Entrepreneurship training, the development of the veteran business community, and grants of $30,000, $10,000, and $10,000 — the winners of the joint initiative by Universe Group, the Genesis for Ukraine Foundation, and the Ukrainian Catholic University were announced recently.

Over several months, the participants completed intensive online and offline learning, received mentorship, developed their ideas, and prepared for the final pitch. Based on the results of the competition, three of them received grants for developing their businesses — $30,000, $10,000 and $10,000.

Third place and a $10,000 grant went to Yaroslav Movchun, an active serviceman and founder of the “Ozeryana” farm, which specializes in growing blueberries. Second place and $10,000 went to veteran Andrii Danilevych, who, together with his wife, grows blackberries. The winner and owner of the $30,000 grant became Ivan Pavlish, a serviceman with more than 11 years of experience and founder of the “BRUNAT” farm and the Batatko brand.

The participants attended lectures from UCU teachers and top managers from the Universe Group, spoke with founders of businesses, economists, and experts in marketing, finance, and management, and also met with investors.

“For me, this program is first of all a way to express deep gratitude. We wanted to pass on our entrepreneurial experience and practical knowledge to those who risked literally everything for our future. And I am sincerely glad that we did it. During the program, we saw dozens of strong businesses. But the main thing is that we met people who are ready to develop them.

I am sure the main value of this initiative is not only the grants but also the community that is forming around it. Here, entrepreneurs can test their ideas and get feedback. Their determination to create new jobs and grow their businesses is inspiring. I believe that veteran entrepreneurship has great potential to become one of the drivers of the new Ukrainian economy,” — says Yaroslav Morozov, founder and CEO of Universe Group.

A total of 763 applications were submitted — veteran projects from various fields: from agribusiness and craft production to clothing brands, mobility services, real estate, and tourism.

“We were pleasantly surprised by the number of applications and by how actively veteran businesses are developing. On the first day, we received more registrations than expected — and this clearly showed how strong the demand is for support and learning opportunities for veterans and servicewomen. Our defenders need tools for confident reintegration, and programs like this help them move forward.

Together with Genesis for Ukraine and Genesis ecosystem companies, we are glad to create new opportunities, support educational initiatives, provide mentorship and real help to veterans in developing their projects. Because every successful veteran business is a step toward building a new, strong economy of Ukraine,” — says Anastasiia Kladova, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Genesis and Director of the Genesis for Ukraine Foundation.

The initiative partners included the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation, and Veteran Hub. Information support was provided by the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, the Office for Entrepreneurship and Export Development, and the national project Diia.Business.

“This is not our first program for veterans, and these programs are always special. The participants are very motivated, curious, they communicate a lot, and actively share experiences.

We need more successful businesses in the country, and veterans — with their experience and motivation — will definitely create a lot of value. It is also important that they often involve other veterans in their projects, supporting reintegration and mutual support,” — says Roksoliana Voronovska, Head of the School of Integral Development at UCU.

The offline practicum took place in Lviv in the format of a business camp at the Ukrainian Catholic University, where the Universe Group team ensured comfortable conditions for all participants. Besides the grants, two finalists received free access to an online course and exclusive access to one of the UCU Business School programs.

Universe Group is an IT company that builds tech businesses and turns ideas into global products. The group includes three companies: Guru Apps, FORMA and Wisey. Their products have over 200 million users from 186 countries, simplifying everyday life and creating new opportunities for growth.

Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU) is one of the leaders in business education in Ukraine. The university develops a culture of fundraising and engages tens of thousands of donors from around the world.

Genesis for Ukraine is a charity foundation of the Genesis ecosystem of product IT companies, created at the beginning of the full-scale invasion. It unites the resources, experience and capabilities of the ecosystem to implement large-scale projects for defenders.

Project Partners:

Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine — the central executive authority responsible for developing and implementing state policy on support, protection, and provision of services for veterans and servicewomen.

Ukrainian Veterans Foundation — a state institution under the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, serving as the national provider of reintegration services to help veterans transition to productive civilian life.

Veteran Hub — a network that provides support to service members, veterans, servicewomen, and their families.

Information Partners of the Project:

Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine — the executive authority responsible for shaping and implementing state policy in the areas of digitalization, digital technologies, and innovation.

Office for Entrepreneurship and Export Development — a state institution that supports the development of small and medium-sized enterprises and assists Ukrainian businesses in promoting their goods and services on domestic and international markets.

Diia.Business — a national project for entrepreneurship and export development. It was launched by the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine in February 2020. Since May 2021, the project has been implemented jointly by the Ministry of Digital Transformation and the Office for Entrepreneurship and Export Development — the state institution responsible for supporting Ukrainian entrepreneurship in both domestic and foreign markets. The project includes two components: an online platform and a network of entrepreneur support centers.