In June, a startup from our ecosystem got backed by Google, and a European VC made a first-ever investment in Ukrainian defense tech. We gathered for a Labs Galaxy meetup, launched 1:1 sessions for founders, and are now inviting you to play Startup Mafia.
Here’s your June wrap-up — global stories, local roots
Europe is backing Ukrainian startups in the defense tech
For the first time, a European VC fund invested directly in a Ukrainian company building defense tech, with no “dual-use” cover. This deal marks a major shift: European capital is now being directed at battlefield‑proven innovations from Ukraine. European VC breaks taboo by investing in pure defense tech from Ukraine’s war zones | TechCrunch
Want to invest in defense from $1K?
The founders behind the Defence Builder accelerator launched a syndicate that allows private individuals to invest in verified Ukrainian defense tech startups, from drones and EW to air defense. The minimum ticket: $1,000. Curious? Join the syndicate
Nine tried-and-true networking lessons from top executives
What is networking, a skill or the result of hard work? We explored this at a Labs Galaxy meetup with execs from Sigma Software, Datrics, and SID Venture Partners.
We summed up 9 tested lessons about networking. Join Labs Galaxy for insider access. Labs Galaxy Community | Labs | Microsoft Teams
Legal Nodes wins final Google Ukraine Fund grant
Our starship Legal Nodes — an AI-powered legal platform and Labs portfolio startup — was selected for the final cohort of the Google for Startups Ukraine Support Fund.
Each startup receives up to $100K in equity-free funding and $350K in Google Cloud credits. If you want to build your successful startup, reach out to us.
New 1:1 support for early-stage UA startups
In partnership with Win-Win EDIH Ukraine, we launched a new support program for Ukrainian founders. Selected teams get individual consultations with Daria Yaniieva, our Investment Director, to shape their investment pitch, define traction, and plan next steps.
Know a startup that could benefit? Give them a link for registration.
See you next month — and stay bold,
Sigma Software Labs Team
