — Peter Marcotullio, Senior Vice President of Commercialization, strategic partner of the SRI Deep Tech Security Accelerator.
During the program, participants also traveled to El Segundo, California, often called “Deep Tech Valley,” to meet Mayor Chris Pimentel, Chief of Police Saul Rodriguez, Chief of the Fire Department George Avery, and local startups.
The program will be followed by six months of ongoing mentorship to continue empowering these innovative companies to build on Ukraine’s defense tech expertise and accelerate their growth.
“Democracies must be strong and equipped to stand up to growing threats. Ukraine has been showing us the way for the past 3 years. Accelerating the startups that lead the way to innovation in Deep Tech and Security will give peace a chance by bringing solutions that will defend our grounds and save lives”, - Gauthier Vasseur, Co-Founder and donor of the Accelerator, Executive Director of Fisher Center for Business Analytics UC Berkeley, President of Data Wise Academy.
“As a Ukrainian, I am incredibly proud to have co-founded this Deep Tech Security Accelerator. Ukraine is now at the heart of military deep tech innovation. Strengthening this ecosystem is critical - not just for our country’s resilience but for the future of democracies worldwide. Thanks to our donors, SRI, my partner Gauthier Vasseur, and our dedicated team, we have built a stellar program that is just the beginning of a much larger movement.", - said Kateryna Akymenko, Accelerator Co-Founder, Visiting Fellow Fisher Center for Business Analytics UC Berkeley, co-founder Yes&Design.
About the SRI International
SRI International (SRI) is a nonprofit scientific research institute and organization headquartered in Menlo Park, California, United States. It was established in 1946 by the trustees of Stanford to serve as a center of innovation but formally separated from the university in 1970. SRI performs client-sponsored research and development for government agencies, commercial businesses, and private foundations. It also licenses its technologies, forms strategic partnerships, sells products, and creates spin-off companies. SRI's focus areas include biomedical sciences, chemistry and materials, computing, Earth and space systems, economic development, education and learning, energy and environmental technology, security, national defense, sensing, and devices. SRI has received more than 4,000 patents and patent applications worldwide. Read more: https://www.sri.com/