The project starts this fall and aims to strengthen Ukraine’s entrepreneurial culture, provide training, build a veteran business community, and most importantly — support defenders on their way to scaling their businesses. Among the mentors and speakers are UCU lecturers, Universe Group top managers, business founders, economists, and experts in marketing, finance, and management.
“In our daily work at Universe Group, we launch businesses, help them identify weak spots, solve problems, and scale globally. We know how entrepreneurship works and want to share this knowledge with those who risked everything for our common future, for the future of Ukraine. Together with UCU and Genesis for Ukraine, we built a program that combines online training, an offline practicum, networking, and the chance to receive one of three grants. We believe the future belongs to the responsible and the brave. And right now, we have the chance to help them grow their businesses and, step by step, build Ukraine’s new economy,” says Yaroslav Morozov, founder and CEO of Universe Group.
The program includes several stages: initial selection, hybrid training (online and offline), and a final pitch where three winners will receive grants of $30,000, $10,000, and $10,000 to grow their businesses. In addition, all participants will get free access to one online course and exclusive access to a program from the UCU Business School.
Project partners include Veteran Hub, the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine, and the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation. The Ministry of Digital Transformation, the Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office, and Diia.Business provide information support.
The organizers do not limit participation to specific industries, so entrepreneurs from different fields can apply.
“I fully support Universe Group and their focus on developing veteran entrepreneurship. Genesis for Ukraine was created to back projects like this — to support those who defended our country and to invest in its future. We know how to scale results in this area: more businesses mean a stronger economy,” says Volodymyr Mnogoletniy, founder and CEO of IT company Genesis.
Applications open on August 11. The deadline is September 15.
About the organizers:
Universe Group builds tech businesses, transforming ideas into global products. The group includes three companies: Guru Apps, FORMA, and Wisey. Their products connect over 200 million users across 186 countries, simplifying daily life and creating new opportunities for growth.
Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU) — one of Ukraine’s leading business education institutions, developing a strong fundraising culture and uniting thousands of donors worldwide.
Genesis for Ukraine — a charity fund created by the Genesis IT ecosystem after the start of the full-scale war. The fund brings together resources, expertise, and opportunities to support large-scale projects for defenders.
Project partners:
Veteran Hub — a support network for veterans and their families.
Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine — the government body responsible for protecting and supporting veterans.
Ukrainian Veterans Foundation — a state institution under the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, helping reintegrate veterans into civilian life.
Information partners:
Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine — the state authority responsible for digitalization and innovation.
Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office — a state institution that supports SMEs and helps Ukrainian companies enter global markets.
Diia.Business — a national project to develop entrepreneurship and export, which combines an online platform and a network of support centers for entrepreneurs.
