On 25 April, the start-up TechNovator won the Deep Tech Accelerator programme. Its team is developing next-generation wireless power transfer technology. Sergey Tokarev, investor, founder of Tokarev Foundation, and the driving force behind AI HOUSE, commented on the results of Demo Day.
Why AI HOUSE invests in hardware
Over the course of the four-month acceleration programme, created by AI HOUSE with the support of the Kyiv Aviation Institute and the Ukrainian Startup Fund, nine hardware teams attended lectures by more than 30 speakers, worked with 25 mentors, and took part in Q&A sessions with business founders. In addition, they visited the Esper Bionics production facility and gained access to manufacturing partners.
“Start-ups developing hardware products usually find it harder to raise capital. They face longer cycles, higher risks, and less patient investors. At AI HOUSE, we decided to take a different approach — structured acceleration — so that teams do not waste time trying to find their own way to market,” says the founder of Tokarev Foundation.
What is known about the winner
The winner of the programme was TechNovator, whose team received a $10,000 grant to help scale the project. Its product enables various devices, including medical implants, drones, and robots, to be powered remotely — without cables or overheating.
Ruslana Dovzhik, CEO and co-founder of TechNovator, noted that, unlike traditional solutions, their technology does not require coils or precise positioning. The product powers devices without physical contact and can operate in challenging environments. The start-up’s goal is to develop a new standard for energy transfer that will free people from wires and the need to replace batteries.
Which start-ups took part in the Deep Tech Accelerator
In addition to TechNovator, other start-ups were also recognised in the programme: Watcher AI, an edge AI platform for video surveillance; Snipel Systems, an AI solution for autonomous drone detection and interception; and Tova Industries, a hybrid lighting system that transmits natural light via fibre optics. Each received $150,000 in Microsoft Azure credits.
Other participants in Deep Tech Accelerator included:
- Robol — humanoid robots and AI-powered autonomous coffee shops;
- SeedMe — microclimate control and greenhouse automation;
- Vuzoll — a robot assistant for the service industry with CRM integration;
- UA GREEN — vertical wind turbines for businesses and households with an AI-based predictive maintenance system;
- Ukrainian Laboratory Instruments — a laboratory station for automating chemical processes based on neural networks.
Each participant was awarded $25,000 in AWS credits from the Ukrainian Startup Fund. During the programme, the start-up teams also significantly improved their products, established collaborations with leading industry experts, and gained access to networking opportunities.
“These nine teams are just the first test of Deep Tech Accelerator’s capabilities. The main idea was to prove that Ukrainian hardware engineers can compete globally,” adds Sergey Tokarev.