Kyiv, August 28, 2025 — A week ago, on August 28, the Born Global Ukraine program reached its culmination in a hall filled with energy and pride. Today, we will reflect on the day’s events and the journey the program has taken over the last six months.
The graduation ceremony, held in a hybrid format in the centre of Kyiv, marked the first time that participants, mentors, trainers, partners, and business support representatives gathered in person.
Over the past half-year, these future entrepreneurs had been challenged to think bigger than ever before. They weren’t just building local businesses – they were creating “Born Global” companies. Participants had immersed themselves in the fundamentals of international trade, developed “born global” business plans, and tested ideas that could scale far beyond domestic borders. Now, on graduation day, they presented not only projects but also stories of resilience, growth, and transformation.
What Does It Mean to Be “Born Global”?
The program’s central idea was introduced by Anu-Mall Naarits, CEO of the Visionest Institute and the author of the Born Global Ukraine project
- Born Global companies are businesses that, from the moment of their creation, set their sights on international markets.
- Their goal is to operate globally from day one, rather than following the traditional path of scaling locally first.
- They are innovative by design, with business models tailored for international expansion.
For a country like Ukraine, this isn’t just a business strategy; it’s a vital pathway to resilience and growth.
Inside the Program
Born Global Ukraine was not a conventional training course. It combined education, mentoring, and gamification in a format that required participants to both learn and immediately apply their knowledge.
In January, the Born Global Ukraine project faced a major problem when the United States stopped its funding. This decision put the entire project at risk of shutting down.
Fortunately, ESTDEV (the Estonian Centre for International Development), which is the project’s co-funder, stepped in to help. Their commitment enabled the program to continue, but in a more streamlined and simplified format. This support underscores the importance of international partners in maintaining crucial initiatives, especially during uncertain times. ESTDEV’s intervention not only saved the project but also reinforced the strong spirit of collaboration behind it.
Over eight intensive modules – spanning global thinking, strategic vision, innovation, financial literacy, networking, marketing, communication, and risk management – participants engaged in both structured learning and applied experimentation.
The program’s outcomes speak for themselves:
- 46 teams began the journey, and 25 teams completed the program
- 132+ hours of structured work, including online training and dedicated to developing business plans
- Participant satisfaction ratings averaged 4.8/5 for trainers and materials, and 4.9/5 for program organisation.
Numbers, however, tell only part of the story. The real achievement lies in the projects that moved from hackathon ideas to market-ready business concepts.
From Ideas to Impact: The Projects Taking the Stage
The true heart of the graduation ceremony was the series of project presentations. This wasn’t just about showcasing business plans; it was about hearing how the program had changed the way these entrepreneurs think.
Pink Elephant, a premium Ukrainian tea brand, kicked off the presentations. Its founder, Iryna Korobko, shared a powerful reflection:
“Today marked the end of an incredible 6-month journey. I met people who are truly devoted to sharing their knowledge, experience, motivation, and hearts. I witnessed a different level of learning organization and a deep involvement of organizers, mentors, and participants. Something has shifted in my mind. A new path begins with new knowledge, new tools, breaking patterns, and the ability to see things not through rose-colored glasses, but from the height of an elephant. Thank you. It means the world to me.”
Other projects showcased the incredible diversity of Ukrainian innovation:
- ePastukh team presented their groundbreaking solution for automated livestock grazing using drones.
- PetVenture demonstrated its stylish and practical backpacks for pets.
- A children’s furniture manufacturer shared a powerful success story of already securing their first sales, a testament to how Born Global turned their idea into a real business.
- Voyage Vista, a platform that blends medical wellness with tourism, showed a bold vision for attracting more visitors to Ukraine, a crucial step for the country’s economic future.
Behind the scenes, the networking was just as dynamic. Guests from business support organizations and clusters like the EF Cluster, Ukrainian HORECA Cluster, Ukrainian Export Alliance, and U-Food explored ways to adapt the Born Global methodology for their own ecosystems. This B2B matchmaking, unfolding in parallel with the presentations, demonstrated the program’s domino effect and multiplier potential.
A ceremony of recognition
The ceremonial part of the day welcomed distinguished guests:
- Reelika Virunurm, Economic and Consular Advisor, Embassy of Estonia in Kyiv
- Oleksii Hrushetskyi, Deputy Director of the Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office
- Anu-Mall Naarits, CEO of Visionest Institute
Mentors and trainers, both international and Ukrainian, offered heartfelt final words. Jaan Järv, Jean Sutton, Martina Vazzoler, together with Inesa Platonova, Olga Gurtova, and Volodymyr Ursu, reminded graduates of the value of collaboration, persistence, and global thinking.
The awards ceremony offered more than just simple certificates, featuring special nominations such as:
– “Event-Bird”: This award recognized participants who consistently engaged in every activity and submitted all assignments on time.
– “Speaker”: This nomination celebrated those who enriched discussions with insightful questions and confident contributions.
– “Pushing Development”: This award was given to participants who demonstrated the most significant growth from the beginning to the end of the program.
A gamified leaderboard kept teams motivated throughout the program. By the final stage, the TOP 5 Born Global Teams were announced:
- Team #21 – AD Travel & Logistics
- Team #10 – Iron Craft
- Team #3 – ePastukh
- Team #33 – Young Center “Beavers Community”
- Team #13 – Saitex Ukraine
“Every single participant who reached the final is a winner. This certificate is not just a piece of paper – it’s proof of your idea, your resilience, and your determination to go global,” the Visionest team emphasized during the ceremony.
A Graduation of Trainers
The graduation ceremony was not just for the participating teams; it was also a moment of recognition for the Ukrainian trainers who were vital to the program’s success. These 21 trainers, who provided local expertise and guidance to the teams, received their own Born Global Trainer certificates.
This marked the culmination of their own intensive journey. In the first phase of the program, they received mentorship from international experts, refining their skills and adapting global methodologies to the specific context of the Ukrainian market. Their dual role – as both students and teachers – was a testament to the program’s unique “train the trainers” model.
The certification of these trainers signifies a crucial step in building a sustainable ecosystem of export support in Ukraine. With their new qualifications, they are now equipped to continue advising and mentoring the next wave of local entrepreneurs, ensuring the knowledge and principles of the Born Global program will continue to grow and spread throughout the country.
Summary of the Graduation Event
As the day came to a close, the final message from the organizers was clear: this is only the beginning. These graduates have proven they can think globally, collaborate effectively, and turn a great idea into a viable business. Their journeys will inspire a new generation of future Ukrainian entrepreneurs eager to compete on the world stage.
As one participant summed it up, the program helped them overcome their fears, providing a guiding star for every foreign market they will conquer.
This article was prepared as a part of Born Global Ukraine Program. 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).
