This week, Russia declared war on its neighbor Ukraine after many political and military skirmishes, affecting the lives of tens of millions of civilians in Ukraine, as well as thousands of companies, including a group of start-ups developing apps that millions around the world rely on.
Over the past years, many startup companies in Ukraine have achieved global success, not only European-wise, through many services, applications, and products. Here is a list of the top Ukrainian startups/ apps:
1. Grammarly
Founded in Ukraine by Max Litvin, Alex Shevchenko, and Dmytro Leader in 2009, the start-up provides a language correction service and tool. It’s one of the most popular tools journalists, and content writers rely on to ensure better language-error-free writing.
You can use Grammarly on the web, Windows app, or integrate with document editing applications such as Microsoft Word and Google Docs. Any writer can rely on Grammarly before posting on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and others.
Grammarly is one of the most famous Ukrainian startups that provide a service that has achieved great success worldwide.
The company employs more than 500 employees, and it also has offices in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, New York, Vancouver, Canada, and San Francisco.
The startup’s value reached more than 1 $1 billion in 2019, and at the end of 2021, it secured $200 million in new funding at a valuation of $13 billion.
Grammarly expressed on its official Twitter account the solidarity with the Ukrainian people who are now facing Russian occupation, saying: “To the staff, family and people of Ukraine, stay strong, we hold on and stand with you proudly.”
2. Reface app
The Reface application, which relies on AI techniques, allows users to replace faces within images, GIFs, and videos.
Founded in 2018 by Den Dmitrenko, Dima Shvets, Ivan Altsybieiev, Kyrylo Syhyda, Oles Petriv, Roman Mogylnyi, Yaroslav Boiko, Reface is a leader in applying AI/ML technologies for personalized content creation.
The application has achieved great popularity during the past two years during the pandemic outbreak. The number of downloads of Reface app exceeded many of the most popular apps like Tik Tok.
The application is available for free download on Android users through Google Play and iPhone users through Apple App Store.
For example, the user only has to take a picture of the face or set the face in any image and then replace it with an actor’s face! The app has the ability to create comic cartoons, as well as the ability to replace the voice or move an image so that it pronounces a text.
Reface achieved more than 150 million installs, including 100 million within one year. It also topped the list of the most popular applications on the App Store. Moreover, Google chose it among the best applications on Google Play Store in 2020.
The developing company of Reface asked the users of the application for support as it said that the world needs to know what is happening in central Europe. That was after a tweet through its official account on Twitter saying that its team woke up Thursday morning, February 24, 2022, on a series of explosions after Russia launched a large-scale invasion attacking several cities across Ukraine.
3. CleanMyMac X App for Mac
The startup was developed by the Ukrainian company MacPaw, headquartered in Kyiv – Ukraine. It’s one of the most popular Mac users, which allows users to get rid of malware with a button click.
The same company also developed another set of applications for Mac and iPhones, including Clear VPN and Wallpaper Wizard 2, and Gemini Photos to eliminate duplicate photos.
The Ukrainian company said that it has a contingency plan to ensure no disruptions to MacPaw’s operations, development, or customer service.
4. Effa Corp.
Founded in 2018 and registered in Delaware in the USA, the startup develops green products. Effa produces disposable eco-friendly products for everyday use.
Effa has created its first products: Effa Toothbrush and Effa Razor, both are 100% recyclable and renewable. As well as paper soap and paper q-tips.
The construction of both Toothbrush and Razor allows detaching the recyclable parts after being used and recycling them separately.
5. Preply App
Founded in 2012 by Ukrainian entrepreneurs Kirill Bigai, Dmytro Voloshyn, and Serge Lukyanov, Preply is a language-learning app and e-learning platform that allows users to communicate with specialized tutors of different languages.
In September 2021, the app received $50.6 million of investments in a total of 8 funding rounds.
6. Esper Bionics
Founded in 2019 by Anna Believantseva Dmytro Gazda, Esper Bionics provides AI-based orthopedic prosthetics and neurology products. The company’s products include a bionic self-learning hand prosthesis and a wearable brain-computer interface.
The startup also offers a cloud-based software solution that individualizes the control of wearables. It has applications in mechatronics, wearable electronics, and natural implants.
7. Readdle
Founded in 2007, Readdle is a tech startup with over 200 employees. The Ukraine team members are based out of Odesa and Kyiv and have been developing world-class productivity apps used by millions globally for over ten years.
Readdle is the developer of PDF Expert, Spark email, Documents, Scanner Pro, Calendars, Fluix productivity apps.
Spark is an email application for iOS, macOS, and Android devices by Readdle.
On April 2, 2019, Readdle released Spark for Android, the company’s first mobile application for the Android platform.
Readdle assures its customers that its product services remain unaffected by the Russian military invasion of Ukraine.
8. Snovio
Founded in 2017 by Oleksii Kratko, Snovio offers email lookup solutions to marketers and businesses. Allows marketers to generate a list of email addresses from domain names, find the email address on LinkedIn, verify email addresses, and view detailed company profiles.
Snovio offers a Chrome Extension to make it easy for the users to find leads for building email campaigns.
9. Ajax Systems
Founded in 2011 by Aleksandr Konotopskyi, Ajax Systems is a tech startup that manufactures smart security systems and sensors for homes. It offers wireless window and door opening sensors and movement sensors.
The startup is entering the Argentina market. The company plans to enhance its influence in the region and build a local team.
The founder of Ajax Systems, Aleksandr Konotopskyi, is recognized as the entrepreneur of the year 2021 by Forbes Ukraine.
Many Ukrainian entrepreneurs have contributed to launching and settling significant startups offering critical applications and services that are now indispensable, such as Jan Keum, co-founder of WhatsApp, and Max Livchin, who co-founded PayPal.
