In the face of war-related
challenges, Ukrainian women-led businesses continue to demonstrate resilience,
determination, and strength. Now, it’s time to take that energy to the next
level!
Garage48, the Estonian
Association of Business and Professional Women (EENA), and the Ukrainian NGO
Divergent Woman have combined over 15 years of experience in empowering female
entrepreneurs, startup communities, and business leaders. Together, we invite
ambitious female founders from across Ukraine to embark on a transformative
journey into digitalisation and export development.
For the first time, we are opening the programme to participants from all over Ukraine!
Empowering Women: Digitalisation and Export Acceleration is designed
for female-led SMEs in traditional industries, equipping them with cutting-edge
insights from the startup and tech sectors. Participants can expect hands-on
mentorship, practical strategies, and group coaching for both personal and
business growth. Our mentors include experienced Ukrainian and international
entrepreneurs, market experts, and specialists who understand the intricacies
of the EU market.
Join us and take your business to new heights!
WHO CAN APPLY?
We welcome women
entrepreneurs from across Ukraine, operating in various business sectors, who
are eager to expand their business to foreign markets and digitalise their operations.
A good level of spoken
English is strongly recommended.
Important:
- Applicants must have an active business registered in their own name (sole proprietors are also eligible), and operate on the territory controlled by the Ukrainian government.
PRIZES
The top 15 participants of
the Empowering Women Hackathon (May 2-25) will receive
business digitalisation services worth up to €2,000 each (NB:
this amount includes taxes).
PROGRAMME STRUCTURE
The programme is held online
and consists of two interrelated stages.
STAGE 1: Empowering Women Hackathon
May 2–25, 2025 (online)
Turn your digitalisation and export vision into a concrete action plan through an extended online Garage48 hackathon featuring hands-on mentoring and workshops. By the end of the hackathon, participants will submit their business development and action plans.
The top 15
participants will receive a prize and move on to the 5-month
Acceleration Programme.
STAGE 2: Empowering Women Acceleration & Development Circles
June 4 – November 21, 2025 (online)
- Development Circles: Open to all participants, this group coaching initiative offers a supportive online environment where all programme applicants are divided into small circles (teams) and receive guidance from other women for their personal growth and business development. Development Circles meetings are held online once a month, in Ukrainian language.
We also offer a short training program to those who want to become team leads
of the Development Circles and try themselves as a group coach. Please be aware
that this means a commitment to lead Development Circles once a month during
the Empowering Women programme. The training for team leads consists of two
additional online sessions held in English without translation, and will take
place before the start of the main program (second half of April)
- Acceleration Programme: The top 15 female founders from the hackathon will receive a 5-month tailor-made business acceleration programme, including:
- Needs-based mentoring and workshops
- Peer-to-peer learning
- Network development
- A mini-hackathon for building an e-shop
- €2,000 worth of digitalisation services
- Empowering Women Demo Day & Conference (November 21, 2025, on-site in Ukraine)
TIMELINE
· April 14, 2025 – Application deadline
· May 2, 2025 (17:30-21:00) – Programme Kick-off
· May 2-25, 2025 – Empowering Women Hackathon
· May 25, 2025 – Hackathon Finals & Announcement of the Top 15 Teams
· June 4 – November 21, 2025 – Empowering Women Acceleration & Development Circles
· November 21, 2025 – Demo Day & Conference (on-site in Ukraine)
APPLY HERE:
If you have any questions, please contact us at kseniia@garage48.org
The project is funded by the Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV).
