Challenger AI is an international acceleration program focused on supporting startups in digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. Co-organized by CIVITTA and Radar Tech, the program was funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia from development cooperation and humanitarian aid funds to foster innovation both in Ukraine and internationally. Launched in December 2021, the project aimed to select up to 10 teams for a 3-month tuition-free program, offering workshops with speakers from top AI companies, mentorship from international experts, and networking opportunities with investors and venture capital funds.

The program kicked off with promotional events, including two Ideathons in early 2022. However, in February, implementation was temporarily paused due to the outbreak of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine. The acceleration program was successfully relaunched in September 2022. Twenty-five teams were selected for the pre-acceleration stage, with 8 final teams advancing to the main Challenger AI track. Over the course of the 3-month intensive online program, the teams attended 13 workshops, 2 pitch sessions with investors and corporate representatives, and completed over 15 hours of individual mentorship. The program culminated in a Demo Day in Kyiv, where the startups presented their innovative solutions to a jury, investors, and guests.

280+ applications submitted for the acceleration program
13 educational sessions conducted during the track
8 final startups completed the acceleration program
2 startups selected to participate in accelerator programs hosted by partners NVIDIA and Intel