Towards your own business: FUIB initiates educational and grant programme for veteran business development
24 October 2024 16:57
FUIB Bank, in cooperation with the Future Development Agency and KSE Business School, has launched an educational and grant programme for the development of veteran business called “Living Towards“, which will help defenders to take a step towards their own business. And to do so together with their families and friends.
Returning to civilian life is not an easy path, and it is extremely important to have reliable partners. Those who are ready to meet you halfway. And those who are ready to move forward with you.
“The programme provides an opportunity to receive a grant of UAH 500,000 to UAH 1 million to start or develop your own business. It will unite veterans and civilians for the sake of quality integration and development of the Ukrainian economy. The educational and grant programme will help create new jobs and develop social entrepreneurship in Ukraine. It will help veterans find their new great mission – only now in civilian life – to make this world a better place and strengthen the country,” said Serhiy Magdych, FUIB’s Deputy Chairman of the Board for Corporate Business.
Who is theprogramme for: teams of at least 2 people, headed by a veteran or a serviceman or woman with the status of a combatant, can participate.
Programme features: an opportunity to start a business with a friend or loved one, modern business training, mentoring and expert support after starting a small business, bank services for sole proprietorships on favourable terms, and assistance in promoting business through the Live Towards platform.
The initiative will be implemented in several stages:
Recruitment of teams
Applications will be accepted until 31 October 2024.
To apply, read the terms and conditions on the website and fill out the application form. In early November, 30 teams will be selected based on the results of the application evaluation and interviews. The selection criteria include the presence of a team, the feasibility of the business project, and motivation (readiness to learn and develop their own business).
Training and consultations
In November and December, the teams will receive business training from KSE Business School professors and experts, which will result in the development of a business plan. Meetings will be held online on a weekly basis. Each team will also have its own mentor-entrepreneur and will receive the necessary online consultations with experts for business development (accounting, digital marketing, export, SMM, PR, etc.).
Financing and business support
At the end of December, the teams will present their business plans. The expert jury, which will include representatives of FUIB, Future Development Agency, KSE Business School, the veteran community and business, will select 10 winners who will receive funding from UAH 500 thousand to UAH 1 million in accordance with their business plans. Mentors and experts of the programme will continue to advise the teams for 3 months, helping them to launch their business.
Find out more about the programme and the terms of participation on the website of the StepUp to the Challengeplatform for the integration of female and male veterans.
Let’s move towards veteran-owned businesses together!
