10 Years of Kharkiv IT Cluster: Antifragility in Action

10 Липня 2025

In July 2025, Kharkiv IT Cluster celebrates its 10th anniversary — a decade of challenges, transformation, and growth. It’s the perfect moment to reflect, re-evaluate our path, and reaffirm a key truth: our superpower is antifragility. We don’t just endure shocks — we become stronger because of them.

What is Antifragility?

It’s about thriving in the face of adversity. We were born in 2015, when Kharkiv’s IT companies united to support one another during turbulent times. Back then, there were only six of us. Today — over 650 members: companies, universities, NGOs, international programs, and R&D centers.

We joined forces to build the strongest possible infrastructure for IT development — in the region and across Ukraine.

Education: Investment in the Future

Education was the first direction we pursued. We knew that without a new generation — well-prepared and motivated — the industry couldn’t grow.

In 10 years, we’ve built one of Europe’s most robust IT education ecosystems. Over 35,000 participants engage with our programs annually. We collaborate with 240+ educational partners, including 60 universities across 20 regions, and 1000+ mentors from the business world. Under our supervision are 490+ bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD programs — revised and supported by IT businesses. We cover every level: school, university, teacher development. This is deep, systemic work.

We’ve also launched a network of digital labs in schools and vocational institutions — 15 spaces already operate to boost IT education and children’s digital literacy. Next up: the launch of 22 digital learning centers.

A Business Community That Gives More

Kharkiv IT Cluster is a decision-making space for business. We process over 3,400 requests annually — from B2B matchmaking and export assistance to partner searches and team scaling.

We run 6 professional clubs: for executives, HR professionals, finance specialists, legal experts, PR professionals, and miltech innovators. Every year, we host around 60 business events with 3,700+ participants. These clubs are trusted spaces for sharing experiences and launching collaborations.

We also operate IT Cluster in the Cloud — a virtual cluster since 2023, uniting IT businesses with Ukrainian roots and global ambitions, even without a physical presence in Ukraine.

Through programs like EEN-Ukraine, IT Bridge and Eastern Ukraine EDIH we’ve helped hundreds of companies access international markets, secure grants, and gain new clients.

When It Matters — We Speak and Act

From day one, Kharkiv IT Cluster has been the voice of the industry — communicating the business perspective where decisions are made and helping shape effective policy at regional, national, and EU levels.

We were among the initiators and active developers of Diia.City — a legal framework that now unites over 1,900 Ukrainian companies. We’ve contributed to working groups at the Ministry of Digital Transformation, Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Reintegration, and more — advocating for smart tax policy, grant programs, and IT export regulations.

Regionally, we support digital transformation strategies and work closely with city authorities. Internationally, we are members of the European Clusters Alliance, representatives of the Enterprise Europe Network, and participants in EU digital development programs.

We don’t wait for change. We lead it.

Full-Scale War: A Community’s Response

With the full-scale invasion, social responsibility became part of our DNA. We created ObRiy — Oboronnyi Rii or Defence Swarm — an alliance of IT companies, military, volunteers, and government to develop dual-use solutions. Dozens of projects have already been delivered — from mobile surveillance systems to defense tech innovations.

Through our IT4Life foundation, we’ve been supporting hospitals since 2020, equipping safe learning spaces, and helping communities restore critical infrastructure. In partnership with the city, we created Kharkiv’s Situational Center — a 24/7 system for coordination and rapid threat response.

We don’t do this for reports. We do it because it’s our responsibility.

Kharkiv Is Our Home

A strong community always gives back to its city. Companies in Kharkiv IT Cluster have created tens of thousands of jobs, built a new economy, and contribute billions of hryvnias to the Kharkiv budget annually.

During COVID, we worked together to build oxygen pipelines, covering 90% of hospitals’ needs. In the early days of the full-scale war, Kharkiv IT Cluster companies helped evacuate over 15,000 people, preserving jobs and client contracts for Kharkiv residents.

Our IT4Life fund continues to support healthcare, education, safety, and STEM for children. Last year, we partnered with local authorities to build a Situational Center — a cutting-edge emergency response system unique even by the standards of Ukraine’s largest cities and capital. It’s a standout case of synergy between local government and IT expertise.

Now, we are working with the Kharkiv City Council, Kharkiv Reform Office, and Deloitteon a Smart City Strategy — because rebuilding isn’t about going back to how things were, it’s about moving forward to something better. It’s about people: those who stayed, and those who will return. They must see that Kharkiv has a future. Education, technology, safety, infrastructure — that’s our shared daily mission.

10 Years — About Achievements, But Above All, About People

This journey would not have been possible without our companies, partners, team, and government. Every success is a result of collective effort, mutual support, and trust.

We thank our founding companies, AltexSoft, Insart, Promodo, Sloboda Studio, Telesens і Videal, for their courage and belief in the idea. We’re grateful to our Supervisory Board: Olexandr Medovoi, Oleksii Kholodenko, Vasyl Soloshchuk, Oleksandr Kolb, Oleksii Radchenko, Dmytro Yakovlev, Valerit Krasovsky, Eugene Katrich and Ihor Braginsky for strategic leadership.

Thanks to every member and partner for your trust, unity, and unwavering strength.Thanks to the city authorities for a collaboration that’s reshaping Kharkiv.

To mark our 10th anniversary, we’ve prepared a small token of appreciation — exclusive partner discounts in the IT Community app, available from July 9 to 18: Bowling club Magnit, Terra Incognita, Gorgany, IT-Shirts, TEHNOTABLE, CupCult, UkrModa, Englishdom, Intelligent Academy, Клініка «Рідні», IT-Univer, Point Camp, Optima Hotel Group, Sneaker Mate, КТС, Mentoly, GEPUR, VegAmrita.

10 years — just the beginning A new strategy lies ahead. Major partnerships. New global markets. Antifragility works when we stand together. And together, we are stronger.

Rooted in Kharkiv, expanding globally.