Kyiv. Ukrainian-American investment group MITS Capital has launched Batch 3 of its MITS Accelerator, bringing together eight Ukrainian defense tech companies in its largest cohort to date. The six-month program, run in partnership with American University Kyiv (AUK), has been substantially upgraded to reflect recent geopolitical and market shifts.

The third cohort focuses on companies developing critical defense components, connectivity and control systems, AI-driven software, advanced weapons, and counter-drone and battlefield automation technologies. The exact batch 3 participant list and product details remain undisclosed for security reasons.

“Over the past year, AI-enabled solutions, counter-drone systems and integrated architectures have become vital to battlefield effectiveness and the long-term scaling of Ukraine’s defense industry,” said Denys Gurak, co-founder and CIO/COO of MITS Capital. “We selected the third batch of companies guided by these trends and direct feedback from the frontline combat units we partner with. We expect the new teams to strengthen MITS Capital’s portfolio.”

MITS Accelerator remains one of the few defense-focused programs in Ukraine that combines structured acceleration with direct investment. Under basic initial conditions, founders who successfully complete the program receive direct investment starting at $100,000. Individual deal terms and the program’s total funding amount are not disclosed.

Upon graduation, MITS Capital’s early-stage VC, MITS Lightning Fund, is positioned to provide follow-on funding and lead investment rounds.

“For our entire team, it was the most exciting challenge since the acceleration program started in 2024,” said Alina Lovchynovska, Managing Partner of MITS Accelerator. The third cohort saw an exceptional number of high-quality applications. A significant share came from mature teams with fully operational products and a precise vision for business expansion. “It reflects how rapidly the Ukrainian defense industry is evolving both in terms of technological complexity and the founders’ ambition to scale globally.”

MITS Accelerator has been established in partnership with its key educational partner, American University Kyiv (AUK). Faculty includes AUK professors, partners, advisors, and the MITS Capital Supervisory Board members. Among them are retired senior military officers, NATO consultants, and top executives of leading Western defense companies. 

“Since the Batch 2 graduation, Ukraine has made significant steps towards the arms export reboot. This, in turn, makes Ukrainian defense manufacturers more attractive to Western institutional capital,” Denys Gurak said. The acceleration program has been significantly upgraded to match this shift. The updated curriculum places greater emphasis on system integration, export readiness, and scaling production under real-world constraints.

Participating teams will undergo intensive training across four core tracks: scaling, international go-to-market strategy, legal and regulatory frameworks, and integration into global defense supply chains. Batch 1 and Batch 2 graduates may join the program as part of the lifetime consulting and mentorship services.

“MITS Capital focuses its investments in the technologies that provide Ukraine’s defenders with an asymmetric advantage on the battlefield,” concludes Perry Boyle, co-founder and CEO at MITS Capital.