In today’s world of uncertainty and fast-changing markets, a country’s strength depends on its businesses. But even the most talented entrepreneurs cannot succeed alone – especially when trying to enter complex international markets. That’s where Business Support Organizations (BSOs) step in. They are the “invisible engines” of the economy, connecting the ambitions of companies with the rules of the global market.
As Ukraine moves closer to European integration, timing is critical. BSOs and industry clusters need to be ready before EU accession, not after. The window to prepare is short, and the cost of being unprepared is high.
This is why Export Alliance Mastery (EAM) was created. Its goal is simple but powerful: to strengthen Ukrainian organizations and equip them to act as export consultants for their member companies – helping businesses confidently reach international markets.
Scale, Selectivity, and Diversity
The scale and selectivity of Export Alliance Mastery set it apart from the very beginning:
- 36 BSOs applied to participate
- Only 10 top teams were selected
- 55 highly motivated professionals completed the full learning journey
This competitive selection ensured not only strong baseline capacity but also a high level of commitment–a factor repeatedly highlighted by trainers and mentors.
The program brought together a diverse group of organizations from different regions and industries, creating a truly national and cross-sectoral learning environment. Participants included:
- Kharkiv IT Cluster
- Zaporizhzhia Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- Dnipropetrovsk Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- Ukrainian Furniture Manufacturers Association
- Ukrainian HoReCa Cluster
- Public Union “EF Cluster”
- West Ukraine Digital
- West Ukrainian Fashion Industry Cluster
- Poltava Regional Development Agency “Office of European Integration”
- U-Food Association (joined during the final stage)
This diversity allowed participants to learn not only from trainers but also from each other – comparing approaches across IT, food, furniture, cosmetics, products for HoReCa sector, fashion, and more.
A Three-Stage Professional Journey
Export Alliance Mastery is not a short-term training program. It is a structured, long-term professional journey combining intensive theory, practical application, and international exposure with 11 international trainers from the UK, Estonia, Germany, and Finland.
Stage 1: Learning Phase (Sept 2024 – July 2025)
Participants completed seven intensive modules, structured around two key directions:
- Strengthening Organizational Capacity – improving internal processes, team skills, and service delivery
- Export Consulting – equipping BSOs to guide companies in market research, export planning, and sectoral strategies
During this phase, each module BSO find a new company from their members to provide consultation based on the specific topic of each module. This ensured that every lesson was immediately applied in practice, producing tangible outputs for real businesses. At the same time, participants worked on tasks targeting their own organizational development.
Stage 2: Estonia Study Trip (August 2025)
Participants visited Tallinn, Estonia, for a 3-day study tour, observing European supply chains, subcontractor networks, and logistics models. The trip offered practical insights into how international businesses operate–lessons that could be adapted for Ukrainian exporters.
“What our team remembered most was, first of all, the trip for all BSOs to Estonia, to Tallinn. We could see on our own the activities of Estonian businesses, which can then be implemented in Ukrainian realities and improve the export capacity of our Poltava region.”
– Svitlana Tul, Acting Director, Poltava Regional Development Agency
Stage 3: Internship & Sectoral Export Strategies (Aug – Nov 2025)
From August to November, BSOs developed sectoral export strategies for groups of 3–5 companies targeting a single market, guided by international mentors from the Visionest Institute.
The internship lasted 2.5 months, with structured sessions and individual mentoring. Even BSOs that had not fully participated in the learning phase benefited from this stage. When one BSO left due to internal challenges, a new organization was selected to maintain continuity and inclusivity.
On November 10, 2025, Graduation Day showcased the results: participants presented comprehensive export strategies for specific sectors and markets:
- Dnipropetrovsk CCI – Organic cosmetics to Germany
- Zaporizhzhia CCI – Pastry products to the Baltic market
- Kharkiv IT Cluster – Dual-use drones to the USA
- WUFIC – Garments to Germany
- EF Cluster – Furniture to the USA
- Ukrainian HoReCa Cluster – Snack foods to Spain
- RDA Poltava OEI – Grains and grain products to Moldova
- West Ukraine Digital – Snack foods to Scandinavia
- Ukrainian Association of Furniture Manufacturers – Oak furniture to the UK
- U-Food – Natural snacks to Germany
Bohdan Okuniev from U-Food Association, who joined during the internship, highlighted:
“The team realized such plans should become a standard prerequisite before entering any new market–a practice we now plan to institutionalize.”
Participants also faced challenges: convincing companies to value high-level consultancy offered for free and uniting competitor companies around a single export objective.
Results and Measurable Impact
The program’s impact is clear in the measurable improvements of participants:
- Logistics & Operations: +61% – the biggest growth area, reflecting success in overcoming wartime trade bottlenecks
- Market Research: +54% – participants gained confidence in using data for decision-making
- Export Leadership: +49% – teams became nearly 50% better at leading large export projects
- Digital & AI Tools: +30% – knowledge and use of AI tools for business tasks increased, aligning Ukrainian consulting with European standards
Export Alliance Mastery also allowed BSOs to turn insights into real, sustainable services:
- Market research and analytics
- Sectoral export strategies
- One-to-one consulting for companies
- Structured support programs for first-time exporters
Kateryna Smolianyuk, Business Development Manager, Kharkiv IT Cluster:
“After completing the training and internship, we launched a new service at Kharkiv IT Cluster–Think Tank for Global Sales and Export Promotion. We combined our previous initiatives, such as business missions and delegations for our members, with a new information channel gathering insights on different markets. We also introduced One-to-One Consulting, working directly with companies to analyze target markets and develop strategies to enter them. The program gave us the push to consolidate everything and form a fully-fledged service for our community.”
Oksana Donska, Business Development Consultant, Ukrainian Association of Furniture Manufacturers:
“The entire program allowed us to systematize the experience we had accumulated over years, organize everything clearly, and develop a methodology to support our businesses. During the training, we were able to create several ready-made market research studies, which we now offer to our Association members as a ready-to-use product.”
Methodology and Organizational Transformation
A key insight across participant feedback was methodological clarity: once organizations understood the algorithm for building an export plan, they realized it could be applied to any industry or market.
Equally important was the program’s focus on internal organization. Export Alliance Mastery emphasized how teams are structured, how decisions are made, and whether the organization has a clear strategy.
“While export expertise was essential, the part of the modules on organizational development, team transformation, and strategic planning were equally critical.”
– Oksana Kachurivska, Head of West Ukraine Digital
This holistic approach ensured participants didn’t just acquire new skills – they transformed their organizations, making export support more professional, scalable, and sustainable.
A Program That Challenges and Changes
Participants were unanimous: this program is demanding.
Long sessions, intensive schedules, tight deadlines, and the need to balance learning with daily operations pushed teams to their limits, especially smaller organizations.
Yet this challenge became one of the program’s greatest strengths. Export Alliance Mastery required active involvement and real work. Learning happened through action, mistakes, discussion, and reflection – not theory alone.
“This is not a program where you can say you learned something without actually getting results.”
The program changed the way participants think, work, and support businesses. They tested themselves, questioned old habits, and gained confidence as export advisors.
Building a Community Beyond Numbers
Beyond spreadsheets and export strategies, EAM built a resilient network of professionals.
In a time of physical, economic, and digital borders, the program created unity among organizations that often work in parallel rather than together. Participants discovered not only professional partners but people who share the responsibility for Ukraine’s business future.
“We had the opportunity to realize that the other nine business associations are not just serious people we see in the press. They are living people who truly care about Ukrainian business.”
– Oksana Donska
This human connection may be the program’s most lasting outcome. Trust between organizations makes collaboration possible–and when collaboration becomes the norm, the export ecosystem grows stronger.
Export Alliance Mastery did not simply prepare BSOs for international markets. It connected people, aligned values, and laid the foundation for a resilient professional network ready to support Ukraine’s businesses far beyond the program itself.
Export Alliance Mastery: Центр розвитку Експортної Потужності project is developed by Visionest Institute Estonia and implemented in cooperation with Ukraine’s Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office within the framework of the Diia. Business Ukrainian national project. The project is supported by ESTDEV – Estonian Centre for International Development
