Entrepreneurs whose businesses are aimed at restoring the sectors of the economy most affected by war will be able to apply for participation in the Impact Business accelerator.

On January 17, 2023, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the Ministry of Digital Transformation jointly with its partners presented an in-depth Impact Business acceleration program. The pilot program will support 25 Ukrainian enterprises operating in agriculture, energy, infrastructure, healthcare, cybersecurity, and other sectors that seek to make positive social change part of their strategy.

The program is open to active companies registered in Ukraine that will contribute to Ukraine’s post-war recovery and create a positive and lasting impact with an estimated increase in Ukraine’s GDP of more than USD 250 million over five years.

“We are committed to nurturing leaders of change and building an ecosystem that strives for a better future for Ukraine. By launching Impact Business, we want to support a new generation of entrepreneurs in Ukraine, promote the development of social entrepreneurship and help social innovators navigate challenges and make their impact louder and more visible,” said Nina Levchuk, co-founder of Impact Force NGO.

The selected candidates will have access to lectures, workshops, and research focused on business growth and incorporating social impact into business strategy. The program will also include consultations from world-renowned experts, coaches and mentors, access to investors and global technological resources.

“Supporting business development in Ukraine is one of the priorities for the Ministry of Digital Transformation. The full-scale russian invasion of Ukraine has significantly affected the normal course of business development, and therefore has a major impact on the economy of the whole country. At the Ministry, we are implementing many initiatives to support entrepreneurs, providing them with resources, knowledge, inspiration and opportunities to start and scale their own business despite all the circumstances. We believe that the Impact Business acceleration program will strengthen the position of entrepreneurs in the market in these times of unprecedented challenges and become part of a positive impact on the post-war economy,” said Valeriya Ionan, Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation for European Integration.

Based on program results, two best performing companies will be able to attract financial support of up to EUR 20,000 per team.

The financial support will be provided in the form of smart grants from the Ukrainian Social Venture Fund and within the framework of the Collaborate for Impact project, which is being implemented with the financial assistance of the European Union and in cooperation with EVPA.