The second season of the educational grant program Trajectory, which was created for veterans and families of military personnel at the initiative of the Diia.Business network of entrepreneur support centers, is starting.
The training will last for two months, during which participants will receive basic knowledge, practical advice and financial support to start and develop their own business. The total financial support fund is UAH 20 million.
“The team of the Ministry of Digital Transformation systematically launches projects that help Ukrainians realize their ideas, develop or scale their businesses. One of them is the educational grant program “Trajectory”. This is an opportunity for veterans, military personnel, or a spouse to gain the necessary knowledge, expertise, and funding to develop their business. In the first season of the accelerator, 50 finalists received UAH 100 thousand each to start their own business. So, together with our partners, we are launching the second season so that as many Ukrainians as possible can get opportunities to realize their ideas and develop their potential,” said Mykhailo Fedorov, Vice Prime Minister for Innovation, Education, Science and Technology – Minister of Digital Transformation.
About the program
The training will last for two months in online and offline formats and will consist of four educational modules covering business fundamentals, financial management, digitalization, and marketing. Lectures will be delivered by more than 10 leading business development experts.
In addition to theoretical knowledge, participants will receive an analysis of the psychology of their own business and special offers from the technical partner “Vchasno”. Upon completion of the program, 68 winners will be able to attend up to three free individual meetings with project mentors.
“At the Ministry of Digital Transformation, we are actively working on the digital transformation of business, promoting the introduction of new digital services and educational and grant programs for entrepreneurs. The second season of the educational grant program “Trajectory” will help veterans, servicemen and their families to acquire the necessary knowledge to implement their own entrepreneurial ideas. Participants will learn how to implement innovative digital technologies to scale their businesses, receive intensive training and mentoring support. According to research, 64% of veterans and military personnel plan to start their own business. Our goal is to help them do so and create conditions for the development of small and medium-sized businesses in Ukraine,” said Valeria Ionan, Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation for European Integration.
Training formats:
“The team of the Entrepreneurship and Export Development Office systematically supports business initiatives, including programs to support veteran businesses, providing entrepreneurs with access to training, advice and grant opportunities. The first season of the educational grant program “Trajectory” was an important step: more than 400 participants received training, mentoring support and developed business plans. Almost 66% of the finalists increased the number of clients by an average of 32%, and two even started exporting goods to the US, Australia, and Northern Ireland. Thanks to the project, 25 new entrepreneurs were registered and 23 jobs were created. We see that the first season of the program has become an incentive for veterans and their families to start a business and create new jobs. We expect that Trajectory 2 will become a significant tool that will open up new opportunities for veterans and increase the number of newly created businesses,” said Andriy Remizov, Director of the Office of Entrepreneurship and Export Development.
Training in the Trajectory educational and grant program will take place in the categories that the participant chooses when filling out the application: “Beginner in Business” or ‘Experienced Entrepreneur’. According to the results, 44 participants from the “Starting Business” category will receive UAH 200,000 each, and 20 participants from the “Experienced Entrepreneur” category will receive UAH 400,000 each to implement their ideas. In addition, 2 more business projects from the online lecture will receive UAH 100,000 each to develop their entrepreneurial goals.
“Our defenders demonstrate incredible resilience on the front line, and it is our duty to provide them with reliable support in realizing their potential in civilian life. The launch of the second season of the Trajectory program is a practical tool that will help veterans and their families realize their potential in entrepreneurship and create a successful business. Today, each center in our network is a space of opportunities for defenders, where they can get the help they need: from generating a business idea and training to practical tools for scaling their business and entering international markets. It is a great honor and responsibility for me to be involved in a program that helps our defenders become successful entrepreneurs,” said Artem Platonov, Director of the Directorate for Digital Skills Development and Digitalization of Education at the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine.
For whom?
The program is open to:
“At Mastercard, we believe that supporting veterans in developing their own business is an important step for their reintegration into civilian life, an opportunity to find a new path in entrepreneurship or scale their business. That is why supporting veteran entrepreneurs through grants and educational programs is a strategic investment in the development of the Ukrainian economy. By implementing such important initiatives together with our partners, we are jointly contributing to creating conditions for the development of an entrepreneurial culture and building a society without barriers where everyone can realize their potential,” said Inga Andreeva, CEO of Mastercard Ukraine and Moldova.
The training will end with the final event, Grand Pitch Day, during which the 10 participants with the highest scores in the rating table will compete for the main prizes: UAH 1 million in the Beginner in Business category and UAH 2 million in the Experienced Entrepreneur category.
“Every defender, every veteran is our pride. We at UKRSIBBANK BNP Paribas Group are deeply grateful for your contribution to the defense of Ukraine. That is why we created the We’re proud platform. It is an expression of respect, support and recognition of your dedication and courage. Each defender is a special, premium client for us. We have also created special conditions for the professional growth of demobilized veterans in our team and provide special support to veteran businesses. We believe in your potential and are ready to help you reach new heights: develop professionally, plan and implement your business ideas with our grants. Ukraine is a place for plans. Together we are creating the future,” said Andriy Kashperuk, Deputy Chairman of the Board for Retail Banking, UKRSIBBANK BNP Paribas Group.
The project not only provides the necessary knowledge and financial support, but also serves as the basis for the formation of a community that actively promotes the development of entrepreneurs.
“We are glad that the educational grant program “Trajectory” has had such a successful start and has inspired many veterans and their families to start their own businesses. Today, more than ever, it is important to support those who defended our country and help them build a new future. That is why we are launching “Trajectory 2” to continue this mission, providing not only financial support, but also knowledge and resources for the implementation of business ideas that will become the basis for the development of the Ukrainian economy. Together, we create new opportunities and help veterans find their own trajectory of success,” — Taras Panasenko, co-owner of the Aurora multimarket chain.
According to the results of the first season of the program “Trajectory”, 407 entrepreneurs were accepted in 2024. 50 finalists received 100,000 hryvnias each to start or develop their own business.
“Veterans and military personnel should be given opportunities to reintegrate into civilian life and realize their potential through entrepreneurial activity. Thanks to the support of the Government of Japan and in cooperation with the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, we are promoting the creation and strengthening of businesses founded by veterans and their families. Thanks to the Trajectory 2 program, we are supporting veterans and military personnel in starting and expanding businesses, providing them with the necessary tools and resources for successful integration into the dynamic economic environment of Ukraine. These efforts not only contribute to their personal and professional development, but also play an important role in the restoration of Ukraine’s economy, laying a solid foundation for a sustainable and resilient future,” — Jacob Silje, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine.
How to participate?
To participate in the program, you need to fill out an application form. The deadline for submitting applications is March 23, 2025 (23:59).
You can learn more about the project on the official page of the national educational grant program “Trajectory 2“.
Register for participation in the educational grant program “Trajectory 2” at the link.
For reference:
Source: https://business.diia.gov.ua/
