Endeavor Catalyst Backs 3 Ukrainian Tech Firms in $320M Funding

Three Ukrainian tech companies, Preply, Headway Inc., and HOLYWATER TECH, are receiving a $320 million investment from Endeavor Catalyst, the venture capital arm of the global entrepreneur network Endeavor. The funding round, known as Fund V, brings the firm's assets under management to over $850 million. Preply and Headway Inc. are EdTech companies; Preply became a unicorn in January 2026, and Headway Inc. focuses on lifelong learning.

HOLYWATER TECH is an entertainment company specializing in vertical videos and interactive stories. Founded in Kyiv in 2012, Preply has expanded globally, while Headway Inc. was established in Ukraine in 2019. Endeavor Catalyst aims to support startups outside Silicon Valley, focusing on the founders they believe in and backing them as they grow from local markets into global companies.

The fund has invested in over 400 companies, with a portfolio that includes 83 companies valued at $1 billion or more. Co-investors in Fund V include Sequoia Capital, Founders Fund, and General Atlantic. Sviat Sviatnenko, managing director of Endeavor in Ukraine, stated that the three Ukrainian firms are shaping their respective categories by building global products from the start.

Europe saw 12 new investments in the first half of 2026, compared to 14 in all of 2025. Latin America is the portfolio's largest region, and Endeavor Catalyst is also investing in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, the US, and Canada. The firm made its first investment in Venezuela during Fund V. Beyond Preply, Fund V has also made early investments in startups such as Replit, Moove, Cashea, Respond.io, EnduroSat, HappyRobot, and Lunar Outpost.

Endeavor Catalyst anticipates deploying an additional $25 million to $30 million in the remainder of 2026.