Seeds of Bravery Makes Impact at Nexus Luxembourg: More Than Grants, Impactful European Connections

Luxembourg, June 2025 – Once a niche, relatively small event, the Nexus conference has evolved into a European dynamic platform for startup internationalisation. As the Seeds of Bravery initiative (funded by the European Union under the European Innovation Council) continues to support Ukrainian tech sector since 2023 amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, its second presence at Nexus Luxembourg underscored a clear message: this effort is not just about funding – it’s about building connections, increasing visibility, and delivering real results.

This year, over 10 Ukrainian startups joined the Nexus global tech fair through Seeds of Bravery’s Tech Tickets programme, receiving full access to exhibition space, top-tier panels, and matchmaking with European ecosystem leaders. But the 2025 edition marked a turning point: for the first time, partners from across the Europe-wide consortium were present – and helped elevate Ukraine’s participation to a strategic, ecosystem-level dialogue. This was done as part of the Pan-European Integration (EU-UA Gateway) work-package, coordinated by Luxinnovation within Seeds of Bravery. 

From Booths to Boardrooms: A Strategic Presence

Nexus Luxembourg 2025 attracted 8,500+ participants, including 300+ startups, 527 speakers, and high-level investors from 57 countries. The Ukrainian delegation, coordinated by the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, Ukrainian Startup Fund, Luxinnovation, and the Luxembourg–Ukraine Chamber of Commerce, wasn’t just visible –  it was integrated.

Three official side events brought substance to the show-floor buzz:

• Panel Discussion: From Ecosystems to Impact: How Europe Powers Innovation
• Pan-European Matchmaking: With 70+ participants grouped into rotating discussions
• Networking Walking Lunch: Creating real peer-to-peer interaction across nationalities

Panel Discussion: From Ecosystems to Impact: How Europe Powers Innovation

One of the flagship moments of the Ukrainian delegation’s presence at Nexus Luxembourg 2025 was the expert panel “From Ecosystems to Impact: How Europe Powers Innovation.” Moderated by Inna Perepelytsya (Luxinnovation), the session brought together leading voices from the Seeds of Bravery consortium — including representatives from FundingBox, Ukrainian Startup Fund, YEP Accelerator, EIT Community, Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship, and the University of Luxembourg Incubator.

Initiated as part of Broadening the EU-UA Gateway task within Seeds of Bravery which focuses on identifying, engaging and maintaining a pan-European network, the discussion focused on practical collaboration models, the mechanics of EU-funded success stories, and what it truly takes to turn ecosystem partnerships into startup results. Speakers shared case studies of Ukrainian startups benefiting from European programmes and called for more ambitious cross-border cooperation beyond funding — through shared infrastructure, trust-based relationships, and joint programming.

“It’s not just about being present –  it’s about creating something meaningful together. That’s exactly what the Seeds of Bravery is all about.” Olha Stoliarchuk FBA.

“The matchmaking and networking event exceeded our expectations. We applied a data-driven approach to optimise unique interactions between 70+ the EU-UA startups, ecosystem stakeholders, and investors — and it worked. The feedback was positive, with many calling it one of the standout activities of the entire event.” Mathilde Hamper, Luxinnovation.

In addition, the June 16th pre-event gave international guests direct access to Luxembourg’s innovation infrastructure — from incubators and tech hubs to investment actors.

“This is more than conference tourism,” Dr. Henrik Keinonen, AALTO. “These events embed startups in real conversations — with potential collaborators, mentors, and customers.”

“It was a fantastic opportunity for international guests visiting Luxembourg for the first time to discover our innovation ecosystem in person and connect with key players. For us, as the welcoming organisation for the Ukrainian delegation, the pre-event offered a valuable moment to meet, align expectations, and prepare for a highly productive two days at Nexus.” – Olena Malchyk, Luxinnovation

Beyond the Stage: Showcasing Ukrainian Innovation

The 10 startups – SoftTrainer, Progalit, HIDEEZ, ECOFACTOR CHARGE, VITA325, MANTIS ANALYTICS, S.Lab, Sensorama Lab, GetMyLook, Intelswift – covered key verticals like AI, cybersecurity, sustainability and healthtech. Their booth presence generated interest not just from investors, but from fellow founders, R&D institutions, and accelerators from around the world.

It’s a strong signal of how Ukrainian tech is becoming a strategic part of Europe’s innovation future.

Ukrainian Startups Pitching at Demo Arena

Throughout the two-day Nexus event, the demo pitching stage gave all 10 Ukrainian startups a platform to pitch directly to international investors and ecosystem players. The exposure significantly boosted visibility and initiated real business conversations.

Julia from S.Lab shared: “After my pitch, a representative from the Luxembourg Business Angel Network (LBAN) approached me — we’re now exploring a follow-up meeting to discuss our growth plans in the EU.”

Vita325, is a phone-based diagnostic and rehab solution for people with movement disorders. “We received strong interest from both investors and European health-focused accelerators. It was a real validation of our solution — and our market fit beyond Ukraine,” said Yulia Koinak.

These interactions show that the Seeds of Bravery approach — combining funding with hands-on exposure — is helping to interconnect Ukrainian startups and SMEs with key innovation stakeholders across Europe.

With almost €12 million in grants awarded to 200+ Ukrainian startups, the project’s next phase focuses on visibility, growth, and ecosystem embedding. Nexus Luxembourg is a blueprint for what that looks like in practice.

“Funding matters. But so do the supporting services – from matchmaking and trade shows to workshops and one-on-one mentoring provided by our diverse partners across 12 countries. Seeds of Bravery bring both – and that’s where the real value is,” said Inna Perepelytsya, Luxinnovation.

Looking Ahead

Interested in pan-European integration and connecting with key ecosystem players across the continent? Explore our interactive Power BI map of the innovation landscape here: https://seedsofbravery.eu/innovation-ecosystem/

More opportunities are coming. Tech Tickets will support Ukrainian startups at major European events this autumn and into 2026. Delegations are being planned — and calls will be announced soon.

👉 To stay informed, follow Seeds of Bravery on LinkedIn and subscribe to our newsletter.

About Seeds of Bravery
Funded by the European Union, Seeds of Bravery is a coordinated initiative to strengthen the Ukrainian tech and innovation ecosystem through financial grants, training, and pan-European ecosystem integration. The project is implemented by a consortium of leading European accelerators, funds, and ecosystem builders.