“CREATE!”: a grant program for women entrepreneurs

“CREATE!” is a grant program created to support women developing businesses in the manufacturing and processing sectors. It is an important part of the government’s “Made in Ukraine” policy, as well as the national strategy for ensuring gender equality. The initiative aims to develop and scale national production and to enhance the business activity of Ukrainian women entrepreneurs.

The goal of the program is to stimulate economic growth by providing resources and financial support for women to implement their business plans.

As a result of the first stage of the “CREATE!” program, 65 Ukrainian women — founders, executives, and owners of small and medium-sized businesses — became winners. They used the grant funds to scale their businesses: entering new markets, expanding product lines, automating production, and improving quality.

In 2025, the program continues: the total budget for the second stage exceeds $1,000,000, with a maximum grant amount of up to $15,000. Grant funds can be used to purchase equipment, cover logistics and installation costs, as well as software (up to 30% of the grant amount).

The program was launched in 2024 by the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine and the Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund (UMAEF). The initiative is implemented by the KSE Foundation in partnership with the Avrora multi-market chain and JSC Oschadbank.

Applications will be accepted until October 31, 2025 (inclusive). You can submit your application and learn more about the program here.