When we talk about "Democracy Tech" in stable Western nations, the conversation often drifts toward election efficiency or digital town halls. But for Richard Walakira, a Ugandan-born democracy activist and Obama Fellow, who spent the last five years leading the Democracy Tech Entrepreneur Fellowship at the Alliance of Democracies Foundation, the stakes are far more real.

In our recent fireside chat, Richard pulled back the curtain on what he calls "Frontline Democracies"—nations like Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova that act as the "shield of Europe." In these regions, democracy tech isn't just about civic engagement; it is often a matter of survival.

Here is a look at how extreme pressure is driving innovation in the frontline states, and the concrete solutions emerging from the fire.

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The "Shield of Europe" and the Engine of Necessity

Richard describes countries like Ukraine and Moldova as the "shield" protecting the rest of the continent. If that shield breaks, the threat moves deeper into Europe. This proximity to danger creates a unique environment for innovation.

"In a country like Denmark, if you don't have a need to restore the country, the entrepreneurs won't really think at that sort of level," Richard noted during the chat.

The war in Ukraine and the encroaching authoritarianism in Georgia have forced local entrepreneurs to solve problems that simply don't exist in safer jurisdictions. In these frontline states, the "move fast and break things" mantra of Silicon Valley is replaced by "move fast and save things."

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Concrete Solutions from the Frontline

During his tenure running hackathons and fellowships across Eastern Europe, Richard witnessed the birth of several critical technologies that address specific, urgent local needs.

1. The DREAM Project (Ukraine)

One of the standout successes to emerge from the fellowship is the DREAM project. Born out of the necessity to manage the massive influx of reconstruction funds and projects in war-torn Ukraine, DREAM started as a fellowship idea and was later adopted by the Ukrainian government. It now serves as a central platform for transparency in the country’s reconstruction, proving that civic tech can scale rapidly when it solves a critical infrastructure problem.

2. Mantis Analytics & Osavul (Ukraine)

Information warfare is a primary weapon in modern conflict. Richard highlighted Mantis Analytics and Osavul as prime examples of "defense tech" crossing over into the information space. These platforms help governments and organizations spot disinformation campaigns and respond in real-time.

"Information has actually become a big business," Richard explained. These startups found their footing by addressing the immediate security threat of Russian disinformation, later evolving into sustainable businesses that service clients beyond just the public sector.

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The Scaling Challenge

One of the most insightful parts of the conversation was Richard’s critique of the traditional startup "scaling" mindset when applied to democracy tech.

"Capitalism has given us an illusion of scaling—that things need to be scaled in order for them to be successful," Richard argued.

He pointed out that true democracy tech is often hyper-local. A solution designed to navigate the specific alphabet and disinformation ecosystem of Georgia may not immediately work in Brazil or Germany. The cultural context is a feature, not a bug.

However, sustainability remains a challenge. Richard noted that the projects that do scale financially, like Mantis or Osavul, often do so by pivoting their business models. They move from being purely "democracy activists" to becoming B2B service providers, selling their security and analytics capabilities to private companies. This "Palantir model"—starting with government/defense needs and expanding to the corporate sector—seems to be one of the few viable paths for financial independence in the sector.

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The Human Element

Ultimately, the technology is only as strong as the community wielding it. Richard closed his reflections by noting that while AI and tech are evolving rapidly—often faster than we can regulate—the true "killer app" for democracy is human connection.

Whether it’s a hackathon in Chisinau or a meet-up in Copenhagen, the hope doesn't lie in the code itself, but in the agency of the young people building it. As Richard put it, seeing young Moldovans innovating despite the proximity to conflict is where the real optimism is found.

Interested in joining the next conversation? The DemAI community is looking for partners, researchers, and volunteers to help explore the intersection of technology and democracy. Reach out to us to get involved.

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