Born Global Ukraine is an educational marathon shaping a new generation of entrepreneurs capable of thinking globally and acting strategically. The program unit talented teams from across Ukraine to teach them how to build amd scale cross-cultural strategies, pitch ideas on the global stage, and turn challenges into breakthroughs.
At a time when international markets are opening new opportunities for Ukrainian business, more and more companies are emerging not by growing “from local to global,” but by being born with global ambitions from the start. Born Global Incubator Ukraine was created at the intersection of innovation, education, and a strong belief in the power of Ukrainian business to nurture precisely these entrepreneurs.
Born Global Ukraine is more than education. It is transformation. Today, we summarize a major stage of the training process that has concluded — but is far from over.
Education at a New Level
Three months of deep learning and intensive learning, feedback sessions for homeworks, and team transformation. This was the duration of the core educational stage of Born Global Incubator Ukraine Pilot Program.
This stage became a gathering point for a new generation of export enthusiasts who do not fear uncertainty but see opportunity within it. Over 40 teams started learnings in the Pilot Program, 8 well-structured modules, and dozens of practical breakthroughs — this is what Ukrainian entrepreneurship preparing to go global looks like.
Learning at Born Global is not just theory. It’s practice, feedback, teamwork, challenges, and solutions. The eight strategically designed program modules covered everything a business with global ambitions needs — from cross-cultural sensitivity to risk management, from building an international brand to financial planning under global market conditions:
- Global Thinking and Cultural Sensitivity — how to work with different cultures and build relationships in international markets.
- Strategic Vision — how to scale, analyze trends, and see a 3–5 year perspective.
- Innovative Thinking — how to create breakthrough products/services and new business models.
- Financial Acumen — how to manage finances in a global context, plan, optimize, and attract investment.
- Networking — how to build connections with clients, investors, and partners worldwide.
- Marketing and Branding — how to adapt a brand for different markets, create emotional connections, and sell.
- Communications — how to negotiate, pitch, build trust, and convey value.
- Risk Management and Adaptability — how to work with changes, uncertainty, legal and political factors.
All this was delivered through training videos, workshops, group dynamics, homework, and gamified formats — no fluff, no bulky workbooks, just what works.
Although the final participant survey is still ongoing, early feedback from teams already demonstrates the real impact of Born Global Ukraine. The training has become a catalyst for action: start-ups have not only developed Global Business Plans, but many are planning to take steps toward the market.
- Sofi Dreamland opened an offline showroom for children’s furniture — a space where parents and children can interact with the product, experience the brand’s quality and atmosphere. An Instagram campaign involving key opinion leaders, professional content, and cohesive visual identity has created a vibrant brand presence in the target audience’s communication space.
- The startup “ЄPastukh” exemplifies how an innovative idea turns into practice. Participants developed a clear technical concept for automated livestock grazing using drones, presented a first prototype, launched a website, and built active social media channels. The team is already building a community and preparing for MVP field testing.
These cases show that the Born Global Incubator approach enables start-ups not just to plan, but to implement — quickly, systematically, and with a focus on global standards.
What’s Next?
Ahead are the final mentorship sessions in August and thesis defenses. But the main event will be product/service launches, investor search, and entering the international market.
Some teams are already preparing for EU acceleration programs, while others are looking for their first clients and partners.
“Born Global doesn’t teach ‘how to do business.’ It shifts the focus from ‘this is not the right time’ to ‘what if we try?’”
Born Global is the beginning of a new reality for Ukrainian entrepreneurship.
Born Global Ukraine proves that even amid war, challenges, and instability, it is possible to build next-generation businesses — scalable, sustainable, creative, and ready for the modern world.
This generation is shaping a Ukraine that exports not only goods, but new ideas and approaches.
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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).
