On May 14, 2026, the business ideas competition “IDEAFEST 2026” (spring season) was held at Kyiv National Economic University named after Vadym Hetman, becoming an important platform for the development of youth entrepreneurship, innovation activities, and startup culture among Ukrainian students. The event brought together talented students, academics, business representatives, investors, and international partners around the ideas of digital transformation, technological development, and the innovative future of Ukraine.

The main goal of the event was to promote entrepreneurship and innovation activities, stimulate the development of startup culture, present innovative ideas within the framework of the international European Digital Innovation Hub WIN2EDIH, form a community of young innovators and entrepreneurs, and discuss current challenges, opportunities, and prospects for the digital transformation of Ukraine’s economy and business.

The event was moderated by Larisa Antoniuk — Vice-Rector for Research, Doctor of Economics, Professor of the Department of International Economics, and Head of the international project WIN-WIN EDIH.

Welcoming remarks were delivered to the participants and guests by Dmytro Lukianenko — Rector of KNEU named after Vadym Hetman, Kristina Saue — Project Officer at the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) of the European Commission, Gregory Gardener — Professor of the Department of Business and Economics at the State University of New York SUNY, as well as Viktoriia von Rozen — Vice President of the German-Ukrainian Society for Economics and Science eV (Germany).

The competition was held with the support of the international project WIN2EDIH and leading experts of the innovation ecosystem. The competent jury included Dmytro Lukianenko, Rostyslav Diuk — Chairman of the Board of the Ukrainian Association of Fintech and Innovation Companies and Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board of SENS Bank, Mykhailo Dyba — CEO of BADVASY Company, Ihor Porokh — venture investor, Andrii Horban — Head of the Technology Transfer Office of the Winogradskiy Institute, Academician of the National Academy of Higher Education Sciences of Ukraine, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, Viktoriia von Rozen, Viacheslav Bykovets — General Director of the Union of Entrepreneurs of Small, Medium and Privatized Enterprises of Ukraine, as well as Kristina Bilokrynytska — Partner at GRANT THORNTON LEGIS LLC, Head of the Forensics and Deal Support Department.

Five teams with innovative projects reached the final of the competition, among which students of the “Computer Science” educational program were especially actively represented. Student teams of the “Computer Science” specialty have traditionally demonstrated high results at the “IDEAFEST” business ideas competition. Every year, students actively participate in the competition, presenting innovative startups, technological developments, and digital solutions that receive high evaluations from the jury and investors. Participation in “IDEAFEST” has become an important component of the development of student entrepreneurship, practical application of knowledge, and formation of a modern innovative environment among students of the “Computer Science” specialty.

The finalists presented their own technological developments, demonstrating a high level of preparation, engineering thinking, and entrepreneurial vision.

The first team to present their project consisted of KNEU students of the “Computer Science” specialty — Oleksii Lytvynenko and Vasyl Oliinyk (group IN-204, second year), mentored by Associate Professor of the Department of Computer Science Yaroslav Vozniuk.

The team presented the project “ROKKI” — an affordable quadruped for demining based on ESP32-S3. The project is aimed at creating a cheap, compact, and open robotic solution for the initial inspection of potentially dangerous territories without risking the lives of sappers. The jury paid special attention to the low cost of the prototype, the openness of the architecture, and the possibility of scaling the platform for practical use in humanitarian demining and STEM education.

The second presentation was delivered by Oleksandr Tymchenko — a second-year student of the “Computer Science” specialty at KNEU under the mentorship of Associate Professor of the Department of Computer Science Yurii Lozovyk.

He presented the project “SmartPot” — an intelligent flower pot of the new generation for automated plant care. The development uses humidity and temperature sensors, an automatic watering system, and a mobile application for remote monitoring of plant conditions. The project stood out for its practicality, focus on smart-home technologies, and commercialization prospects.

Among the finalists was also a team from the Faculty of International Economics and Management with the project “SmartBench Alma Mater,” consisting of Zlata Medentsi, Maksym Demshevskyi, Maksym Peliukh, Olena Semenikhina, Lianna Tsybulska, and Anton Hrossu. The team presented an innovative concept of a modern smart-space for the educational environment.

Another finalist was the project “Cryptelix” — a mobile application for managing cryptocurrency trading strategies. It was presented by KNEU students Dmytro Samolichenko (“Computer Science”) and Ivan Solodkovskyi (“Systems Analysis”). The team was mentored by Tetiana Chernytska, Professor of the Department of International Economics at KNEU and Project Manager of WIN2EDIH.

Special attention was attracted by the project “Demo.me” from the team of Vasyl' Stus Donetsk National University. The team members — Yuliia Solonenko, Kateryna Fedoruk, Kateryna Kiptiuk, and Alina Khomiakova — presented the concept of the first marketplace of short professional experiences, allowing young people to try different professions without long-term study and obligations. The project was positively evaluated by investors for its social relevance and innovative approach to youth career guidance.

According to the results of the final evaluation, the first place in the “IDEAFEST 2026” competition was won by the team of Oleksii Lytvynenko and Vasyl Oliinyk with the project “ROKKI: quadruped for demining.” The jury highly appreciated the relevance of the development for Ukraine, its technical implementation, innovativeness, and potential for practical application in the field of humanitarian demining.

Second place was shared by Oleksandr Tymchenko with the project “SmartPot” and the “Cryptelix” project team consisting of Dmytro Samolichenko and Ivan Solodkovskyi. Both projects received high evaluations for their technological level, market potential, and development prospects.

Third place was awarded to the team from the Faculty of International Economics and Management with the project “SmartBench Alma Mater.”

A special distinction and prize from the competition investors was awarded to the team from Vasyl' Stus Donetsk National University for the project “Demo.me.”

After the presentations, participants had the opportunity to communicate with business representatives, investors, and innovation experts, exchange experience, discuss prospects for the development of their startups, and opportunities for further cooperation.

“IDEAFEST 2026” once again confirmed the high level of training of students studying in the field of “Computer Science,” the ability of young teams to create innovative technological solutions, and successfully integrate modern digital technologies into various spheres of public life. Holding such events contributes to the development of Ukraine’s startup ecosystem, the formation of entrepreneurial thinking, and support for young innovators who are already creating the technologies of the future today.

We express special gratitude to the student teams for their courage to present their own ideas, perseverance in implementing projects, and ability to combine modern digital technologies with the practical needs of society. The presented startups once again confirmed that Ukrainian youth possess strong intellectual potential, are capable of generating competitive ideas, and shaping the future of Ukraine’s innovative economy.

Special thanks are also extended to the mentors and academic supervisors who supported the teams, shared their experience, guided students during the project development process, and helped transform ideas into real technological solutions. It is precisely through the combination of student initiative and professional mentorship that promising startups and innovations are born.

We wish all participants further scientific and entrepreneurial success, new achievements, scaling of their projects, victories in international competitions, and realization of the most ambitious ideas. May “IDEAFEST 2026” become another important step toward creating a strong innovation environment and developing youth entrepreneurship in Ukraine.