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thumbnail_Closed the Round ENG.jpg

Closed the Round ENG.jpg

The Ukrainian tech and business podcast “Closed the Round” has won the 2025 national audio award “Slushno” by MEGOGO in the category Best Business Podcast. The winners were announced on October 1 during a ceremony at the Ukrainian House in Kyiv, with results determined through a hybrid voting model — 50% audience votes and 50% expert jury evaluation.

Hosted by Illia Kabachynskyi and Anton Poleskov, [“Closed the Round”](https://www.youtube.com/@zakryvlive) explores the phenomena, companies, and people shaping today’s economy — those who build innovative businesses, attract billion-dollar investments, and redefine the tech landscape. The project is produced with the support of [FAVBET Tech](https://www.facebook.com/favbettech/), one of Ukraine’s Top-50 largest IT companies according to the DOU ranking.

In 2025, the podcast launched its fifth season, now available on all major streaming platforms. The season features special episodes and exclusive interviews with leaders of the Ukrainian tech industry, including Kasta founder Andrii Lohvin, as well as in-depth discussions on Nova Poshta’s transformation, the Hyperliquid exchange, plant-based food producers, and Nebula, a spiritual startup by Obrio.

![PIR_2866-min.jpg](https://wah-prod-ext-portal-s3-eu-central-1.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/PIR_2866_min_47afe6bc3d.jpg)
*Photo: Illia Kabachynskyi*

The “Slushno” Award, organized annually by MEGOGO Audio, has been recognizing the best Ukrainian-language podcasts for five consecutive years. The award spans multiple categories, from business and science to culture and sports, highlighting the most influential voices in Ukrainian podcasting.

In 2025, [“Closed the Round”](https://www.youtube.com/@zakryvlive) was shortlisted in two categories — Best Business Podcast and Best Science & Technology Podcast — ultimately winning in the business category based on combined audience and jury votes.

“Closed the Round” Wins MEGOGO’s “Slushno” Award for Best Business Podcast

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IT Meets Vinnytsya ENG.jpg

Vinnytsia hosted IT Meets. Service Business 2025: Lead & Deliver.

The event was valuable for owners and CEOs of service IT companies, department heads, project managers, business analysts, HR specialists, and everyone building relationships with clients.

In 2025, the service IT business is at a turning point, as clients are no longer satisfied with fast task execution — they now expect strategic thinking and proactivity from companies. IT Meets was initiated as a productive discussion about what truly determines loyalty, profitability, and resilience in an unstable market.

The event gathered top representatives of the Ukrainian IT industry to discuss effective business growth strategies.

![062A0794-min (1).jpg](https://wah-prod-ext-portal-s3-eu-central-1.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/062_A0794_min_1_dbade62145.jpg)
*Photo: IT Meets*

 Speakers shared their expertise from leading companies such as Wiseboard, ELEKS, Sombra, IT Association of Vinnytsia, Teamvoy, E-commerce, EPAM, Covent IT, Tietoevry Create Ukraine, RIA.com, and other professionals who understand market realities.

Participants talked about practical steps that help companies scale during instability, remain competitive, and uncover new opportunities amid market unpredictability.

*“The topic of the service business in 2025 is on the agenda today because this area is currently most affected by instability and global competition. Ukrainian IT companies have learned to respond quickly to challenges, but now the time has come to build growth strategies in advance. This event has become a platform where industry leaders share tools that help maintain competitiveness, open new markets, and form mature business models in a world where the rules of the game change every day,”* the organizers commented.

A lot of attention was devoted to how to properly build financial products, enter new markets, and maintain a balance between high risks and real client value. The discussions also covered the role of managers, whose work directly affects project quality and company profitability.

![062A0675-min.jpg](https://wah-prod-ext-portal-s3-eu-central-1.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/062_A0675_min_e6aa03a2c8.jpg)
*Photo: IT Meets*

Another key topic was the role of the CEO in 2025. Experts shared their experience in creating mature organizational structures that ensure stability and spoke about how to build an employer brand that attracts talented professionals and fosters a space where people want to work and grow. Much attention was also paid to optimizing internal processes — as this directly impacts team management efficiency and project delivery speed.

Experts emphasized that the modern service business can no longer afford to remain static. Clients expect quick solutions, transparent communication, and consistent results. Companies must seek innovative tools, introduce new approaches to strengthening loyalty, and always be ready for global competition.

The event was supported by [FAVBET Tech](https://www.facebook.com/favbettech/) — one of the initiators of the country’s first AI Committee. According to the Diia.City project, the company was among the top five largest taxpayers among Diia.City residents in the past year.

Today, FAVBET Tech ranks among the Top 50 IT companies in Ukraine (according to DOU), is a member of the IT Ukraine Association, and is actively developing in the field of artificial intelligence.

*“The service business is changing very fast. Events like this provide an opportunity to exchange experiences and better understand which decisions are shaping market trends today. For us, it’s important to be part of this process,”*  — commented Artem Skrypnyk, CEO of FAVBET Tech.


IT Meets Held in Vinnytsia: The Main Topic — The Future of the Service Business and the Role of the CEO

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[FAVBET Tech](https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17gsBtAfmk/?mibextid=wwXIfr) confirms that it has been designated as an enterprise critical to the functioning of the economy and essential services during a special period, in full compliance with Ukrainian law.

When this status was determined, the company met all criteria set out in Paragraph 2 of Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 76 dated January 27, 2023, including that:

- the total amount of taxes, fees, mandatory payments, and the unified social contribution (USC) exceeds the equivalent of €1.5 million;
- there is no arrears on USC payments;
- the company’s average salary in Kyiv meets or exceeds the citywide average; 
- the company is a Diia.City resident.

In 2024, FAVBET Tech paid over UAH 766 million in taxes and mandatory payments to national and local budgets. In the first nine months of 2025, the company paid over UAH 650 million.

The number of [FAVBET Tech ](**link**) employees granted reservation does not exceed 50% of all staff subject to military duty, which fully complies with Ukrainian legislation.

Reservations are used exclusively to ensure continuity of operations and the performance of critical functions, including the sustained payment of taxes and social contributions.

*“We operate transparently and strictly within the law. Reservation is an important state tool to support the economy and sustain the budget. Our priority today is to maintain service stability, pay our taxes, and preserve jobs in Ukraine while fully complying with all legal requirements,”* said Artem Skrypnyk, CEO of [FAVBET Tech](https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17gsBtAfmk/?mibextid=wwXIfr).


FAVBET Tech’s Official Statement on Employee Reservation