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Ukraine’s Brave1 Launches World’s First Combat Tech Marketplace, Directly Linking Soldiers and Manufacturers

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Ukraine’s Brave1 Launches World’s First Combat Tech Marketplace, Directly Linking Soldiers and Manufacturers
Ukrainian military member of the unmanned systems unit of the 148th Separate Artillery Brigade with the call sign Baba launches the RQ-20 Puma UAV on Pokrovsk direction on June 17, 2024, in Donetsk region, Ukraine. (Source: Getty Images)

Ukraine’s defense initiative, Brave1 , has launched the country’s first large-scale military technology marketplace, aiming to centralize access to advanced products for soldiers and accelerate the adoption of critical battlefield innovations.

Yuliia Myrna, project manager of Brave1 Market, explained that the platform is a natural continuation of Brave1’s work supporting Ukrainian defense manufacturers.

“In the first year, Brave1 focused on building a base of Ukrainian producers. In the second year, we actively helped them meet qualification requirements and provided support through demo days for product testing,” Myrna said.

Yuliia Myrna, project manager of Brave1 Market, explains the online platform features during Brave1 Defense Tech Era event, April 26, 2025. (Source: UNITED24 Media)
Yuliia Myrna, project manager of Brave1 Market, explains the online platform features during Brave1 Defense Tech Era event, April 26, 2025. (Source: UNITED24 Media)

The creation of Brave Market addresses a growing challenge: despite the abundance of new technologies, many military units and developers remain unaware of available products. The marketplace acts as a centralized hub where soldiers can quickly find solutions to their needs. It currently features over 1,000 products across seven categories, ranging from drones to specialized components, ensuring that soldiers can not only find new systems but also secure spare parts or alternative solutions when needed.

Although still in its minimum viable product (MVP) phase, Brave1 Market already hosts a mix of codified  and non-codified products, allowing soldiers to access effective tools without waiting for full certification processes to conclude.

Brave1 launched Ukraine’s first large-scale military technology marketplace, aiming to centralize access to advanced products for soldiers and accelerate the adoption of critical battlefield innovations. (Source: market.brave1.gov.ua)
Brave1 launched Ukraine’s first large-scale military technology marketplace, aiming to centralize access to advanced products for soldiers and accelerate the adoption of critical battlefield innovations. (Source: market.brave1.gov.ua)

“Some equipment proves its efficiency directly at the front, even before completing formal modification,” Myrna noted.

Plans for the platform are expansive. Soon, it will feature verified feedback systems where only military personnel can review and rate products, ensuring authenticity and operational security. A personal cabinet system for both soldiers and manufacturers is also in development, further streamlining communication and feedback loops.

Myrna emphasized that Brave1 is pioneering on the international stage. “We are told this is the first such project globally,” she said, adding that Brave1 plans to expand the platform internationally in the coming year.

Future versions of the marketplace will allow military units to browse and submit direct requests for commercial proposals from manufacturers, speeding up procurement processes. The platform will also serve as a verified fundraising tool, ensuring that when units post calls for donations, citizens can trust the legitimacy of the campaigns.

Brave1 Market will integrate Ukraine’s new “combat points” program as well. Units earn points by verifying confirmed target destructions through moderated video evidence. These points can be redeemed for equipment on the marketplace, with prices displayed in both hryvnias and points.

Beyond immediate military needs, Brave1 plans to open the platform to civilians, investors, and broader industry sectors. Future features will allow investors to connect with manufacturers seeking funding for new innovations, extending the impact of Ukraine’s wartime technological acceleration into peacetime markets.

Brave1 launched Ukraine’s first large-scale military technology marketplace, aiming to centralize access to advanced products for soldiers and accelerate the adoption of critical battlefield innovations. (Source: market.brave1.gov.ua)
Brave1 launched Ukraine’s first large-scale military technology marketplace, aiming to centralize access to advanced products for soldiers and accelerate the adoption of critical battlefield innovations. (Source: market.brave1.gov.ua)

As Brave1 looks ahead, international expansion is a key goal. Once Ukraine secures victory, the platform plans to help domestic manufacturers enter global markets, offering a catalog of battle-proven technologies to international buyers and investors. “The war, despite its horrors, has stimulated technological development,” Myrna said. “We want our manufacturers to have access to foreign markets and to continue growing in times of peace.”

The team is currently preparing to add new language versions of the platform to support this ambition and strengthen international partnerships.

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Brave1 is a united coordinational platform created by the Government of Ukraine to promote collaboration between all stakeholders of the defense tech industry by providing them with organizational, informational, and financial support for defense tech projects in Ukraine

In military terms, codification of weapons and military equipment means officially registering, classifying, and assigning standardized identification numbers to weapons, gear, and other military supplies so that they are recognized within national and often international logistics and procurement systems.