Three Ukrainian startups have been shortlisted for the prestigious Webby Awards, which recognize outstanding creators of online content. Respeecher, Spend With Ukraine, and Virtual LitMuseum have all been recognized for their innovative approaches to technology and activism.
Respeecher: Changing the game with AI/ML technology
Respeecher, a Ukrainian startup, has been nominated for the Best Use of AI/ML (Apps/DApps/Software) category. The company uses voice conversion technology, which overlays an artificially generated voice on a real recording to create a new track. The startup, founded in 2018 by Ukrainians Dmytro Belevtsov and Oleksandr Serdyuk, as well as American Grant Rieber, has raised more than $3 million in investments. In September 2021, Respeecher was awarded an Emmy for its groundbreaking work.
Spend With Ukraine: Promoting Ukrainian products globally
Spend With Ukraine, another Ukrainian startup, has been nominated in the Activism category. The platform curates a list of over 200 Ukrainian companies, startups, and brands to promote Ukrainian products and services globally. The mission of the initiative is to support the Ukrainian economy by helping businesses find customers worldwide. This accessible catalog allows consumers to discover and support Ukrainian-rooted businesses.
Virtual LitMuseum: A virtual journey into Ukrainian literature
Virtual LitMuseum, an online platform from the Kharkiv Literary Museum, has been named one of the world’s top five apps in the Apps, dApps and Software – Art, Culture, and Events category. The platform is a realistic 3D space for creating online exhibitions and was developed with the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation. A team of Kharkiv IT specialists and visualizers, led by Oleksii Bulat, worked on creating the virtual platform. The Virtual LitMuseum is a unique and immersive way for people to explore Ukrainian literature and culture.
The Webby Awards
The Webby Awards, an international award, has been recognizing outstanding websites, online advertising, videos, services, and mobile apps since 1996. Past winners include Amazon, iTunes, Google, and BBC, among other well-known companies. The awards are often referred to as the “Internet Oscars” and are a highly coveted recognition for creators of online content.
