In times of turbulence, clarity is often born not from planning, but from action. This is precisely how the Born Global programme began — not with theoretical lectures, but with real-time collaboration during a series of hackathons. Designed to bring together aspiring Ukrainian entrepreneurs, these hackathons served as a powerful platform for testing ideas, forming new teams, and creating connections that would become the foundation of promising ventures.
46 Teams, One Goal: Building Global-Ready Ventures
The results of these hackathons exceeded expectations: 46 teams were formed and selected to move forward to the educational phase of the programme. Each team is now undergoing intensive training designed to sharpen their business models, strengthen their global vision, and prepare them for scalable impact.
In this article, we spotlight the story of two teams which were created during the hackathons — each born out of shared values, mutual curiosity, and a desire to solve real problems.
Team 1: Building Mental Health Support for Displaced Ukrainians
Olha, a social worker by profession, found herself at a personal and professional crossroads after the onset of the full-scale war. Recognizing the overwhelming mental health challenges faced by internally displaced persons (IDPs), she shifted her focus toward psychological support and trauma recovery.
When she joined the Born Global hackathon, Olha came with a clear mission: to create a mobile app that would provide trauma-informed self-help tools for people displaced by the war. Her pitch resonated with several participants, and a team quickly formed around the idea. Since then, the group has gone through transformations and pivots — but the vision has remained strong.
Today, Olha is developing the product in partnership with Iryna, focusing on delivering accessible, culturally sensitive mental health tools tailored to the unique realities of wartime Ukraine.
Team 2: Innovating with Nutrition in Extreme Conditions
Vasyl, a certified mountain guide and DevOps engineer, had long been thinking about a problem he encountered on his expeditions: how to carry light, nutrient-dense meals that could be prepared with minimal effort in the wild. His idea? Freeze-dried meals designed for hikers, emergency workers, and military personnel.
At the Born Global hackathon, Vasyl presented his idea. He was soon joined by Olena, and together they created a compelling presentation that captured the attention of mentors and jury members alike.
“This programme gave us not only knowledge but momentum,” Vasyl reflects. “We started with a hunch. Now we’re building a business.”
Training, Transformation, and the Road Ahead
With five training modules now behind them, participants in Born Global have tackled everything from value proposition design and user validation to legal structures and international scaling. But the most valuable takeaway, according to many, is the power of team formation and shared commitment.
In the face of war, displacement, and economic uncertainty, Ukrainian entrepreneurs are proving that resilience is more than a buzzword — it’s a process. And it starts with people willing to act, build, and learn together.
Why Partnerships Matter
The early stages of a startup journey are fragile. Ideas are raw. Confidence is tentative. Without the right collaborators, even the best ideas risk fading away. That’s why Born Global places such emphasis on partnership — not only between team members but also between the programme and the entrepreneurs themselves.
Every mentor session, every pitch rehearsal, every late-night brainstorm is a step toward building ventures that matter.
What’s Next
The Born Global journey is far from over. With new mentorships, prototype testing, and potential international exposure on the horizon, these early-stage founders are gearing up for bigger challenges — and bigger opportunities.
Their stories remind us that while uncertainty may be the starting point, it’s shared purpose and partnership that drive progress.
Because real teams aren’t found.
They are built — one decision, one conversation, one brave step at a time.
***
The Born Global Ukraine project is developed by Visionest Institute (Estonia) and implemented in cooperation with Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office (Ukraine) and the national project Diia.Business. The project is implemented with financial support by ESTDEV – Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV).