GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR STARTUP ECOSYSTEMS: INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE AND LESSONS FOR UKRAINE

Abstract

The aim of the article is to analyse international experience in government support for startup ecosystems and identify best international practices for improving government support for the startup ecosystem based on a comparative analysis of Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries and leading global practices. The research is based on empirical data from current international reports and systematic analysis of scholarly literature on venture capital financing and government support for innovation. The methodology includes comparative analysis of financial instruments using examples from CEE countries and selected leading global practices, systematisation of regulatory mechanisms, and evaluation of infrastructure initiatives in leading countries. The research results demonstrate that Ukraine ranks 42nd in the global ranking with the highest ecosystem growth rate and has achieved high implementation scores in EU Startup Nations Standards. The Ukrainian Startup Fund has been recognised as a best practice in co-investment schemes among European countries. However, a critical financing gap has been identified at the Series A funding round stage, where 73% of Ukrainian startups identify access to capital as the main development barrier. The experience of successful CEE countries has been systematised, particularly Estonia, Poland, and Lithuania, which apply comprehensive government support models through the quadruple helix framework. Specific financial mechanisms for overcoming funding gaps at different stages of startup lifecycle have been identified. It has been established that Defence Tech is Ukraine's unique competitive advantage in the context of the wartime period and a potential driver of post-war economic recovery. The practical value of the research lies in identifying critical gaps in financing (Series A/B gap, shortage of business angels), regulatory environment (regulatory sandboxes, crowdfunding), and infrastructure (scaling, cross-border bridges), as well as revealing the most effective international practices for overcoming them in the context of post-war reconstruction of the Ukrainian economy.