The Ministry of Defence has announced the winners of the ‘Machine Offensive 2.0’ hackathon: 12 teams will share a $150,000 prize pool from partners

A major tech-focused hackathon, named ‘Machine Offensive 2.0,’ was organized by the Ministry of Defence. The event brought together more than 50 teams of Ukrainian and international engineers and developers who showcased innovative solutions for the country’s defense.

The hackathon focused on two crucial strategic challenges for the Defence Forces: countering guided bombs, which are difficult to intercept with existing air defense systems, and countering drones with fiber-optic control that are resistant to electronic warfare systems. 

Participants spent three weeks in the first stage working online on challenges, with support from mentors who are skilled professionals from the Defence Forces. In the final round, held on December 7-8, teams presented their developments to the jury offline.

The 12 winning teams will receive development grants totaling $150,000 from the hackathon's partners. The teams will also receive backing from the Ministry of Defence for the rapid testing and deployment of their solutions.

“Our hackathon has emerged as a unique platform, bringing together the exceptional minds of Ukraine and our international partners. It is through this synergy that breakthrough ideas emerge, aimed at achieving technological superiority, countering the enemy, and safeguarding the lives of our military and civilians. The Ministry of Defence will ensure that the most interesting solutions from ‘Machine Offensive 2.0’ quickly prove their effectiveness on the battlefield and bolster our Armed Forces,” commented Kateryna Chernohorenko, Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine for Digital Development, Digital Transformation, and Digitalization.

The jury recognized some of the top developments presented by teams like FENEK, ARES, GAV, Night Watch, Frontline, ‘Technari’ Design Bureau, Motorhouse, Quadrotura, and others. The prize pool for the teams was provided by sponsors such as the tech company Tekever, the tech company MyDefence, the online ride-hailing company Uklon, the Nezlamni Foundation, the D3 Investment Fund, the European Defense Tech Hub, and the Defense Alliance of Ukraine.

“With this hackathon, the Ministry of Defence is undertaking an important initiative. When military, government, and business expertise come together, the Ukrainian defense industry rapidly grows. Development grants are only the first step on this path. Future success hinges on the growth of teams, attracting investments, effective testing, and scaling solutions capable of significantly strengthening the Defence Forces of Ukraine,” noted Kateryna Bezsudna, co-founder and CEO of the Defence Builder defense accelerator.