This year, the DOMOVA team participated in Web Summit 2024, one of the largest technology events in the world, bringing together thousands of startups, investors, and industry leaders from across the globe in Lisbon. Web Summit has long been a space where cutting-edge ideas come to life, offering tech companies a platform to present their solutions to global challenges. For DOMOVA, this was a valuable opportunity to showcase an innovative platform that unites property owners, investors, and construction companies to collaboratively renovate and restore outdated housing stock.
Why is DOMOVA essential for the real estate market?
DOMOVA is the only platform that allows owners of old or unsafe buildings to join forces and collectively sell the entire property to investors or developers. Our platform addresses several critical challenges:
- helping property owners secure better financial terms for collective sales;
- providing a transparent and secure mechanism for investors;
- supporting construction companies in creating modern developments on the sites of outdated buildings.
DOMOVA makes the housing renovation process more accessible, transparent, and profitable for all market participants. Today, over 7,000 outdated and unsafe buildings in Ukraine are mapped on the DOMOVA platform and are ready for consideration by investors interested in housing stock renewal.
DOMOVA as an Alpha Startup at Web Summit 2024
DOMOVA earned Alpha Startup status, enabling us to present our platform at a dedicated stand among other innovative projects in early development stages but with high scalability potential. This special recognition by Web Summit opens new opportunities for DOMOVA: we connected with potential partners, engaged with startup associations from European countries, attracted investor interest, and discussed strategies for cooperation in both Ukrainian and European markets.
Meetings and New Opportunities
At Web Summit 2024, we not only presented DOMOVA but also actively sought new partners and investors ready to support housing stock renovation.
DOMOVA continues to grow, and we invite everyone who shares our vision for the future to join the conversation: transparent, secure, and profitable investments that make cities more modern and safer to live in. Our goal is to turn DOMOVA into a powerful tool for transforming old housing stock into modern, livable spaces that benefit both investors and local communities.
With DOMOVA, real estate investments are not just about profit—they’re a contribution to city renewal and improving quality of life.
From September 16 to 20, 2024, one of the most anticipated business events of the year took place in Moldova’s capital, Chișinău — Moldova Business Week. Every year, this event brings together representatives of international business, investors, government officials, and industry experts. The organizers — Invest Moldova Agency and the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization — worked hard to create a platform for discussing important issues and finding new paths for cooperation.
Why is Moldova Business Week important for Business?
MBW is more than just a conference; it’s an opportunity for participants to find new partners, learn more about Moldova’s investment potential, and explore new markets. This year’s key topics included digitalization, infrastructure development, agriculture, and energy. A significant point of interest was the discussion on reconstructing war-torn regions, particularly Ukraine, which opens new business opportunities across the region.
In his opening speech, Moldova’s Prime Minister Dorin Recean emphasized that the country aims to become a bridge between the European Union and Ukraine in the context of post-war reconstruction. This ambition makes Moldova attractive to international investors and entrepreneurs looking for growth opportunities in the region.
International cooperation and networking opportunities
One of the main benefits of Moldova Business Week, like every event of this scale, is the unique opportunity for networking. Participants had the chance to meet with government representatives, major international companies, investors, and local entrepreneurs. A key focus was placed on digitalization: currently, more than 80% of business processes in Moldova are conducted online, making the country a leader in this area in the region.
This year, numerous foreign delegations participated in the event, further opening the door for closer cooperation between Moldovan businesses and the global market. Government and business representatives actively shared information on investment projects in the country, offering new opportunities for development to the guests.
DOMOVA at Moldova Business Week
Among the participants of MBW 2024 was our team. In Moldova, where the issue of modernizing old housing is also relevant, we saw potential for developing our platform in this market.
Stanislav Soloshenko, DOMOVA’s Product Manager, had the opportunity to meet with Moldova’s Minister of Economic Development and Digitalization, Dumitru Alaiba. Their discussion focused on potential digital solutions for the real estate sector and collaboration opportunities through e-Park — Europe’s first electronic park supporting businesses.
Impressions and future plans
It was a great platform for exchanging ideas and building new contacts. For us, participation in the event was a valuable experience, as the team had the opportunity not only to present our platform but also to receive feedback from participants and get a closer look at the Moldovan market.
After the forum, we plan to continue exploring opportunities for cooperation and adapting our solutions to the Moldovan market. This is just the beginning, and more concrete steps toward development will follow, which we’ll be able to discuss publicly.
On September 13, 2024, the DOMOVA team had the wonderful opportunity to participate in the Made in Odesa Fest, which took place within the framework of the Odesa Economic Revival Forum. This was not just a business festival, but a true symbol of the resilience and revival of the city, which, despite the challenges of war, continues to live and thrive.
The event gathered more than 650 participants and became a platform for dialogue between businesses, the city, and its residents. One of the key missions of the festival was to raise funds to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and over 226,000 UAH were collected during the event.
The festival featured 42 companies, among which the DOMOVA team presented its innovative platform for the joint sale of outdated buildings. Our booth attracted the attention of business representatives, developers, and investors interested in restoring residential districts of Odesa.
Made in Odesa Fest was an excellent platform for meeting potential clients and partners. In addition to booths and presentations, the event also featured a charity auction, with all proceeds directed to support Ukrainian military forces. Festival participants included representatives from various businesses who showcased their products and services, and the event program was filled with interactive activities, prize draws, and performances by renowned artists.
The headliner of the festival was the ambassador of the Ukrainian bandura, Marina Krut (KRUT), who enriched the atmosphere of the event with her music.
For DOMOVA, participation in Made in Odesa Fest became another event that opened new opportunities for collaboration and development. This festival demonstrated that even in difficult times, there are opportunities for recovery and growth. We are pleased to have been part of this process and are confident that through joint efforts, we will bring about the reconstruction not only of Odesa but of other Ukrainian cities as well.
On September 12-13, 2024, the main economic event of the year — the Odesa Economic Revival Forum — took place in Odesa. The forum gathered diplomats, government representatives, local authorities, politicians, entrepreneurs, and public figures to discuss the strategy for the city’s economic recovery during wartime.
Opening the event, Odesa Mayor Gennadiy Trukhanov emphasized that the main goal is to showcase Odesa’s investment appeal, which continues to develop even during the war. “We see Odesa’s revival as a powerful cultural, economic, scientific, and tourist center of Ukraine — with developed infrastructure, high social and environmental standards, and quality of life,” he stated.
In his speech, Japanese Ambassador to Ukraine Kuninori Matsuda stressed Japan’s readiness to continue its comprehensive support of the city: “We believe that the recovery of Odesa and the region will be key to Ukraine’s long-term recovery.” He highlighted that the Japanese side is actively collaborating with Ukrainian partners on infrastructure and cultural heritage projects, which are crucial elements of the city’s long-term support.
In particular, Japan is already involved in funding projects related to the reconstruction of Odesa and providing technical and humanitarian assistance. This international support is crucial for the successful implementation of the city’s recovery strategy, which was actively discussed at the forum.
For the DOMOVA team, the forum offered valuable opportunities to network and engage in meaningful discussions on key economic topics, such as attracting investors and addressing housing reconstruction. These exchanges will support the growth of our platform and contribute to Odesa’s ongoing recovery.
Barrier-free and inclusive recovery of the country
On May 15-16, 2024, the second UKRAINIAN CONSTRUCTION CONGRESS took place in Kyiv, focusing on the restoration of Ukraine with the requirements of barrier-free and inclusive design. This event brought together representatives from the government, business, and public organizations to discuss pressing issues in the country’s recovery.
Among the participants and partners of the congress was the DOMOVA team with Oleksandr Sarzhan presenting the platform for the sale of old, dilapidated, and war-damaged housing to the audience. This innovative solution is already attracting interest from investors and developers.
The importance of barrier-free and inclusive recovery
Minister of Social Policy Oksana Zholnovych emphasized that Ukraine has 3 million people with disabilities, a number that continues to grow due to ongoing hostilities. Therefore, the requirements for barrier-free and inclusive recovery are extremely important.
Advisor to the President of Ukraine on barrier-free issues, Tetyana Lomakina, noted, “Today, barrier-free design and construction is about showing respect for people, social responsibility, and the professionalism of your teams. Without exaggeration, each of us will eventually need barrier-free spaces.”
Main topics of the congress
The congress also covered important topics such as:
- Strategies and challenges of Ukraine’s recovery
- Government programs and tools for solving housing issues
- Veteran entrepreneurship as a guarantee of social security
- Industrial recovery as a crucial driver of Ukraine’s economic development
- New approaches to construction in wartime conditions
- Prospects for the restoration of housing construction
A significant part of the congress was the panel discussion “Work of international and Ukrainian funds, main directions, key projects, and initiatives.”
Restoration of cultural objects
Rostyslav Karandeev, Acting Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine, emphasized the importance of universal solutions in recovery, which will create an effective mechanism for the rapid restoration of cultural objects in communities. He noted the need to preserve the cultural value of buildings, not just their economic benefits.
Panel discussion on barrier-free and inclusive recovery
The panel “Barrier-free and inclusive recovery: challenges of modernity” was moderated by Vitaliy Melnyk, Vice President of the development company UDP. He emphasized the priority of issues related to inclusivity and barrier-free design for the government and society as a whole, the need for systemic changes in legislation, infrastructure, and education, as well as the importance of creating accessible infrastructure.
Conclusions and perspectives
This year’s UKRAINIAN CONSTRUCTION CONGRESS significantly expanded, consolidating Ukrainian authorities, businesses, public organizations, and structures, becoming a platform for a series of events by international and Ukrainian organizations. DOMOVA, with its presentation of the platform for the sale of old and dilapidated housing, became a relevant part of this event, demonstrating its innovative solutions for the restoration of Ukraine’s housing stock.
On April 11, 2024, in Kyiv, the RECOVERY CONSTRUCTION FORUM UKRAINE was held, gathering key figures from government circles and the construction industry to exchange views on significant challenges and coordinate efforts for the country’s recovery. The DOMOVA team represented the company at this forum.
The event brought together more than 2000 participants, including government officials, local community representatives, businessmen in construction, architects, construction faculty students, and other interested experts and specialists.
The forum covered three main thematic sessions. The first session focused on state recovery policies, discussing priorities, and international participation in recovery processes. The second session concentrated on community support, including discussions on potential opportunities and planning. The last session involved discussions on technical regulation processes, standards, and innovations in the industry.
Participants of the forum also engaged in numerous discussion panels, particularly discussing government support programs, transparency in recovery processes, and the latest approaches in development and architecture, in line with the challenges and requirements of modern construction, considering the situation.
- Should existing buildings be restored or is it better to demolish them and build new ones?
- How should the construction industry develop in the future?
- What steps should be taken to reduce energy consumption and increase the ecological sustainability of buildings?
- How can urban spaces be freed from reliance on extractive energy sources?
Analyzing the problems posed by outdated residential properties, such as worn-out engineering networks, inaccessibility for people with disabilities, low energy efficiency, and non-compliance with modern norms of insulation and effective space use, experts conclude that to ensure the safety of the population in potential threat conditions and to form new standards in construction and utility services, it is necessary to adopt the best global practices. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion by the Russian Federation, discussions on these relevant issues have continued in the country, especially in the context of the war, when damage to the energy infrastructure indicates the need for new approaches in construction.
In Ukraine, major renovations of old houses were rare, leading to their deterioration. Housing policy development should be participatory, taking into account the needs of all population groups, and comply with the requirements and new standards in the country. The development of effective civil defense systems is becoming increasingly important. A significant step in this direction was the signing of a law by President Volodymyr Zelensky on August 22, 2023, which mandates the provision of bomb shelters in new buildings, as well as norms adopted on August 10, defining requirements for the construction of civil defense structures – DBN V.2.2-5:2023. These norms are aimed at ensuring the safety of the population in potential threat conditions and forming new standards in construction and utility services.
Therefore, successful global practices for energy-efficient sustainable construction should be studied and implemented in the algorithms of new construction, motivating communities to build according to modern needs and societal requirements: safety and environmental sustainability at all levels.