Las Vegas, NV — The neon lights of Las Vegas are blinding, but the real energy at CES 2026 isn’t coming from the casinos—it’s coming from the exhibition floor. This year marks a pivotal moment for the Ukrainian tech ecosystem. Building on the momentum of its previous appearance, Ukraine has firmly planted its flag in the prestigious Global Pavilions zone.
We are no longer just the “scrappy underdog” or the “resilient survivor.” In 2026, Ukraine has consolidated its position in the major leagues, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the world’s established tech giants.
From the epicenter of the event, Valerii Iakovenko, co-founder of DroneUA and the lead integrator of the Ukrainian Pavilion, shared exclusive insights with TechUkraine. He detailed how Ukrainian robotics are reshaping global industries, the transition from startups to scale-ups, and why CTA President Gary Shapiro personally opened the Ukrainian stand.
A Sign of Maturity: Leaving the Sandbox
For years, national delegations often cluster in startup villages. But CES 2026 signals a paradigm shift. The Ukrainian Pavilion, organized by DroneUA in partnership with the Ministry of Digital Transformation and the Ukrainian Startup Fund (USF), is showcasing mature, battle-hardened business solutions.
When asked how this sustained presence in the Global Pavilions affects the perception of the delegation, Iakovenko is clear: the world now sees us differently.
“This year, Ukraine is joining the Global Pavilion for the second time, forming the Ukrainian Pavilion alongside mature companies and global partners. The difference is that in this case, we are not talking about Ukraine as a ‘startup environment’—but as a competitor on the global arena with a mature technological ecosystem”, Iakovenko explains.
“Previously, Ukraine was represented in the startup pavilion for several years. Today, there is a completely different perception from visitors, neighbors, and potential partners”.
One Organism: The Power of Integration
The 2026 delegation is a unified force of 14 companies, blending agility with stability. It includes established scale-ups like N-iX, FarmFleet, VATAG, and BEETLESS, alongside a new generation of innovators like 3D-UTU, DOZOR AI, and Lanka Robotics.
Iakovenko emphasizes that acting as the integrator was about creating a cohesive narrative rather than just renting floor space.
“We are a single organism that creates. The contact between young companies and large businesses with vast experience is about development, knowledge exchange, and creating new partnerships”, says Iakovenko. “N-iX, for example, is a role model for the market—a business that invests heavily in ecosystems”.
Battle-Tested: Innovation Forged in Fire
While Silicon Valley tests in sandboxes, Ukrainian tech is tested in reality. This year, heavy robotic platforms like VATAG drew significant attention from the mining and emergency response sectors. The world is realizing that Ukrainian hardware isn’t just theoretical—it works when it matters most.
“Ukrainian technologies today have the biggest breakthroughs specifically in the security sector, but this forms opportunities for equipment use in any viable commercial sector”, Iakovenko asserts.
“Everything being created in Ukraine today represents immense expertise in robotics and exemplary cases of localized production. We have the opportunity to become a technological hub not just for Europe, but for the world. And that’s not just an opportunity—it is a fact. Ukraine has verified solutions that can strengthen any commercial industry in the world”.
Agrotech: The Race for Efficiency
Another highlight is FarmFleet, a SaaS platform for agribusiness. While the US market is massive, Iakovenko notes that American farmers and Ukrainian agrarians face similar math—just with different units of measurement.
“Agrarians in the USA and Ukraine are almost the same; the only exception is that area is measured in acres, not hectares… But two years ago, we could confidently say that regarding drone technology in agriculture, Ukraine had significantly more experience than American farmers”.
However, Iakovenko warns against complacency. The US has made a “quantum leap” in regulation over the last year.
“Today, the US is the most promising and one of the most active markets on the planet, and now is the right time to aggressively develop business. This is exactly what FarmFleet is doing today”.
Diplomacy of Action: The Shapiro Factor
The official opening of the pavilion was conducted by Gary Shapiro, CEO of the CTA and the man behind CES. His presence was more than ceremonial; it was a validation of Ukraine’s evolution.
“For Gary Shapiro, the fact of evolution is special. Ukraine started its journey at CES in the startup pavilion, and within a few years, those companies… became successful businesses”, recalls Iakovenko. “I remember meeting him a few years ago as a representative of one of our startups… Today, not just one, but several startups are in the ‘adult’ companies pavilion, ready for competition”.
Building this trust required a mix of diplomatic precision and entrepreneurial aggression. Iakovenko shares an insight into the organizational “kitchen”:
“When DroneUA joined the organization… one of the most important steps we took was accelerating decision-making processes. If we literally had an opportunity to ‘move’ a country overnight to get a spot at CES… we act quickly and aggressively. Today, it is much simpler because we have proven through years of participation that we are capable partners”.
The Verdict: Unbreakable
If the message of 2024-2025 was “Resilience”, the message of 2026 is “Expansion”. Ukraine is no longer asking for a seat at the table; it is building the table.
“The main indicator of success is entering global markets. Ukrainian companies must work on exports, opening representative offices, and finding new partnerships”, Iakovenko sums up. “Today, we—Ukrainian business—are investors in external markets, and we are ready to prove to the world that working with Ukraine is worth it”.
When asked for a single keyword to describe the Ukrainian delegation at CES 2026, Iakovenko didn’t hesitate:
“Ukrainian business is unbreakable. Regardless of anything, we continue to create and move forward. And furthermore, through all the challenges we pass, those who are near see us as the strongest. Because challenges forge us”.
