The IT Arena Startup Competition 2025 announced a record $12.5 million investment fund and revealed investments in three Ukrainian startups: Ovul, HEFT, and StackBob, which combine artificial intelligence with solutions for pressing challenges in women's health, agrotechnology, and corporate security.
The IT Arena Startup Competition, Ukraine’s largest tech event, was held last week in Lviv. The grand finale took place on September 27 at Arena Lviv, with over 6,000 participants from 30 countries. The event was organized by IT Arena, Brave1, and USF.
A total of $30,000 in prize money was awarded to the 3 startups:
Ovul — $15,000
Ovul is a Ukrainian startup developing a hormone tracker for women that analyzes saliva to determine estrogen levels and fertility. The device works by applying a drop of saliva, which dries and is scanned by a built-in digital microscope. AI then analyzes crystallization patterns to pinpoint ovulation, track cycle phases, and provide personalized health and lifestyle recommendations.
HEFT — $10,000
HEFT develops a cow health and fertility monitoring system for dairy farms. It uses accelerometers to track cows’ activity and detect heat periods for insemination, measures stomach acidity, and applies AI to predict potential health issues, helping farmers improve herd health and productivity.
StackBob — $5,000
StackBob is an AI-based platform for employee identity and access management. It automates onboarding and offboarding, manages passwords and software licenses, and streamlines access control, helping companies enhance security and reduce administrative workload.
