This trio impresses with their creativity and boldness in striving to make a meaningful contribution to Ukraine’s future.
⭐️ Ivan Zahorulko — is a Ukrainian innovator and hackathon creator. An engineer known for his achievements in technology and robotics, his first startup—a multifunctional bathroom device with smart home features—won 11 awards across six countries. Among his other projects is a concept for delivering emergency medical assistance via drones. Ivan is the visionary behind the Creativity Valley platform, designed to support student ideas. Currently, he leads the scientific and technical laboratory Noosphere Engineering School, where he develops student startups. Ivan also coordinates defense hackathons to support Ukraine’s security.
«I draw inspiration from the real results of my work, which confirm its value to society»,Ivan notes
⭐️ Gordiy Starukh — Gordiyis a musician, luthier, sculptor, and cultural activist who promotes Ukrainian culture by reviving traditional instruments. He blends folk music with electronic elements, and his hurdy-gurdy composition, Dube, has garnered millions of plays. Gordiy collaborates with notable Ukrainian artists such as Onuka, Jerry Heil, and Serhiy Zhadan and contributes to soundtracks, including for the film Dovbush. He is also a cultural ambassador, giving lectures and master classes to popularize the hurdy-gurdy and Ukrainian ethnic instruments on international platforms.
«Success means wanting to take on a new idea, as it shows that the previous one was well received», Gordiy emphasizes.
⭐️ Oleh Malamuzh — is a Ukrainian director, a distinguished artist, and an Honored Cultural Worker. One of his most notable works is the animated film Mavka: The Forest Song. Despite the challenges posed by the war, he is actively developing the Ukrainian animation industry and shares his expertise by teaching 2D animation and directing at the online institute Projector. In 2021, Oleh, together with a team of students, launched an animated short film almanac titled What I Love — a collection of powerful stories about war, people, and values. His goal is to showcase Ukrainian animation on the world stage through festivals and to broaden the horizons of national culture.
«Don’t stop because of setbacks; they’re part of the journey toward achieving your goal»,Oleg comments.
More about the Talents For Ukraine winners
