Ukrainian Future, the business incubator of the Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, has completed the educational program for the second cohort of the REDpreneurUA project — an initiative aimed at supporting the development of social entrepreneurship among vulnerable population groups. After nearly three months of intensive training, 17 projects will receive grant funding to implement their business ideas.
REDpreneurUA is an entrepreneurship development program implemented by the Ukrainian Red Cross Society in partnership with the Austrian Red Cross and supported by the Neighbour in Need fund (Austria). Its goal is to help people from vulnerable communities create or restore businesses affected by the war by providing knowledge, practical tools, and financial support through grant funding to ensure the successful development of their projects.
The educational block for the second cohort was designed and delivered by Ukrainian Future business incubator. The special course, which included training sessions, workshops, business meetings, and individual consultations, offered more than just learning — it became a space for transformation. Participants reimagined their business models, expanded functionality, updated marketing strategies, and discovered new development paths. All of this was made possible thanks to practical content, mentoring, and professional support from the Ukrainian Future team.
“For me, this was an important step in rebuilding my business, which was affected by the war. The program provided practical knowledge in entrepreneurship, marketing, finance, and growth strategy. Thanks to the quality training, mentorship, and support from the community, I gained tools to confidently promote my product and restart my business. Now, I look to the future with hope and continue working on developing a Ukrainian product,”— says Zhanna Horodenchuk, founder of the project “SHPATIK” liquid wallpaper production.
The program brought together small business owners from across Ukraine. Some were already operating, while others were just shaping their ideas. What united them all was the drive for growth and change. For many, the training became a turning point:
“The most valuable part was being able to look at my business from the outside. It led to a complete reevaluation of my activities, a major website update, and a total overhaul of my advertising,”— shared Dmytro Stepanenko, founder of “Practical History and Genealogy”.
“REDpreneurUA created a supportive atmosphere for learning and networking. The speakers and mentors were practicing experts, so the training was truly relevant and applicable,” — noted Iryna Pirlik, founder of the project “Greenhouse Flower Growing”.
“Valuable experience, practical skills in business planning, creating financial plans, new connections, and inspiring stories — that’s how I’d describe my participation,”
— said Viktoriia Melnyk, founder of the “Lavender Apiary” Ecotourism project.
“Not a single question was left unanswered. I would gladly join the program again — even without the financial support,” — added Viktoriia Nazarova, founder of “Feltart by Victoria” felt book production.
The final stage of the educational program was a pitch session, where participants presented their business plans to an expert jury. Evaluation criteria included class attendance, completion of homework, quality of business and financial plans, and the final presentation. Based on these criteria, the projects selected to receive grant funding were determined.
Among the grant recipients are inclusive workshops, farming enterprises, educational spaces, family-oriented services, veteran support initiatives, eco-friendly products, and tech-based solutions. What unites them all is their mission to serve people and create positive change in their communities.
Ukrainian Future will continue to support participants after the training ends. The program includes mentoring for launching new services, scaling existing businesses, and access to the alumni community.
“We are grateful to the Ukrainian and Austrian Red Cross for their trust and the opportunity to be part of this important initiative. For us, this program is about resilience, mutual support, and the chance to rebuild through entrepreneurship. We witness both business and personal growth — and we’ll continue to stand by,”— said Iryna Bystrova, Head of the Ukrainian Future Business Incubator.