October 2, 2025, Kyiv. Ukrainian-American investment group MITS Capital announces an open call for applications to the third cohort of the MITS Accelerator program. The submission deadline is October 15, 2025. This batch will focus on Ukrainian defense tech startups developing disruptive solutions that redefine modern technological warfare.

“MITS Accelerator is not just a training program on the basics of defense innovation. It’s an entry point into a long-term strategic partnership with the ultimate goal of scaling a promising startup into a global company,” said Alina Lovchynovska, MITS Accelerator Managing Partner, who has been leading the project since its launch in 2024.

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

The six-month intensive program is divided into four core tracks:

• Sessions & Workshops – covering business development, company and manufacturing scaling, export strategies, legal frameworks, and specifics of the defense industry in Ukraine and globally.
• Strategic Consulting – individual sessions focused on finding product-market fit, developing local and international go-to-market strategies, and building a strong professional network.
• Ongoing Support – continuous mentoring and consulting.
• Network building – creating a relevant network of contacts in Ukraine and abroad for future growth, including key defense industry players, military divisions, potential investors, advisors, local and foreign partners for scaling, integrations, and contracting.

“We have the threefold mission: to help Ukrainian founders scale battlefield-proven technologies, make their companies investor-ready, and bring them to global markets,” said Denys Gurak, Co-Founder and CIO/COO of MITS Capital.

MITS Accelerator is one of the Ukrainian defense-focused acceleration projects that provides investment during the program. “Participants undergo rigorous due diligence and graduate with a structured company, a ready-to-share investor data room, a clear go-to-market strategy, and a competitive, scalable product,” said Anton Melnyk, Co-Founder and CMO/GR Director of MITS Capital.

Under basic conditions, founders who successfully complete the program receive $200,000: 50% as direct investment and 50% in consulting and mentorship services. Upon graduation, MITS Lightning Fund, MITS Capital’s venture fund, declares readiness to provide follow-on investments and lead funding rounds.

Batch 3 begins in Q4 2025. Eligible teams must have an MVP or be in the final stages of launching one. Startups developing products that significantly impact the ongoing “drone war” will have an advantage.

Priority areas:

• Counter-drone solutions
• Software
• Missiles
• Lasers
• Localized “non-Chinese” critical components
• Other disruptive defense technologies

Application deadline: October 15, 2025. Fill the application form here.

About MITS Capital

Founded in 2024, MITS Capital LLC is a Kyiv- and New York-based investment group focused on funding Ukrainian defense innovations. Its platform includes the MITS Accelerator, MITS Lightning Fund, an investment advisory unit, and MITS LAB Initiative, with a mission to bring global capital into Ukraine’s defense industrial base.

As of October 2025, MITS Capital’s portfolio includes 11 companies. MITS Accelerator has already graduated two cohorts of Ukrainian defense startups, more than 80% of which – including Tencore, Teletactica, and NODRA Dynamics – have secured funding from MITS Capital and other investors.

About American University Kyiv

American University Kyiv (AUK) – a private university, launched in 2022, offering English-language educational programs powered by Arizona State University (ASU). In 2024, AUK was ranked among the Top 5 Ukrainian universities chosen by the most successful applicants.