The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has announced the launch of the K4 Startup Studio program aimed at fostering startups in military technology based on artificial intelligence. The primary goal is to develop innovative solutions that can give the army a technological edge. This initiative is supported by the German Ministry of Defense and the Office of Effective Regulation (BRDO).
K4 represents a new approach to state collaboration: the program brings together developers, military experts, and world-class mentors.
The Ministry of Defense has identified 4 main challenges that directly address the needs of the military. Teams will submit their solutions for participation based on these themes and can also propose their own AI solutions for the defense sector. A full list of challenges can be found on the website: k4.mod.gov.ua.
The selection of program participants will occur in several stages. Up to 10 teams will be chosen from the candidates, with 4 receiving grants of $250,000 each for their technological solutions. Teams will be evaluated twice by a specially formed Grant Committee composed of military experts and direct users of new technologies on the battlefield.
Each team will first undergo a 4-month intensive development program, including mentorship from leading Ukrainian and global experts, battlefield testing of their solutions, and feedback directly from military personnel. Following this, there will be 6 months of individual support aimed at securing investment and/or entering into a government procurement contract.
The K4 Startup Studio model is based on best practices from accelerators. The main advantage for startups is direct access to end-users and the opportunity to scale their solutions into a real defense system. For investors, it means quick access to technologies tested in wartime conditions.
«In Ukraine, artificial intelligence is already undergoing battlefield testing. We are not just adapting – we are setting trends. We have real examples of effective AI applications in combat conditions – that’s why we believe in this direction and are engaging partners to invest in Ukrainian developments. K4 is a program for those ready to turn their code into weapons for our defenders,» emphasized Kateryna Chernohrenko, Deputy Minister of Defense for Digital Development.
Applications can be submitted until August 15, 2025, at k4.mod.gov.ua.
We invite developers and investors who wish for their innovations to operate where it truly matters, – on the battlefield. K4 is your entry point into the technologies that are changing the rules of war.
