Rakuten and Ukraine’s Brave1 Collaborate to Support Ukrainian Startups

Tokyo, Japan and Kyiv, Ukraine, May 20, 2025 - Rakuten Group, Inc. and Brave1, a Ukrainian government institution supporting defense technology innovation, today announced a joint initiative to explore various support for Ukrainian startups, including potential collaboration with the Japanese government and other partners.

As part of this initiative, Rakuten will power Brave1's booth exhibition at DSEI Japan, the country’s only large-scale defense and security trade show, taking place May 21-23, 2025, at Makuhari Messe. The exhibition will feature cutting-edge technologies and products from Ukrainian startups, with Rakuten aiming to assist their entry into the Japanese market.

Rakuten Group's mission is to contribute to society by creating value through innovation and entrepreneurship. Recently, innovation in civilian technology is rapidly transforming the defense landscape worldwide. As a global technology leader founded in Japan, Rakuten is uniquely positioned to connect these civilian advancements with the Japanese defense industry. This collaboration with Brave1 underscores Rakuten's support for Ukraine and its commitment to boosting the country's resilience and prosperity.

At the "Brave1 Powered by Rakuten" booth, attendees will have the opportunity to witness firsthand the advanced technologies and products developed by six Brave1-supported startups. Many have gained extensive practical experience in Ukraine, particularly in areas such as UAVs, MedTech, digital twinning and more.

The booth will showcase innovations from the following Ukrainian startups:

• Dwarf Engineering LLC: Specializes in resilient software and hardware systems for next-generation combat drones.
• FarsightVision LLC: Delivers AI-powered geospatial intelligence for defense and security.
• Griselda: A defense-tech platform delivering real-time situational awareness and rapid response capabilities.
• LifesaverSIM: Transforming gaming into a powerful tool for enabling first responders to learn, practice and retain lifesaving skills.
• Skyfall Industries LLC: The largest UAV (unmanned aircraft vehicle) manufacturer in Ukraine, known for its widely used Vampire and Shrike drones.
• Swarmer: Developer of a software system enabling drones to operate autonomously in large, coordinated teams.

Rakuten has provided consistent support to Ukraine throughout the war and demonstrated a commitment to its people, economy and post-war reconstruction. Rakuten already has a significant presence in Ukraine, with Rakuten Viber boasting a 98% penetration rate. In January 2024, Rakuten announced the establishment of a new office in Kyiv.

Among other actions, Rakuten signed a memorandum of understanding with VEON Ltd. to collaborate on reconstruction of the country’s infrastructure through open radio access networks (Open RAN) and digital services. Additionally, Rakuten launched the Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Emergency Relief Fund through its online donation platform, Rakuten Clutch Special Charity Fund, and held a t-shirt donation drive to support Ukraine that raised more than 1.3 billion yen^*1.

Notes
*1 Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Emergency Relief Fund: Approximately 1.29 billion yen        
Charity T-shirt donation drive for Ukraine: Approximately 51 million yen
Both fundraising events ended June 30, 2022.

About Brave1
Founded in 2023, Brave1 is a defense tech cluster created by the Ukrainian government to support private Ukrainian startups. Brave1 facilitates the development and implementation of cutting-edge defense technologies, connecting innovators with resources, expertise and opportunities to contribute to Ukraine's defense capabilities. Through Brave1, numerous startups have rapidly equipped the Ukrainian military with advanced technologies, demonstrating their effectiveness and superiority on the battlefield. Official site: https://brave1.gov.ua/en/

About Dwarf Engineering LLC
Dwarf Engineering is a Ukrainian miltech company specializing in resilient software and hardware systems for next-generation combat drones. Our flagship solution, Narsil, transforms any manually controlled UAV into a command-based, semi-autonomous platform capable of operating in contested environments.

In modern warfare, electronic warfare (EW) poses a critical threat by disrupting control signals. Narsil addresses this by eliminating the need for constant communication between the operator and the drone. Once deployed, a drone equipped with Narsil can carry out its mission autonomously – from launch to target engagement – even in complete radio silence.

Built to withstand EW and jamming, Narsil provides a decisive tactical advantage across various drone platforms. Official site: https://micro.page/dwarf-engineering

About FarsightVision LLC
Farsight Vision is a Ukrainian startup delivering AI-powered geospatial intelligence for defense and security. Our products – FSV Mapper, FSV Platform and FSV Navigator – turn drone footage into 2D/3D maps even in GNSS-denied environments. These tools offer automatic object and change detection, enabling users to identify anomalies and prioritize targets. Farsight Vision’s solutions are integrated with the majority of Ukrainian and NATO standardized BMS and situational awareness tools.

Additionally, we enable our users to explore terrain in FPV-style 3D, enhancing situational awareness and mission planning for tablet, cell phone and VR glasses users.

Since 2023, our technology has been scaled throughout the Ukrainian defense forces for ISTAR and dual-use purposes, delivering knowledgeable insights into a dynamically changing environment in contested conditions. Official site: https://www.farsightvision.com

About Griselda
Griselda is a Ukrainian defense-tech platform designed to deliver real-time situational awareness and rapid response capabilities in mission-critical environments. Engineered for modern warfare and civil emergencies, it enables units to detect threats, verify intelligence, assess risks and make faster, more informed decisions. From battlefield coordination to humanitarian operations, Griselda’s secure data fusion platform transforms fragmented data into operational insight in real time. Its infrastructure is scalable, modular and proven under real-world field conditions. Official site: https://www.griselda.com.ua/en/home

About LifesaverSIM
LifesaverSIM is an impact-driven startup transforming gaming and technology into a powerful tool for developing real-world critical skills. The company's flagship product is a serious game and training platform that enables first responders to learn, practice and retain lifesaving skills through immersive, game-based simulations. Designed for mobile devices, it delivers scalable, engaging and accessible training anytime, anywhere - with no extra hardware needed. Battle-tested in full-scale conflict, LifesaverSIM now serves as the standard training tool for leading Ukrainian military units, supporting rapid skill acquisition and sustainment without interrupting operational readiness.

LifesaverSIM is built by a cross-disciplinary team with decades of experience in tech and game development, combined with in-house expertise in tactical medicine and emergency response. Core team members include active-duty TCCC instructors and personnel training officers, ensuring the platform is grounded in real-world operational demands. Official site: https://www.lifesaversim.com

About Skyfall Industries LLC
SkyFall is the largest UAV (unmanned aircraft vehicle) manufacturer in Ukraine. Founded in 2022 SkyFall’s drones have already been used in well over a million missions.

SkyFall’s famous Vampire drones have quickly built a strong reputation among the best Ukrainian brigades and military services for their efficiency and versatility. SkyFall’s Shrike FPV drones are recognized as the most widely used FPV drones in the Russo-Ukrainian War, defending the sky from reconnaissance drones and providing tactical support.

Both of SkyFall's UAVs provide significant advantages, offering increased operational efficiency, precision targeting and enhanced battlefield awareness, ultimately contributing to the success of military operations.

Looking ahead, SkyFall aims to further advance its technological capabilities, expand its product range, and innovate new solutions to meet the evolving needs of modern defense, both in Ukraine and internationally.

About Swarmer
Founded in 2023, Swarmer is revolutionizing autonomous UAS operations on the battlefield with a software system that enables drones (and robots) to operate autonomously and work together in large teams. With the team’s background in the world’s leading tech companies, and with boots on the ground in real conflict zones, Swarmer’s mission is to enable individual operators to control hundreds of drones simultaneously – drones of any manufacturer, type, or purpose. Swarmer’s technology allows uncrewed vehicles to be interoperable and work together seamlessly. Learn more at getswarmer.com.

About DSEI Japan 2025
DSEI Japan is a biannual event which serves the international defense community in accessing the increasingly pertinent Indo-Pacific region. The main purpose of DSEI Japan is to connect the global defense and security sector with the entire Japanese and wider Asian Defense community. Throughout the event, everyone will have the opportunity to attend various conferences and seminars, network with key industry professionals and witness the latest innovations and products in the current defense market.