Horizon Capital Catalyst Fund is a Ukraine-focused private equity vehicle pursuing reconstruction and growth opportunities across strategic sectors, and this weekly recap reviews its latest recognition and portfolio developments. The firm’s role in the Datagroup–Volia–lifecell (DVL Telecom) merger and new progress at portfolio company Creatio were in focus over the past week.
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Horizon Capital reported that the DVL Telecom merger was named CEE Deal of the Year at the Real Deals Private Equity Awards 2026, marking the second time the firm has received this regional distinction. The awards evaluate transactions based on strategic vision, market impact, execution quality, and the investor’s contribution to business transformation, underscoring the complexity and significance of the deal.
Partner Dmytro Boroday accepted the award in London, with Horizon Capital emphasizing collaboration among DVL Telecom leadership, CEO Mykhaylo Shelemba, telecom investor Xavier Niel and NJJ, and development finance institutions such as EBRD, IFC, and the European Commission. The firm framed the deal as a demonstration of resilience and entrepreneurial strength in Ukraine, highlighting its ability to execute large-scale transactions in difficult macroeconomic conditions.
The recognition is being used to support the launch of Horizon Capital’s reconstruction-focused Catalyst Fund, which seeks to attract international capital into Ukrainian sectors including energy, digital infrastructure, and construction. By targeting partnerships with global strategic investors and multilateral institutions, the fund aims to structure co-investments that may help mitigate risk while scaling capital deployment into the country’s rebuilding efforts.
For investors, the award reinforces Horizon Capital’s positioning in Central and Eastern Europe’s telecom and infrastructure segments and may strengthen its fundraising outlook. At the same time, exposure to Ukraine’s macroeconomic and geopolitical environment remains a key consideration, making disciplined execution and risk management central to the Catalyst Fund’s long-term performance.
Separately, Horizon Capital highlighted that portfolio company Creatio received a Global AI Awards 2026 recognition in the AI in Finance and Banking category for its Autonomous AI Agents for Banking solution. The technology is designed to execute complex banking processes with scalable automation while preserving control and transparency, and it was evaluated by experts on AI architecture reliability, efficiency gains, innovation, and usability.
Commentary from Creatio’s SVP of Industries, Burley Kawasaki, positioned the award within a broader shift from basic productivity tools toward AI platforms that deliver measurable operational outcomes. This validation may enhance Creatio’s market positioning with banks seeking to modernize workflows, which could indirectly benefit Horizon Capital Catalyst Fund if it translates into deeper customer adoption and more resilient, higher-value relationships.
Together, the DVL Telecom award and Creatio’s AI recognition underscore a constructive week for Horizon Capital Catalyst Fund, highlighting both its track record in complex regional deals and its exposure to emerging AI-driven financial technology trends.