Flyer One Ventures

Flyer One Ventures is an early-stage venture capital fund that partners with ambitious founders primarily from Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and Ukraine. The firm focuses on investing in companies that are building the application layer of global software, typically at the pre-seed and seed stages, with investments up to €1.5 million. They are led and backed by entrepreneurs who have successfully built one of the largest tech companies in the CEE region, bringing significant operational expertise to their portfolio companies.

The firm was founded in 2018 by Eastern European entrepreneurs Vital Laptenok and Oleksii Yermolenko. Their philosophy is inspired by the Wright brothers' Flyer I, aiming to back bold doers who can turn ambitious ideas into global breakthroughs. Flyer One Ventures emphasizes a founder-oriented operational engagement, providing support in areas such as digital marketing, recruiting, PR, and business development to help their portfolio companies scale effectively.

Flyer One Ventures has invested in a diverse portfolio of nearly 100 startups, deploying approximately €39 million. Notable investments include VOCHI, an AI-powered video editing app; Fintech Farm, a fintech startup building digital banks in emerging markets; Liki24.com, a drug delivery service; Mate academy, an EdTech platform for learning computer science; and Awesomic, a talent marketplace for startups and enterprises. Other key portfolio companies span across AI, enterprise software, proptech, and logistics sectors, such as Adapty, Competera, Jome, and Cargofy.

The core team at Flyer One Ventures comprises experienced professionals with diverse backgrounds in venture capital, entrepreneurship, and operations. Key members include General Partner Vital Laptenok, Co-founder and Partner Oleksii Yermolenko, and Partner Elena Mazhuha. The team's collective expertise allows the firm to offer strategic guidance and hands-on support, helping founders navigate challenges and accelerate growth in their respective markets.