Up to $20,000 for your own IT business: veterans are invited to join a new program
28 April 04:37
Ukraine has launched the second round of applications for the Veteran Venture Program, a free acceleration program for veterans who want to launch or scale their own IT businesses. Participants can receive up to $20,000 to develop their projects, and the program’s total grant fund amounts to $50,000.
The Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine announced the start of the new round, according to "Komersant Ukrainian"
The program is being implemented by SKELAR, and its participants will go through the key stages of startup creation—from developing a business model to building a prototype and preparing a pitch for investors.
What is the Veteran Venture Program
TheVeteran Venture Program is an accelerator program for veterans with experience in IT or entrepreneurship who plan to create or develop their own tech business.
The program covers the full product development cycle: from the initial idea and business model to launch, mentoring, presentation preparation, and potential fundraising.
On the program’s official website, it is described as an ecosystem supporting veterans in IT, which includes training, mentoring, incubation, and investment.
How much money can participants receive
Participants in the Veteran Venture Program can receive up to $20,000 to launch or scale their own IT product. The total grant fund for the second cohort is $50,000.
These funds can serve as seed capital for developing a prototype, testing a business model, launching a product, marketing, or scaling an existing solution.
What veteran entrepreneurs will receive
As part of the program, participants will receive not only the opportunity to secure funding but also practical support from experts. This includes mentoring, training, working on a business model, testing ideas, preparing for pitching, and presenting the project to investors.
The Ministry of Digital Transformation reports that mentoring support will be provided by experts with experience working at companies such as Meta, Google, and Microsoft.
The program’s focus in 2026 is artificial intelligence
In 2026, the Veteran Venture Program’s key focus is on the use of artificial intelligence tools. Participants will be trained to apply AI for rapid product development, business process automation, and marketing.
This is particularly important for early-stage startups, as AI tools can help validate an idea faster, create a first prototype, automate routine tasks, and reduce startup costs.
Who Can Apply
Veterans with experience in IT or entrepreneurship who plan to launch or scale their own business are eligible to apply.
The application deadline is May 14, 2026.
Applications for the Veteran Venture Program can be submitted via the program’s official website. Details about the stages, eligibility requirements, and the acceleration format are also available there.
The initiative is implemented by the SKELAR Foundation with support from the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Veterans Fund, the Ukrainian Startup Fund, Azov.Support, the NGO “All-Ukrainian Association ‘Veteran Corps’,” and the Patronage Service of the Separate Presidential Brigade named after Hetman Bohdan Khmelnytsky.
