Ukrainian Accelerator Aims to Align Arms Makers with NATO Standards Amid Rising Demand
Ukrainian arms manufacturers are working to meet NATO standards to expand their export and coproduction opportunities in Western markets. This effort is being facilitated by Defence Builder, a Kyiv-based accelerator, which is helping local startups align with NATO certification requirements. The initiative comes as Ukraine's defense industry has grown significantly since Russia's full-scale invasion, with a focus on drones and other uncrewed systems. The accelerator program, launched in 2024, aims to prepare Ukrainian companies for investment and integration into the defense market, both domestically and internationally. The program has already supported 15 startups, with plans to increase this number to 24 by June.