Technological synergy between Ukrainian business and the State of Georgia: DroneUA organized a side event of the Ukrainian delegation at SelectUSA 2025

DroneUA, as a hub of competence, expertise, and institutional collaboration, continues to establish a sustainable innovation presence in the United States through systematic events, strategic partnerships, and the practical integration of Ukrainian technologies on the global stage. DroneUA became a co-organizer of a unique side event of the Ukrainian delegation within the framework of SelectUSA 2025 — “Select Georgia: Taking Off from the U.S.–Ukraine Tech Launchpad”, which took place on May 11 at Ukraine House in Washington, D.C.

This landmark event opened a new chapter in the history of Ukraine’s presence at the largest investment summit, becoming a logical continuation of the “U.S.–Ukraine Tech Launchpad” initiative held in Atlanta this March. That initiative solidified a strategic development path for partnerships between Ukraine and the United States. For the first time ever, a side event at SelectUSA was initiated by Ukrainian business in partnership with the State of Georgia — marking another decisive step in the consistent development of the Ukrainian tech ecosystem now on U.S. soil.

For the fifth year in a row, Ukraine is taking part in SelectUSA, demonstrating consistent engagement and expertise in the world’s most important technological discussions. Within the framework of the summit, the Ukrainian tech sector is building long-term partnerships, presenting its scaling experience, and reinforcing its presence in the U.S. market — as a powerful player whose expertise is valued even across the ocean.

As a result, the thirteen companies that joined the Ukrainian delegation focused first and foremost on technology — as the driving force behind economic transformation. The Ukrainian representatives made a clear statement of their readiness to invest in U.S. collaboration in the field of innovation, positioning the domestic tech sector at the center of attention for American institutions and partner ecosystems seeking scalable, adaptive, and bold solutions.

In partnership with the State of Georgia and Ukrainian companies, DroneUA took a leading role in organizing, conceptualizing, preparing, and curating the content of the event. Thanks to a strategic focus and the expertise of its specialists, the initiative went beyond discussion — establishing concrete steps aimed at ensuring the long-term presence of Ukrainian technologies in the United States. This vision is grounded in active partnerships, practical case studies, and institutional collaboration.

The event was opened by Oksana Markarova, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the United States. In her speech, she called for active dialogue between government institutions, businesses, and innovation clusters, emphasizing that true partnership is born from joint efforts on projects with practical implementation and shared investment responsibility.

The event continued with a panel discussion titled: “Landing Innovation: Ukrainian Tech’s Next Frontier in Georgia”, moderated by Valerii Iakovenko, co-founder and managing partner of DroneUA and Futurology. Together with Emory Morsberger (Gateway85 CID), Ellen Kraft (State of Georgia Europe Office), Serhiy Kiral (Deputy Mayor of Lviv, Lviv Iron Tech Cluster), and Rodion Borokhovych (ECOFACTOR), the experts explored the phenomenon of Ukrainian companies scaling to the U.S. market. The discussion focused on both the key challenges and the pathways for growth.

A unique opportunity for Ukraine lies in the fact that the State of Georgia — particularly Gwinnett County and the Gateway85 industrial cluster — is showing openness toward Ukrainian tech companies, actively encouraging the creation of manufacturing hubs and R&D locations in the Atlanta metropolitan area. This reflects growing recognition, where Ukrainian technologies are viewed as drivers of global growth, and Ukrainian business is seen as a partner capable of acting swiftly, decisively, and at scale.

Companies such as DroneUA, Futurology, and ECOFACTOR shared their experiences — from participating in SelectUSA 2024 to opening their own offices in the U.S., which involved setting up operational processes and building partnerships on the ground. These success stories served as practical proof that Ukrainian businesses are fully capable of operating and growing on a global scale — adapting to new environments, developing localized strategies, and forging lasting relationships with American partners.

Ukrainian companies are building a sustainable infrastructure of presence in the United States, actively shaping a new logic of interaction between technological ecosystems. They are investing in the launch of real enterprises on U.S. soil — creating jobs, opening production sites, and establishing companies. Alongside this, Ukrainian businesses are ensuring access to cutting-edge technologies, showcasing the country’s potential that has enabled it to become a global player on the international stage. All of this reflects a consistent strategy, underpinned by engineering expertise, entrepreneurial determination, and the ability to operate effectively in complex and competitive environments.

DroneUA extends its sincere thanks to Oksana Markarova (Ambassador of Ukraine to the U.S.), Liz Schaefer (Deputy Executive Director, SelectUSA), Emory Morsberger (Gateway85 CID), Ellen Kraft (State of Georgia Europe Office), Serhiy Kiral (Lviv Iron Tech Cluster), and Rodion Borokhovych (ECOFACTOR) for their valuable insights and collaborative contributions.

The event was organized by DroneUA in partnership with the Gateway85 Community Improvement District, Gwinnett County (GA), the State of Georgia, and with the support of the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine, and the Embassy of Ukraine in the USA.