Czech Fund Backs Ukrainian Defense Tech Firm Zvook
Czech venture capital firm DEPO Ventures has made the first investment from its new Ukraine Fund in Zvook, a Ukrainian defense technology startup. Zvook builds AI-powered passive acoustic sensors designed to detect aerial targets. The fund, established with Czech national development institutions, also backs startups from Moldova and Georgia and aims to boost regional innovation and skilled employment.
DEPO Ventures disclosed the Zvook deal on Oct. 12 through co-founder Petr Šíma, speaking with Defender Media. The Ukraine Fund itself had been introduced ten days earlier. Besides Ukraine, it targets Moldova and Georgia, with planned allocations of $4.25 million and individual checks reaching $559,000. The fund’s size might rise to $6.5 million if private-capital and deployment conditions are satisfied.
Zvook is also researching hydrophones for underwater acoustic monitoring, with possible uses in maritime security, port and shipping oversight, and protection of undersea infrastructure. Ukraine’s defense technology sector has drawn over $129 million, according to AVentures Capital’s DealBook. DEPO previously backed Ukrainian-founded Masthead Data and Talsec.
This investment may strengthen Ukraine’s defense-tech capacity by helping Zvook scale sensor systems that could improve early warning for communities and infrastructure. It could also create specialized jobs and draw more regional venture funding to Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia. However, the fund’s modest size and undisclosed terms mean its