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RIGA, Latvia — As the sun set over the Baltic Sea during the final days of March 2026, the energy at Hanzas Perons remained electric. For the European tech ecosystem, TechChill 2026 (March 25-27) was a celebration of innovation; for the Ukrainian delegation, it was a masterclass in resilience and global ambition.
Under the banner "Built in Ukraine" a 20-startup delegation arrived in Riga, organized by Techosystem in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia and LATDEV. The presence of these founders — some of whom spent years building amidst the backdrop of war — served as a powerful reminder that Ukrainian tech is no longer just a "support story"; it is a competitive global force.

A Strategic Gateway to Europe

The delegation was a mix of seasoned players and rising stars. Fifteen startups were selected from the TechChill Kyiv program, while five prominent Techosystem members — pleso therapy, LifesaverSIM, Getpin, BannerBoo, and Salesdep.ai — joined to solidify the bridge between Kyiv and the Baltic states.The strategic choice of Riga was no accident.
Oleksandr Bondariev, CEO of Pleso Therapy, noted the region's unique advantages: "Visiting TechChill conference combines unique access to the local ecosystem, as well as truly to the Pan-European network of investors and fellow startups. For Pleso Therapy, it has also been a great opportunity to invite our globally based team to Riga, for a strategic session, with extensive meetings with representatives of local companies to expand our cooperation. To further develop local and Ukrainian cooperation, we have also supported TechChill by co-sponsoring the official afterparty event, together with Latvian AdsMom and Ukrainian BUKI and Vchasno Group."
Dmytro Suslov, CEO of Uspacy, returning for the third time, observed the event's evolution: "The formats and the audience change from year to year, but every time we immerse ourselves in an incredible and friendly atmosphere that participants truly remember. This time, we were part of the Ukrainian delegation and worked at the booth on the second day after lunch. Honestly, we didn’t expect much visitor activity at that time. But we were pleasantly surprised. In just a few hours, we gained 2 potential customers and 3 potential partners, which is quite a good result for an event like this. We are very satisfied with our participation and are already planning follow-up meetings based on the connections we made in Riga".

Validation on a Global Stage

For many founders, the value of TechChill lay in its ability to provide immediate market validation.
Nikoletta Furdela, Co-Founder & COO of ANNA, emphasized this global perspective: "At ANNA, we’re creating a platform for self-employed beauty professionals, and events like this give us direct access to founders, partners, and investors who truly understand the scale of the problem. Mentor Madness was especially valuable – we received practical insights on expansion, positioning, and new markets. Most importantly, these conversations confirmed one thing: the problem is global, and the demand is real".
Similarly, Olena Kleiner of Salesdep.ai reported significant traction: "During Mentor Madness, we received valuable advice on how to increase the visibility of our startup. We spoke with 20+ investors and identified up to 10 potential clients to continue conversations with. We also tested feedback from the Baltic market and saw a positive response — confirming this region as a viable direction for us.".

Mentorship and the "TechChill Magic"

The hallmark of the event was Mentor Madness, a high-intensity session where founders received direct feedback from industry titans.
Ihor from M1-project remarked: "The strength of such conferences is the opportunity to directly engage with people who are unreachable online (top investors, businessmen). At Mentor Madness, there were so many practical recommendations and solutions that I didn't have enough time to take notes."
Andrii Kolpakov, CEO of Generect, preferred the intimacy of Riga over larger hubs: "We've been to Latitude, TechBBQ, WebSummit, but TechChill stands out because it's small, compact, and niche. You actually get 30-minute conversations, not 30-second elevator pitches... we walked away with a few strong interests and a clear signal that what we're building is what the market needs right now.Mentor Madness was a highlight, we got mentored on PR by Mauro and Anna - Saint Javelin's ops manager. Both sessions turned into real connections we still keep in touch with. The investor meetings were strong too, we walked away with a few strong interests and a clear signal that what we're building is what the market needs right now. B2B data infrastructure for agentic space is growing fast, and TechChill is the kind of event where you feel that momentum firsthand."

The mentorship also led to game-changing partnerships. Valeria Chobotok of human shared: "human secured an amazing advisor - one of the fist people working at BeReal which is fundamental for us as we are creating the next human operating system".
Yuliia Tychynska from Tayra also noted, "We had meetings with mentors and built a clear vision for our go-to-market strategy in international markets. We also met with investment funds that specialize in healthcare projects and have already aligned on potential future partnerships. Additionally, we connected with a company developing a similar solution to ours, and we see strong potential for collaboration there as well."

High-Level Recognition

The delegation’s booth became a focal point for international dignitaries, including a visit from Ekaterina Zaharieva, the European Commission’s Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation.
This high-level visibility was mirrored by successes on the stage; Serge Lavrinchuk, Founder & CEO of Wild.Codes, celebrated a double victory: "Mentorship Madness was a standout. Got matched with the incredible Marina Petrakova - the kind of conversation that shifts your thinking. On the how REALLY investors think. Thank you for organizing this for the Ukrainian delegation! Honored to pitch Wild.Codes on the big Founder Stage - and thrilled we made it to the Top 20 startups."

The Human Element: Innovation and "Shum"

Beyond the business metrics, the "chill" in TechChill provided the camaraderie necessary for long-term growth. Katerina Nadtochii, Co-founder of ReVet, pointed out: "TechChill is an incredible place for startup entrepreneurs. What stands out is its genuine focus on success stories, which creates a truly vibrant and inspiring environment. The networking space at TechChill is also exceptionally well organized, allowing you to easily connect with the right people. I significantly expanded my international business network. As for the “chill” part — the event is well known for its legendary karaoke. Definitely worth mentioning. Create, build, and grow with TechChill. What stands out is its genuine focus on success stories, which creates a truly vibrant and inspiring environment... As for the “chill” part — the event is well known for its legendary karaoke. Definitely worth mentioning".
Serge Lavrinchuk added a final note on the delegation's spirit: "And then there was the karaoke party. Guys. This was not your typical conference afterparty. They had a real stage, real mic setup - anyone could jump up and sing like a pro. Absolutely wild! With Ukrainian team we sang 'Shum' by Go A (Eurovision '21) - but I'll never share it here :)".

Gratitude and Growth: Building a Permanent Bridge

The success of the Ukrainian delegation was not a solitary achievement; it was the result of a meticulously choreographed partnership between the TechChill team and Techosystem. The hospitality extended by the city of Riga and the precision with which the TechChill team, led by Director Annija Mežgaile, curated the environment allowed our founders to focus entirely on what they do best: innovating. Every handshake at the "Built in Ukraine" booth and every pitch under the Hanzas Perons lights was made possible by an organization that truly understands the strategic value of the Ukrainian tech talent pool.

As we look toward to our future projects, the "Built in Ukraine" banner is no longer just a sign of resilience — it is a mark of high-tier European quality. We return to Kyiv not just with full calendars, but with the certainty that the Baltic ecosystem is a second home for Ukrainian tech.

Built in Ukraine. Presented to Europe. Scaled with TechChill.