Startup Ecosystem

WITH US YOU WILL INVENT AND LAUNCH YOUR OWN STARTUP

From dream to business. Learning for those who do not miss opportunities

WITH US YOU WILL INVENT AND LAUNCH YOUR OWN STARTUP

WHO IS IT FOR?

If you dream of your own startup but don't know where to start, join the KSE Graduate Business School's Startup Ecosystem programme and make your dream come true! We are looking for talented and courageous participants who are ready to work on their idea from 0 to MVP, which will be invested.

WHAT IS HAPPENING?

●80 academic hours of training in business basics● workshops from Ukrainian and foreign experts● opportunity to validate the idea and create an MVP● work on a prototype in the KSE Lab ● patenting your ideas● training in filling out grant applications● mentoring support from experts and experienced startups

WHAT IS THE OUTCOME?

The finalists will be immersed in Ukraine's innovation ecosystem, expand their networking and have the opportunity to receive their first investment to develop their business. The programme was created to develop innovative solutions in the areas of GreenTech, Demining, HealthTech, Robotics and IT/AI, which are crucial for the development of Ukraine's economy.

Idea Creation & Validation

At the first event, you will gain the basic knowledge to create your own startup. Lectures will cover topics such as entrepreneurship, team building, creative thinking, problem identification and formulation, market and competitor analysis, customer survey questionnaires, and a workshop on filling out grant applications. You will have the opportunity to meet other participants, form teams, and attend a panel discussion with the programme's alumni who will share their successes and challenges.
After the event, you and your team will receive the first task: to research potential customers, create a survey questionnaire and analyze the results. Experts will select the teams that will continue their studies in the programme in January 2025.

DONE

Roman Humeniuk

Engineering Project Manager

Team organization, delivery management, product management, leadership, project management, Scrum, Agile, Kanban

Sergii Kalinchuk

CEO and Founder of Antigravity.vc

10+ years in investment management, 12+ years in IT, IT startup operations, software development, financial modeling, AI-driven business automation

Adam Schultz

CEO

Startups, team building, product management, growth hacking, marketing, Lean, Agile

Anton Skokov

Head of Digital Solutions Service "Vchasno"

Creating innovative products, market analysis, financial evaluation, business strategy, vision formation, scaling businesses

Oleksandr Tomilin

Co-founder and Partner at Reprezent

Presentation design, capacity development, pitch deck structure, design, speechwriting

Andrew Osadchyi

Founder/CEO at MELT WATER Inc.

Hardware, deeptech, bootstrap, startup consulting

Ruslan Kovalenko

CEO SoftTrainer

AI-driven learning, gamification, microlearning, pitch coaching, investor relations, cloud-based services

Kateryna Hnedina

CEO of "Insulin Without Queues", PhD in Economics, Associate Professor, Startup Development Coordinator

Business model formation, strategy development, budgeting, pitching skills

Artem Holinka

Senior Frontend Engineer at Jiji

Web and mobile development, tech hackathon judge, mentor at 1991 Accelerator

Oleksandra Stepanets

Marketing Strategist

7+ years in marketing strategy, go-to-market, audience research, product marketing, startup growth

Anastasiia Pustylnyk

CEO & Partner at Aimbulance, COO at Anima

8+ years in marketing, 200+ projects in Ukraine, EU, and the US, Harvard Business School student

Oleksandr Buratynskyi

Founder / CEO

Vision/Mission/Strategy, product development, marketing, scaling businesses

Olena Pokalchuk

Marketing Strategist, Co-founder & CMO of The Digital State

Marketing strategy, audience research, international expansion, branding

Henadii Chalyi

Co-founder OUTEX, Tech & Health Startups Mentor

MVP creation, AI & HealthTech, product validation, startup competitions

Oryna Starkina

CEO & Founder, Mobile App Developer

MVPs to scalable mobile apps, IT consulting, 500,000+ downloads without promotion

Valeriia Kuchma

ICF

Hanna Panasiuk

Marketing Strategist

Consumer insights, product positioning, market research, JTBD methodology

Maryna Rumiantseva

B2B SaaS Marketing Executive

Digital marketing, lead generation, international campaigns, startup growth

Tom Scearce

Principal (Sonatina, LLC)

IT program management, sales & marketing systems, agile program management, demand generation

Olena Mytnyk

Advisor on corporate sustainability and grant funding

I can help startups with grant funding, corporate sustainability and ESG having 10+ years of experience in law, development, and sustainability.

Kateryna Frolova

Head of Innovation Piloting

High-Level Stakeholder Engagement & Cross-Border Partnerships; International market expansion; Sales & Business Growth; GovTech & Digital Transformation in public sector

Tymur Korytnyi

IT Program Manager, Continental Europe, Origin Enterprises Group; IT Director Ukraine in Agroscope International

International and domestic experience in various industries as CIO and Digital director from 1995, expert of Ukraine Startup Fund (Ukroboronprom quota)

Olena Dovgopolova

Sustainable consulting

Chief architect INAKSHI architects, designer of biodegradable materials, urban activist, co-founder of RAW:materials lab, Cluster "resource"

Oleh Tymoshenko

Head of Product at Zade

I help early-stage startups turn raw ideas into validated, market-ready products by focusing on rapid prototyping, structured hypothesis testing, and data-driven decision-making. I specialize in building MVPs that attract early adopters, running systematic user tests to refine features, and ensuring every iteration moves the product closer to product-market fit.

Charith Wickrema

Founder and CEO - Focus Cubes

Go-to-market strategy, product innovation, scaling operations, rapid prototyping, customer discovery, commercializing emerging tech, team engagement, CPG, B2B, B2B2C, story telling / pitch, and mental health.

Corey Weddington

Lead Strategist

Core Skillsets These are the foundational areas I bring to the table — built through 15+ years of experience working with startups, educational institutions, global enterprises, and everything in between.

Ranjit Ghoshal

Founder idun Million Steps

My Expertise: I am a first time founder who had to learn the hard way. My background is homelessness prevention with 14 years front line and strategic experience, but I saw the pain points and decided to do something to democratise non-profit fundraising for the 99% and allow them to compete with the top 1% of non profits, tackle the physical inactivity crisis and reduce waste from Rewards like t-shirts and medals.

Ivan Denysyuk

Founder CEO of Zade

Product Management, Concept Validation, Service Design

Maryna Korshevniuk

PhD candidate in personalized medicine, startup founder with 5+ years of experience. Founder of Apixmed - leading Ukrainian healthtech startup

General: Idea Validation; Pitch training; Startup roadmap development; Fundraising; Target field: medtech/healthtech, deeptech

Yelyzaveta Didenko

Marketing and brand expert

Marketing & Growth Strategy – 5+ years of experience in marketing, leading growth for tech startups, and consulting on audience engagement and scalable marketing strategies. AI-Powered Marketing – Founder of an AI marketing startup optimizing content creation and ad automation for entrepreneurs. Content & Personal Branding – Helping experts and founders build a strong online presence through strategic content and social media. Startup Development & Scaling – Experience launching and growing businesses, expanding into international markets, and mentoring early-stage founders.

Anna Sapuntsova

Owner at Inner Space Agency

Operations, crisis management, financial markets, business and personal coaching, psychology, well being and mental health, medicine, startup development from the scratch, real estate, education

Khrystyna Penyk

Investment Associate

Venture capital, fintech infrastructure, and early-stage startup strategy. I specialize in evaluating product-market fit, competitive landscape, and go-to-market strategy for B2B fintech and payments startups

Tatyana Petrova

Product Coach

Product conceptualization (product-market fit, MVP definition, product strategy, business model) in technology sector, primarily software.

Dan Herman

Founder, Lecturer, CEO

Strategy, communications, intellectual property and market research.

Oleg Zubchenok

Business development, Board Advisor

MBA. Growth Strategy, Bizdev & Business Process Management. Boards and Start Ups Advisor

Dmytro Derkach

Investment Analyst

Fundraising, Investor Relations, G2M Strategy, Market Research, Product validation, Pitch Deck validation, LinkedIn and Email Marketing.

Iryna Yashchenko

Communications expert

I develop communication strategies, save reputations, bring stakeholders together and launch campaigns that stick. My experience includes the public and political sectors, large businesses and NGOs. If you need to be heard, don't hesitate to contact me. If you don't, don't hesitate to contact me 😉.

Lenz Gschwendtner

Founder, community builder

Generalist that goes deep in tech, international company setups, team and community building

Elvira Zhukovska

PR Lead at Sigma Software Labs

Oksana Kikhtenko Founder of Because Talents Matter – an AI-powered HR Tech platform. 15+ years in strategic and digital marketing, with leadership roles in IT and FMCG sectors. Entrepreneur and startup mentor with 11+ years of experience. Advises on go-to-market strategy, user growth, HR processes, and personal branding for founders.

Oksana Kikhtenko

CEO and Founder of Because Talents Matter

Стратегічний маркетинг, HR Tech, Go-to-Market, особистий бренд засновників, масштабування HR-процесів, залучення користувачів, воронка продажів, бренд-комунікації, менторство стартапів, розвиток команд, міжнародний івент-менеджмент, діджитал-стратегії для early-stage, персоналізовані інструменти кар’єрного зростання, позиціонування продукту.

Andriy Sorych

Delivery Manager

Technology, Project Management, People Management

Pavani Peri

Co-founder/Chief Operating Officer

Founder of a GovTech startup. I have expertise in sales, scoping MVPs, experimenting, and customer discovery.

Oleksandra Korotkova

Global PR & Brand Reputation Lead, SKELAR

PR & Communications professional with 10 years of international experience in building reputation and managing public relations for corporate brands and leaders in energy (for DTEK), advertising (for BBDO), and tech (for SKELAR).

Denys Sudilkovsky

Chief Brand and Business Officer at LUN
Chief Innovation Officer at Prjctr AI Lab

Ivan Zatvarskyi

Digital transformation project manager in the field of defense technology
Senior lecturer at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy
Co-owner of several startups

Yaroslav Lysak

CEO & Co-Founder of Neverdark

Alexander Marchenko

Chief Product Officer RozetkaPay

Lyubava Obodenko

CEO and co-founder of A-Players BA

Olena Halytska

Product design expert with over 12 years of experience, including managing her own company and collaborating with top brands like Mercedes AMG and Logitech. She holds a Master's in Applied Mathematics and certifications from Harvard Business School and Nielsen Norman Group, specializing in user research, product strategy, and team leadership.

Andriy Porada

Executive MBA, Oxford UK, Co-founder BeFunders, 20+ in financial services, armed forces since 2022.

Iryna Supruniuk

Funding Opportunities Manager at KSE Business School

Maksym Burlai

Head of Intensive Business Programs KSE Graduate Business School
Founder & CEO LTD “Robot School” - Children's School of Programming and Robotics

Anna Topchii

Head of Low-code department at Archysoft

Vladislav Svidersky

Low-code/no-code developer, UI/UX designer

Oleksii Myropolskyi

Chief Commercial Officer Rozetka Pay

Oleksandr Lapko

CEO, Rozetka Pay

Vladyslav Drychyk

CEO, AdConnect at appflame

Mykola Pototskyi

Deputy Director, NIPO; Doctor of Law, Attorney, Patent Attorney, Workshop Curator & Moderator from NIPO

Andrii Sukhovii

Head of the Department of Application Expertise for Inventions, Utility Models, and Semiconductor Layouts, NIPO; Master of Intellectual Property and Public Administration

Olha Urazovska

Deputy Head of the Department – Head of the Intellectual Property Department in the Defense Industry Complex, NIPO; PhD in Law

Olena Ihnatieva

Head of the Department for the Development of Copyright and Related Rights, NIPO; Master of Intellectual Property

Viktoriia Dmytrenko

Deputy Head of the Information Support Department for Technology Transfer, NIPO; PhD in Law

Yevhen Holovach

Leading Intellectual Property Specialist, Intellectual Property Department in the Defense Industry Complex, NIPO

Serhii Lavrinchuk

CEO & Founder @ Wild.Codes

Yuliia Tkachenko

Founder @ OUTEX

Oleksandr Maslovskyi

CEO & Founder of VyshyvAI

Dana Sydorenko

CEO & Founder @ GameTree

Vadym Synzheretskyi

CEO & Co-founder of BUKI (Tutoring Marketplace)

Andrii Osadchyi

Founder/CEO at MELT WATER Inc.

Wild.Codes

Wild.Codes is AI-powered platform for hiring vetted remote developers on a subscription basis, with all overheads and compliance managed.

[НАСІЯ]

[NASIA] is a brand of biodegradable tableware made from secondary raw materials sourced from Ukrainian farmers with seeds of various plants inside. With our product, which is many times more environmentally friendly and durable than all alternatives on the market, we strive to change the culture of using disposable tableware and fight plastic pollution!

Jamlix

Jamlix - is an AI-powered learning app, that helps users find self-fulfillment through creative activities, enrich their lives, and find like-minded people for collaborative learning.
Contact: moc.liamg%40atalas21a

OUTEX

OUTEX is an app for working out and rehabilitation, where an artificial intelligence corrects the performance of the exercises while you are training
Contact: moc.liamg%40au.xetuo

VyshyvAI

VyshyvAI is a startup that uses artificial intelligence to create personalized embroidered shirts. Users can create their own designs by inputting text data, which AI transforms into unique patterns. We offer high-quality products that preserve Ukrainian cultural heritage while meeting modern trends.
Contact: moc.iavyhsyv%40oec

B2buy`s

B2buy`s - digital platform for business purchases (procurement), the purpose of which is: to connect the supplier and the buyer to optimize regular interaction in all aspects of this important business process.
Contact: moc.liamg%40putratsyub2b

Elixira

Elixira is a company that creates vitamin bar vending machines with a personalised cocktail composition and taste.

Startup Workshop

Join the Startup Workshop from 7 to 10 November! This is an intensive course designed for aspiring entrepreneurs, startups and founders who want to test their idea, develop a business model and learn how to pitch it to investors with confidence.

DONE

Techstars Startup Weekend

Techstars Startup Weekend is a part of the global Techstars initiative that helps startups from all over the world grow into large successful companies. More than 150 countries, thousands of success stories, and one of them will be yours this October in Kyiv!

DONE

Innova Europe

This year, KSE joined a team of 9 European business schools together with POLIMI Graduate School of Management, ESMT Berlin, IE Business School and others to jointly create innovative projects in the field of sustainability.

DONE

MVP Creation

MVP Development

Techstars Startup Weekend

Startup Workshop

Idea Creation\Idea Validation

Startup Workshop

Startup Hackathon

Mistake Marathon

Innovation Day

Idea Development

Demo Day

EDUCATION SUPPORTERS

INFORMATION SUPPORTERS

PROGRAM PARTNER

Walk your path with minimal risks in just six months. How the Startup Ecosystem prepares future startup stars.

Read Article

Grand Finale Winners of 2nd Annual INNOVA Europe Competition

Read Article

KSE Graduate Business School Startup Hackathon announced the winners

Read Article

Hackathon winners received grants to develop their ideas

Read Article

KSE Startup Ecosystem Demo Day Showcases Ukraine’s Rising Tech Talent

Read Article

The Startup Ecosystem project allowed me and my startup team to structure our knowledge, hear important and valuable opinions from top foreign experts from MIT, and feel ready to make a real business product. Thanks to the project, we learned more about the practical aspects of creating a startup and received valuable feedback from lecturers and judges during pitches.

Anton SalataCEO & Co-founder Jamlix

Our startup was actually created from scratch within the Startup Ecosystem. Inspired by the experience of people who came to us to share cool insights, we created VyshyvAI. With each stage, our idea changed, evolved, and transformed, and now we are on the verge of launching the project, having a lot of guidance that helped turn the idea into an effective project. Before participating in the ecosystem, I thought I had good project management skills because I knew how to write budgets and was familiar with canvas, but it turned out that it was a drop in the bucket, and during the period of participation in the programme, they multiplied many times over and found application not only in the startup but also in my professional life. The Startup Ecosystem literally created our project, our team, and a new, pumped-up version of myself! The programme impressed me with its cool approach, which provides a high-quality knowledge base and relevant materials for working out the theory in practice, but at the same time creates space for freedom of action and development, without any rules or restrictions. The community that has formed deserves special attention, it seems that we are creating not just one startup, but a whole cluster of projects that are ready to work and move together and help each other, and I am grateful to the organisers for this.

Oleksandr MaslovkiyCEO & Co-founder VyshyvAI

The most important thing I have learnt in the Startup Ecosystem is the love of learning. I am glad that you have shown me how interesting and practical learning can be, sometimes it can be difficult, but it always feels good after the work is done. Here I met many bright people who are passionate about their ideas. I got very good networking, and the best of all was the positive attitude and practical knowledge.
In fact, I learnt a lot of skills in the Startup Ecosystem. Thanks to Elena Shepel, I started to understand finance better. From Iryna Pulvas, I saw how to better define a personality and tried it in practice. From Ivan Zatvarsky, I learnt more about the competitor market and how to work with it and research it. The Startup Ecosystem had a lot of mentors, high-quality and useful information, and interesting ideas.
As for the startup, the project showed that every idea has the right to exist if you work on it and are not afraid to make mistakes and try again. I am glad to have the opportunity to listen to lectures and expand my knowledge and capabilities in such an environment.

Viktor OstashevskyiCTO Elixira

How long is the programme?
The programme lasts for 7 months, during which you will work on developing your own startup idea and validating it, creating an MVP and assembling your cool team.The programme will be accompanied by support and mentoring from Ukrainian and foreign mentors, business experts and lecturers from KSE Graduate Business School.
Is there an approved list of sectors for creating startups?
Yes, the programme was created to develop innovative solutions in the sectors of Agriculture, GreenTech, Demining, Logistics, HealthTech, Robotics, Manufacturing and IT/AI, which are crucial for the development of Ukraine's economy.All programme participants work in teams in one of the following sectors
What are the stages of the programme?
0P: Workshop - DONEStartups Fails and Wins
1P: Simple Program - DONEBrainstorming techniques to generate startup ideas (practise)
Lectures: ● Incubators and Accelerators, Community and Ecosystem Builders ● Investors: Angel Investors, Venture Capitalists, Corporate Investors● Strategic Partners● Nonprofits and NGO
2P: Idea Development Program
● Introduction to LEAN● Kaizen principle● Market analysis (lecture + workshop)● Building a startup team● Mentors & Advisors● Design thinking● Innovation strategy and management of inventive activity"● Idea Crush Test
3P: MVP Program
● Competitor analysis● Financial planning (cash flow)● Marketing strategy● "Management accounting, cost management ● cost management and costing. Pricing model"● Proof of MVP hypotheses ● Branding (promotion in social networks)● MVP Crush Test
4P: Investment Program
● Presentations and public speaking ● Grants and fundraising● Creating a business plan ● Communication with investors ● Communication with the team● Product launch ● Team management ● Governmental regulations● IT project management
4P: Prototype Program
● Presentations and public speaking ● Grants and fundraising● Creating a business plan ● Communication with investors ● Communication with the team● Intellectual property ● Pilot projects ● Team management ● Prototyping
Pitch DayPitching competition
How much does it cost to participate in the programme?
Participation in the programme is absolutely free.
What is the format of participation?
The programme will be held exclusively offline at the Kyiv School of Economics campus (3 Shpaka St., Kyiv). The event will not be recorded.Participants from other cities are responsible for their own accommodation and meals during the programme.
Can I work individually?
No, programme participants work in teams. Team size is 4 people.
What will participants receive at the end of the programme?
Teams that have passed all stages of the programme will be given the opportunity to pitch their idea to investors and attract investment for business development.