Ukrainian AgriTech Companies Invited to Silicon Valley Accelerator: Launch in April 2026
The IT Ukraine Association, together with the Fisher Center for Business Analytics at the University of California, Berkeley, and with the support of the United States Government provided through the Agriculture Growing Rural Opportunities (AGRO) Activity in Ukraine, invites Ukrainian companies with AgriTech solutions to apply for the AgriTech Business Accelerator Program.
The Program was created to support the growth of high-potential Ukrainian Agritech startups and companies through connecting entrepreneurs with investors and mentors from Silicon Valley.
Program duration: April - October 2026
Format: online/offline in USA & Ukraine
The program goals:
Strengthen the capacity of Ukrainian AgriTech businesses by providing access to U.S. expertise, technologies, and business acceleration practices.
Facilitate the adoption of emerging technologies, including smart farming, IoT, AI, automation, precision agriculture, irrigation management, and data-driven decision-making.
Enable U.S. investors to access vetted Ukrainian agritech innovations, creating opportunities for early-stage investment and long-term partnerships.
The program helps participants to:
receive guidance on U.S. regulations for AI and emerging technologies;
conduct structured customer and market discovery to prepare products for global markets;
gain access to advanced U.S. agricultural technologies;
access proven business models and global expertise;
establish contacts with potential investors and partners from Silicon Valley.
The program structure:
Stage 1. Pre-program (online): Weeks 1-4, April
The stage includes kick-off and 4 online sessions involving sectoral lecturers and will focus on:
Understanding the U.S. Agri Market and economic landscape.Foundation building, preparation for Silicon Valley, and aligning around validated customer problems and scalable data-driven solutions.
Introduction to Lean Startup principles, customer discovery, and business model canvas.
Immersion in Strategic Business Development & Investor and Network Building.
Stage 2. Core Program (in-person): Weeks 5-7, May
The stage includes:
1 day of offline sessions in Ukraine to prepare for an upcoming business trip to California.
10 days at UC Berkeley engaging in hands-on exercises, developing business model canvases, and refining brand messaging.
Deep dive into Silicon Valley ecosystem with pitch sessions, business site visits, and investor meetings.
Pitch competition where selected participants present their products/startups to industry experts, potential investors, and partners.
Stage 3. Post-program (hybrid): May - October
The stage includes:
6 months of follow-up mentoring sessions - 2 sessions per month with focus on execution, pilots, scaling, and investment readiness.
Final event with program results within WINWIN Summit 2026.
Applicants must meet all of the following requirements:
The company is legally registered in Ukraine (private entrepreneur or legal entity) in accordance with сurrent Ukrainian legislation.
At least 50% of ownership is held by Ukrainian citizens.
The company operates in the AgriTech sector (e.g., AI, precision agriculture, IoT, smart farming, irrigation management, agri-data solutions).
The company has a functional product (MVP) with demonstrated validation (customers, LOIs, or field testing).
The company demonstrates potential for international scalability.
Key team members demonstrate professional fluency in English.
The company commits to delegating 1-2 representatives to participate in all program components, including the 2-week in-person session in the United States.
The company confirms its financial capacity to co-finance logistics costs and visa fees.
The applicant company must have no direct or indirect ownership, control, business relations, or financial ties with entities or individuals affiliated with the Russian Federation, the Republic of Belarus, or any jurisdiction, entity, or individual subject to international sanctions.
Preference may be given to companies demonstrating scale-up characteristics, including sustained revenue growth, an established customer base, and readiness for rapid international expansion.
Applicants who have passed the basic requirements will be shortlisted and evaluated using a transparent scoring methodology based on the following criteria:
1.Development Impact & Market Fit
Potential to increase productivity, efficiency, sustainability, or climate resilience in agriculture.
Relevance to emerging technology domains where the U.S. demonstrates global leadership (AI, BioTech, agri-analytics, automation, etc.).
Potential to generate long-term economic impact (job creation, export growth, technology transfer).
2.Innovation & Technical Merit
Degree of technological innovation and differentiation.
Use of data-driven methodologies and AI-enabled tools.
Technical feasibility and scalability of the solution.
Evidence of field validation, pilot implementation, or measurable performance outcomes.
3.Capabilities & Investment Readiness
Clarity and sustainability of the business model.
Financial transparency and sound management practices.
Readiness to engage with early-stage investors.
Defined growth strategy and capital utilization plan.
4.Ambition & Sustainability
Demonstrated sectoral expertise in agriculture or agri-tech.
Ability to execute rapid iteration, experimentation, and scaling.
Commitment to full participation in program activities and post-program engagement.
Potential for long-term collaboration with U.S. investors and technology partners.
Strategy for sustaining growth beyond the program period.
Openness to mentorship, knowledge transfer, and ecosystem integration.
Companies whose applications do not sufficiently demonstrate program compatibility or require clarification will be invited to an interview with the Selection Committee.
How to apply for participation:
Step 1. Application Submission
Companies should submit the online application form. At this stage, applications will be screened against the eligibility criteria.
Step 2. Structured Assessment & Interviews
Shortlisting of applications that meet the basic criteria. Conducting a structured assessment by the Selection Committee and invitations for additional interviews (optional).
Step 3. Final Selection
Companies selected for the final list will receive an official notification letter confirming their acceptance into the program.
Registration is open until March 20th, 2026. The number of seats is at least 10.
Contacts
If you have any questions, please contact IT Ukraine’s expert, Olena Bilobrova, by bilobrova@itukraine.org.ua