EveryMatrix Co-founder Ebbe Groes discusses why the company opened a major office in Lviv, how the Academy for Heroes NGO was founded to support Ukrainian veterans transitioning into IT careers, and why tech education is vital for the country’s future workforce.

‘Academy for Heroes’ is the second NGO founded and funded by EveryMatrix, aimed at supporting veterans of the conflict in Ukraine. It provides training and support to former military personnel so they can forge new careers in technology. 

Since being founded 18 months ago, it has grown to five full-time teaching staff, has renovated and launched an ‘Inclusive Training Centre for Veterans’ and trained six cohorts of veterans. This includes several undergoing rehabilitation following amputations at the national rehabilitation center ‘Anbroken’. In addition, two groups of children of veterans have undergone a training course in “Artificial Intelligence for a Future Career”.

Ebbe Groes, not only the Co-Founder of EveryMatrix but also one of the founders of Academy for Heroes, about his and the company’s involvement so far, the progress he’s witnessed and what the future holds for the NGO.

SBC News: What inspired you to support Ukrainian veterans specifically?

Ebbe Groes (EG): When the war began, our first instinct was to support our own staff. Some needed to leave their homes immediately, so we helped with relocation, housing and urgent expenses. Once that immediate need was handled, we began providing monthly donations to various NGOs, especially those connected to people in our team who had personal ties to frontline units or local organisations.

As time went on, we started to think more strategically. EveryMatrix has successfully run the ‘Teach Stream’ NGO in Romania for many years helping children from underprivileged backgrounds develop digital skills.

We also knew from experience that education can break long-term cycles of disadvantage. That experience made us realise we could make a similar, and perhaps even more urgent, impact in Ukraine.

Veterans returning from war often struggle to reintegrate into society. They might lose their job, their routine, their sense of direction. This is a pattern seen in conflicts worldwide and without structured support, entire generations of veterans can become disconnected from civilian life.

We felt we had both the responsibility and the capability to help. With our expertise in IT, we could offer not just charity, but meaningful, sustainable career pathways. That’s how Academy for Heroes was born.

SBC: Why did EveryMatrix choose Lviv for one of its major offices?

EG: When EveryMatrix started, we were about 50 people. Today, we’re more than 1,500 across 15 offices worldwide. Several years ago, a major phase of that growth required us to rebuild our entire software stack – from sportsbook to casino systems to payment solutions. We needed multiple new teams working simultaneously, and finding enough talent for fast-paced expansion in Bucharest alone became difficult.

I began exploring various cities: Kyiv, Odessa, Lviv, Chișinău… The turning point was a recommendation from a colleague who had previously worked with Intellias in Lviv. I didn’t know much about Lviv at the time, but I decided to visit.

I instantly loved the city. It had a vibrant atmosphere, strong tech culture and very capable engineers. I also met Vitalik, the CEO of Intellias, and immediately felt confident in the professionalism and ambition of the local IT community.

We started small, initially working inside Intellias, and after a couple of years we transitioned the team into a standalone EveryMatrix office. That independence helped us to build our own culture, identity, and long-term presence in Lviv. It was one of the best expansion decisions we ever made.

SBC: What motivated you to focus on education and knowledge sharing as the means of supporting veterans?

EG: The war effort understandably gets a lot of attention, but what happens after service is equally important. Many soldiers face uncertainty:

• Will their job still exist when they return?
• Will they be able to support their families?
• Will they find their place in society again?

Fear of an uncertain future can be just as impactful as fear of combat. By giving veterans access to high-quality IT education, we’re helping them rebuild stability and confidence. We want them to feel that society values their sacrifice, not just during the war, but afterwards.

I’ve been especially pleased to see several Academy for Heroes graduates recently secure internships. For veterans trying to restart their careers, those opportunities are transformative.

SBC: What emerging technologies do you believe will shape the future of learning and accelerate veterans’ transition into IT?

EG: Artificial intelligence is clearly the big one. It’s a tremendous equaliser. Someone who hasn’t spent years in IT can still become productive much more quickly using AI-powered tools.

A veteran who retrains today might not have a decade of industry experience, but they can master cutting-edge tools that even seasoned developers may not fully embrace yet. That levels the playing field and shortens the learning curve significantly.

I don’t see AI replacing these new professionals. Instead, I see it empowering them to contribute meaningfully with fewer barriers to entry. For a country rebuilding its workforce, this timing is incredibly fortunate.

We also have strong AI expertise within our own teams in Lviv, which gives Academy for Heroes access to top-level knowledge. That’s a huge advantage.

SBC: Looking ahead, what impact do you hope Academy for Heroes will have?

EG: Right now, I feel very optimistic. The initiative is already making a real difference, and its importance will only grow in the years after the war ends. Ukraine will have tens of thousands of veterans re-entering civilian life, and they will need tailored support.

Our goal is to be part of the long-term solution, creating opportunities, restoring confidence, and helping veterans build sustainable careers in IT. If Academy for Heroes can contribute even a fraction to that mission, then I consider it a success.

This is not a short-term project. This is something we intend to continue a year from now, five years from now, and beyond.

Fact File: Academy For Heroes In Numbers

Founded April 2024

Current students 100

Six cohorts of students with one set that have graduated

Competition at enrolment is strong with 8 veterans for every 1 one place

2 graduates have been employed by EveryMatrix, Ukraine

4 veterans from the next group undergoing internships at EveryMatryx

Most popular specialist career path is ‘Full stack developer’

Future plan is to enrol seven groups of veterans and four groups of children of veterans and ‘Fallen Heroes’