Ukraine-connected · YC Spring 2026
9 Mothers
9 Mothers is an Austin counter-drone startup with $1.6 million in reported sales and U.S. defense delivery experience. Co-founder Roman Khomenko has documented roots in Ukraine.
- Accelerator
- YC Spring 2026
- Hiring
- Hiring ↗
- Founded
- 2024
- Location
- Austin, Texas
- Focus
- Defense · Counter-UAS
- Status
- Active
Recent momentum
$1.6M in reported sales and delivery work for the U.S. Department of War, followed by undisclosed venture funding from Streamlined Ventures in June 2026.
Funding stage
Raised venture funding from Streamlined Ventures in June 2026; public amount undisclosed.
Stage source ↗Ukrainian connection
Co-founder Roman Khomenko has documented education and work roots in Ukraine and lists Ukrainian as a native language. The company says its counter-drone mission was motivated by the Russia–Ukraine war.
Founders
Roman Khomenko
Co-founder · Studied in Kharkiv, worked in Ukraine, and lists Ukrainian as a native language.
LinkedIn profile ↗Russell Howard Smith
Co-founder and CEO · Austin-based co-founder leading 9 Mothers.
LinkedIn profile ↗Bogdan Pyzh
Co-founder and COO · Austin-based co-founder building 9 Mothers’ counter-drone systems.
LinkedIn profile ↗Sources
- 9 Mothers company profile ↗Y Combinator · Supports: company, batch, sales, location, product, founder.
- Roman Khomenko profile ↗LinkedIn · Supports: Ukraine connection, education, language.
Reviewed August 8, 2026. Methodology.