The global AI market reached $196 billion in early 2024 and is set to skyrocket to $738 billion by 2030. AI is transforming industries from robotics to fashion. Just last year, Ukraine’s AI market grew by 36%. Viroslava Novosylna, CEO of SLOVA Tech PR and winner of the Best Leader in PR at the Davos Communication Awards, believes this isn’t just hype. Viroslava Novosylna, CEO & Founder of PR agency SLOVA Tech PR, co-founder of the international non-profit community of women in tech Wtech with 7000 members in 30 countries, the winner of the Best Leader in PR at the Davos Communication Awards, believes this is not just meaningless hype, but a technological foundation for creating solutions.
Background
The AI industry has seen extraordinary growth in recent years, with advances and innovations transforming our daily lives. Ukrainian entrepreneurs have been leading this charge, establishing numerous AI startups, e.g. Grammarly, Respeecher, and Reface, that are revolutionizing various industries as described below.
This year seven Ukrainian startups with AI-based technologies participated in VivaTech: the largest annual innovation exhibition in Europe, dedicated to innovation and startups held in Paris, France. It attracted over 165,000 visitors, 13,500 startups, and 400 speakers between May 22-25. Separate from the national delegations, participants could see booths of big AI-based projects with Ukrainian roots, such as Esper Bionics and Preply.
AI and robotics
Let’s talk about how Ukrainian startups that participated at VivaTech change various business sectors. For example, in robotics, companies are leveraging AI-powered robots to bridge the gap between humans and technology and evolve their business models to adapt to shifting demands. For instance, AI-enabled robots greet customers in stores, offering personalized information and directions.
Ukraine’s Deus Robotics automates warehouses with intelligent AI-based robots, boosting operational efficiency and tackling labor shortages, employee retention, and safety challenges. Solutions include:
- End-to-end automation – helps companies reduce costs and improve efficiency by automating manual picking, packing, and shipping.
- Robot as a service (RaaS) – provides customers with the hardware, software, and services required to implement robotic process automation solutions, considering their current logistics processes.
- AI-powered software ecosystem – scalable AI-powered software seamlessly designed to simulate robotized warehouses, and create optimal paths for robot fleets.
AI and fashion
With AI, the future of fashion technology is more promising than ever. It is changing the industry, from automated shopping experiences to voice-activated fittings, shifting the way we shop and engage with fashion. AI is transforming markets, enabling fashion entrepreneurs to connect more closely with their customers through enhanced personalization and convenience.
Ukrainian startup Genera, headquartered in Paris, is a suite software company that creates AI-based solutions for the digitalization of the fashion industry. To develop products, Genera’s team combines various additional models, neural networks, and computer vision algorithms created in Gen Lab. Each tool combines the audience’s demand for increased diversity and inclusivity in the fashion world with modern technological capabilities. Genera stands as the industry leader in human & clothing digital replication, inventing AI-powered technologies for unprecedented digital experiences in fashion.
With a global vision focused on digitalizing the fashion industry and in pursuit of sustainable, better and more quality consumption, Genera has developed core technologies and visionary products:
- Gen Twin: a leading online try-on system.
- Gen Models: a system that offers an unlimited variety of AI Fashion Models and Characters.
Other key products include:
- Product Card Full Production which saves 80% of production resources in the development of product cards.
- 3D-Scanner which instantly creates production-ready 3D models from solid objects for demonstration purposes.
Headquartered in Paris, the Genera team brings together the foremost experts in IT engineering, hyper-realistic computer graphics technicians, and leading fashion experts to bring common goals to life. Genera’s relentless commitment to innovation shapes the future of fashion towards a highly immersive industry that understands its consumers like never before.
AI and language learning
Promova, another Ukrainian startup, is a one-stop solution for all language learning needs. It uses AI technology to understand your speech and help you practice. You no longer need a native teacher to improve your pronunciation.
AI has transformed language learning by providing personalized and optimized tools. Utilizing Natural Language Processing (NLP), AI-based platforms evaluate learners’ proficiency levels and customize lessons to fit their needs. These systems employ chatbots and virtual language tutors to deliver real-time feedback, create immersive language environments, and facilitate conversational practice.
AI and bookings
The growing availability of data is revolutionizing the online booking customer experience, enabling smarter search functionality and more personalized results. AI-driven advancements in natural language recognition are positioning voice search as the next major trend in the industry.
Ukraine’s Reservble allows guests to book tables online in just a few clicks without any phone calls and equips restaurants with AI-driven tools for instant reservation confirmations, efficient scheduling, and reduced no-shows.
AI in healthcare and rehabilitation
AI uses algorithms to learn, reason, and ultimately assist in various clinical practices, such as radiology and rehabilitation. It also gathers relevant, up-to-date information from journals, books, and evidence-based practices, aiding in clinical decision-making within healthcare.
In Ukraine, the industry is represented by two prominent startups:
- Mark – developing AI-based healthcare solutions that prevent misdiagnoses and improve health outcomes through medical expertise and prevention.
- OUTEX – an innovative app for working out and rehabilitation, where artificial intelligence corrects the performance of your exercises.
AI and vet medicine
In veterinary, the integration of AI goes beyond diagnostics, transforming treatment planning and even surgeries through AI-assisted technologies. AI algorithms analyze an animal’s medical history, genetic makeup, and real-time health data to develop personalized treatment plans.
Ukrainian startup HowCow is an AI-based system that detects the best time for cow insemination and identifies health problems. It works in three steps:
- A special device on the cow’s neck or ear measures five types of activity and recognizes early signs of fertility windows or diseases.
- It notifies you of the best time for insemination directly in your CRM or in our own developed CRM.
- Automatic monitoring 24/7 and timely response to the need for fertilization, and intervention in the health of the cow allows for increased milking efficiency and improves the condition of the cow.
AI and female founders
Following the global trend, at VivaTech there was a lot of attention dedicated to women in technology. The situation in the field of AI, where only 16% of individuals are women, is quite challenging.
Given the war-related challenges, in Ukraine the role of women as business leaders has grown, including the AI sector.I know how vital it is to get assistance at the international stage since I have been developing our community for female leaders in tech Wtech. Therefore, it was great to participate in an invite-only The Female Founders & Investors Networking Dinner, organised by Thousand Faces, Women in AI, and Dataconomy.
The mission is to help women share inspiration and useful insights, fostering a powerful community. It was important to gather women from both sides, including VCs and founders as female businesses require support and additional financing for development. Women entrepreneurs and co-founders secured nearly one-quarter (22.8%) of all VC money last year, up from 18.7% in 2022. By deal count, women founders got about the same percentage of the VC deals as in 2022, at a little over 26%.
Among the invited guests, Antonina Iermeichuk, Co-founder & COO of the aforementioned Ukrainian startup Deus Robotics. She expressed excitement over the event: “Networking with female founders is an important component of success. Together we celebrate each of our victories and learn from our failures without judgment. We sincerely say to each other: “I understand you completely. I went through the same thing. And by the way, here’s what I learned from it. You can do it!” I really appreciate that sense of community. I remember coming to the Female Founder & Investor Dinner after a very busy day at VivaTech, where we successfully presented Deus Robotics. I was very exhausted. And after the meeting, I felt inspired again.”
Sophia Martin, an early stage investor in deeptech, AI, and Climate Tech, insisted upon how important it is to empower women as entrepreneurs: “As a tech early stage investor, I am honored to support the Women in AI Paris chapter. In this life-changing AI wave, it is crucial to foster diversity and inclusion to not only drive innovation but also to mitigate bias in AI systems. I am eager to see our community grow with more strategic partners, women investors, and AI entrepreneurs. Together, we can shape a future where AI is developed and utilized by a diverse and inclusive group of leaders, ensuring fair and impactful technological advancements for all.”
Events such as Female Founders & Investors Networking Dinners empower women by allowing them to share useful insights, fostering a powerful community. They are perfect opportunities for women to gain valuable information and meet potential colleagues as well as discuss potential deals to finance their projects.
Conclusion
The dynamic use of AI across various sectors in Ukraine highlights the country’s technological prowess. From fashion and robotics to language learning and veterinary medicine, Ukrainian startups employ AI to create solutions that address real-world problems. Their participation in VivaTech 2024 underscores the global recognition of their advancements.
Given the issues women face in the tech world, Female Founders & Investors Networking Dinners are the perfect opportunity for them to build a strong community and gain connections with investors.
Featured image credit: Per Lööv/Unsplash