Turning Venture Capital, Defence Tech — and Vision — into Lasting Impact
An interview with Daria Yaniieva, Investment Director and EIT Red Kalyna Finalist
“The greatest value isn’t money. It’s the ability to build a community that turns ideas into power.”
Daria Yaniieva is one of the women shaping Ukraine’s future.
As Investment Director at Sigma Software Labs — the corporate venture fund of Sigma Software — one of the TOP 100 Global IT Outsourcing companies by IAOP, and Board Member & co-founder of DEFENCE BUILDER, she brings together venture capital, defence tech, and meaningful impact.
That’s why she was selected as a finalist of EIT Red Kalyna, a flagship initiative showcasing Ukrainian women innovators on the global stage.
Laying the Groundwork for the Infrastructure of Tomorrow
“We didn’t start investing because we had extra cash — it was a strategic move,” Daria shares.
Today, their portfolio includes 25 companies and almost USD 3 million invested. But for her, it’s not just about numbers — it’s about transformation: empowering teams, cultivating strategic thinking, and launching solutions that can reshape entire industries.
Venture Capital in Times of War
Following the full-scale invasion, Daria and her team stepped in to help build Ukraine’s private defence tech ecosystem. That’s how DEFENCE BUILDER was born — an accelerator for Ukrainian defence technologies founded in 2024 by Sigma Software Labs, Kyiv School of Economics, and Buntar Aerospace.
The founding team brings over 10 years of experience in venture and tech, with more than $55 million invested in 120+ startups.
“We didn’t choose defence — defence chose us. We saw real needs on the ground and realised our capabilities could make a difference,” she explains.
In just one year, the project has:
- Supported 15 companies
- Built its own investor community
And this is just the beginning.
On Red Kalyna, the EU, and a Community That’s Changing the Narrative
Daria sees Red Kalyna not as an award, but as a platform for connection:
“It’s not about big names — it’s about people who are truly making change.”
Thanks to the EIT Community, Ukrainian women innovators have gained access to new networks, expertise, and programmes.
The European Union is also shifting its innovation policies — new tools like the Union of Skills Strategy and the Startup and Scaleup Initiative are finally focusing not just on grants, but on building inclusive, equal innovation spaces.
Daria is part of this transformation — bringing Ukraine’s voice to the European table and helping shape a sustainable, gender-balanced ecosystem.
“When someone says you can’t — remember that you can do it twice as well. Build your network, believe in yourself, and don’t be afraid to scale.”
– Daria Yaniieva
