Ostap Korkuna’s startup NeoLens launches the world’s first AI assistant for diagnosing and repairing military equipment

The American startup with Ukrainian roots, NeoLens, has announced the launch of the world’s first AI assistant for diagnosing and repairing military equipment. The company states that the system is already being utilised by dozens of repair battalions across Ukraine’s security and defence forces along the entire front line.

Currently, the NeoLens app enables mechanics and operators in Ukraine’s defence forces to service American military vehicles more efficiently, including Humvees, as well as MaxxPro and M113. The team plans to scale the project to other types of equipment, including robotic platforms and artillery.

NeoLens was founded at Stanford University in 2025 through the Lean Launchpad and Hacking for Defense programs. The startup was created by Ostap Korkuna, an American of Ukrainian descent, and James Leo, an American of Taiwanese descent.

The company stresses that this is the first AI-based assistant capable of working entirely offline. “After hundreds of interviews with Ukrainian and American military personnel, it became clear that the frontline critically needs an autonomous repair tool that does not depend on network connectivity. NeoLens was created for exactly this purpose,” says NeoLens co-founder and CTO Ostap Korkuna.

The product enables military personnel to run step-by-step diagnostics, identify faults, and perform field repairs at an expert level — even if a mechanic is working with a particular platform for the first time. “NeoLens saves us hours of work, improves mechanics’ safety, and helps extend the service life of vehicles,” says Ihor Simutin, commander of a repair unit in the AFU logistics branch.

The product is provided free of charge to Ukraine’s security and defence forces. Ukrainian military units, mechanics, and volunteer repair initiatives can receive free access to NeoLens by applying the link. For additional information: info@neolens.ai.

The founders plan to develop multimodal diagnostics using photos and videos, as well as expand the technology to civilian sectors and the international defence market.

Ostap Korkuna is well known in Ukraine’s startup and volunteer communities. He is the first Ukrainian to win the global championship in algorithmic programming. From 2009 to 2018 he was an engineer at Facebook, working on the infrastructure of the world’s largest social network. He later held the role of Director of Engineering at the unicorn startup People.ai. From 2014 to 2024 he served as co-founder and co-chair of Nova Ukraine, one of the most influential Ukrainian diaspora organisations, which has provided over $140 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

NeoLens co-founder and CEO James Leo is a U.S. veteran and entrepreneur who participated in U.S. Army combat operations in Iraq and served as an intelligence officer.