On Sunday, November 23, the innovation ecosystem gathered at UNIT.City for Cleantech Sunday—a pivotal event organized by Greencubator. Bringing together startups, investors, and experts, the festival marked the culmination of the first stage of the Global Cleantech Innovation Program 2.0 (GCIP 2.0) in Ukraine.
The event highlighted the resilience of Ukraine’s green sector. Implemented by UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization) with support from GEF (Global Environmental Facility), and executed locally by Greencubator, the program spotlights technologies that drive decarbonization and resource efficiency.
The Finalists: A New Wave of Green Tech
Fifteen finalists took to the stage to present their graduation pitches. Their solutions spanned a wide spectrum of critical industries: from solar energy, eco-housing, and new materials to biotechnology and electromobility.
A notable highlight of the cohort was the strong presence of female leadership. Six of the finalists—including SPOGAD, Re[Sens], and Mycelia Tech—are led by women founders, underscoring the growing role of women in Ukraine’s cleantech evolution.
The Winners: Shaping the Future
The jury—comprising Maria Alipatova (KSE Startup Ecosystem), Roman Puchko (ReThink), and Natalia Veremeeva (TechUkraine)—selected three winners who will represent Ukraine on the main stage at Cleantech Days in Vienna.
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🥇 1st Place: Sirocco Energy Developers of patented linear wind generators designed for suburban environments and industrial zones, featuring low noise and vibration levels.
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🥈 2nd Place: MELT WATER Inc. Creators of smart water purification devices for homes and businesses using advanced freezing technology.
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🥉 3rd Place: Briller.House Innovators in rapidly assembled, carbon-negative modular houses, offices, and hotel capsules using digital CNC technology.
InvestorConnect: Bridging Ideas and Capital
Following the pitches, the event featured an InvestorConnect speed-dating session. Startups had the opportunity to discuss strategy, grants, and funding with leading figures in the investment world, including:
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Vlad Tislenko (Partner, SMRK VC Fund)
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Olena Obukhova (Mentor, FundingBox)
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Dmytro Kuzmenko (CEO, UVCA)
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Dmytro Lukomskyi (Founder, Avenston)
Voices of the Ecosystem
The event emphasized that the development of green technology is not just about ecology—it is a matter of national security and survival.
Roman Zinchenko, Co-founder of Greencubator: “World War II created Europe’s centralized coal power industry. Today, Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy system are ruthlessly destroying generation capacity and grids—but at the same time, they are destroying the old paradigm of the system itself, accelerating the transformation to a new model: decentralized, flexible, and sustainable… Cleantech Sunday is an investment in an ecosystem that is shaping a new generation of innovators capable of building this new energy reality”.
Natalia Veremeeva, Director of TechUkraine: “I had the great pleasure of evaluating the startups accelerated by Greencubator. Truly interesting science-intensive solutions for today’s urgent problems. Yes, we are at war, but this means we must rebuild and be even more effective in all possible spheres… To win the war, we must become a country synonymous with new, more efficient technologies, innovations, and bold tech experiments in all areas of life”.
Roman Puchko, Co-founder of ReThink: “You can feel that professionals worked with the projects, and this is a great result for any acceleration program. Certain innovations are very interesting not only in the Ukrainian but also in the global context”.
Vlad Tislenko, Partner at SMRK VC Fund: “It is gratifying that startups find ways to increase sales in Ukrainian conditions while bringing benefits to society and the environment”.
About the Program
The GCIP Ukraine 2.0 advanced acceleration lasted 4 months and included 16 modules covering the entire startup journey—from customer discovery to manufacturing and scaling strategy. The program involved 25 experts and mentors from top companies including Amazon, Ajax Systems, Esper Bionics, and more.
