The project for women entrepreneurs, with a budget of $1 million from the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund, and KSE Foundation, in partnership with Oschadbank JSC — announces new winners.
Anna Kazanska owns FastAR Kids, a book publishing house in Kyiv. Grantee creates interactive books with augmented reality AR elements: illustrations come to life, move, and talk. Publications bear the seal of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine; therefore, the content has been checked and approved for teaching in schools and kindergartens.
“I dream of involving more children in reading books. It is difficult for a traditional book to compete with gadgets, so we combine reading with a game in our editions. And it works: customers who buy a book for the first time will return to us again,” comments Anna.
With the grant money, the winner will purchase a printing machine and software, improving the quality of the books and making them faster.
Tetyana Kanska is the director of the production of plastic details “Thermoplast-T” in Vinnytsia. The grantee’s company manufactures over two million plastic and spare parts annually and sells them throughout Ukraine.
With the grant, the entrepreneur will purchase a new mold to expand the range of products and modernize outdated equipment for a thermoplastic machine.
“I dream of industrial serial production of plastic drainage systems — a large modern enterprise,” — says Tetyana. — Realizing this dream requires significant financial investments because most of my equipment comes from the 1990s. The new product on the mold will make it possible to scale production and open up new development opportunities.”
Yuliia Klyuchkovska founded Holy Mamas, an underwear and clothes brand for pregnant and nursing mothers, in Zymna Voda village, Lviv region. The winner has an ambitious goal of having all mothers worldwide associate pregnancy and breastfeeding with her brand.
“Motherhood is a new and vulnerable stage in women’s lives when it is essential for them to feel support and comfort,” — says Yuliia. — I strive to create products that meet the real needs of mothers and pregnant women, considering their peculiarities and challenges. It allows me to combine business with a social mission.”
With the grant funds, the entrepreneur will purchase, in particular, a steam generator, a sewing machine, a 12-needle sewing machine, and a strap hemming machine. Thanks to the equipment, part of the production processes will be automated, and more complex products will be produced.
Olha Lyalina owns the door production company “Fabryka suchasnykh dverei,” located in Pokotilivka village, Kharkiv region. The granter’s company specializes in the manufacture of interior doors with minimalist designs and 3D decor.
The damage and losses caused by the full-scale war did not stop the entrepreneur. Now, she has not just restored but will expand production: she will use the grant funds to buy a format-cutting machine and equipment for painting doors.
“I am inspired by the opportunity to create new products and services to improve people’s lives, create jobs, and fulfill a social mission. Even in difficult times, I believe that entrepreneurship can be a source of positive changes and innovations,” Olga convinced.
Veronika Tolkachova owns the bakery “Simeina Pekarnia ” in Ternopil. The winner’s business started with a small coffee shop; now, the entrepreneur has a separate bakery and wants to increase its production capacity.
The grantee will use the funds to purchase a steam convection oven and a storage cabinet. The equipment will help expand the range of products and speed up the baking production process.
“My goal is to create a product that people will love, so I put all my efforts into the quality of products, their packaging, and presentation to customers. The greatest value is when they return to us again and advise their loved ones: I want to be the owner of this kind of business,” concludes Veronika.
The goal of the project “CREATE!” is to support Ukrainian businesswomen who are engaged in production. According to the program’s results, the organizing committee received more than a thousand applications from Ukrainian businesswomen. The names of the first five winners of the program became known on August 7. The names of the following will be announced gradually.
Funds for the implementation of the grant program are an investment of the Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund (UMAEF, formerly Western NIS Enterprise Fund), which supports initiatives to promote reforms in Ukraine and transformative projects.