The selection process for the second round of the free educational program for Ukrainian entrepreneurs, Stanford Ignite Ukraine, has concluded. Out of 892 applications, the CfE Accelerator UCU proudly announces 42 Ukrainian small and medium-sized business owners who will begin their transformative journey in March. The program includes one week of study at the Ukrainian Catholic University, four weeks of online learning, and three weeks of in-person sessions at one of the world’s top business schools, Stanford Graduate School of Business. The organizers cover the cost of tuition and accommodations near the campus.

The Stanford Ignite Ukraine program offers participants a unique experience that blends deep learning, practical application, and immersion in the innovative culture of Silicon Valley. Alongside the theoretical curriculum, participants will collaborate in teams on real business projects, which they will present to investors and entrepreneurs at the conclusion of the program. 

Participants will gain access to cutting-edge management tools, enabling them to implement meaningful changes and adopt systematic approaches to tackling the challenges currently facing Ukrainian businesses. The program’s ultimate goal is to empower participants to foster the growth of Ukrainian enterprises and their integration into the global economy. Upon completing the program, participants will be equipped to apply their newfound knowledge and practical experience to bring ambitious ideas to life and transform their companies.

The program received applications from various cities and regions of Ukraine, including Kyiv, Lviv, Dnipro, Odesa, Vinnytsia, Kharkiv, Cherkasy, Lutsk, Zhytomyr, and Ivano-Frankivsk. In terms of business type, service companies accounted for the majority (69% of all applications), while manufacturing companies made up 31%. Notably, 47% of applicants have over 10 years of entrepreneurial experience, with the average age of applicants being 38 years.

A key selection criterion was the motivation and intent of entrepreneurs to enhance their businesses, scale up, launch new products or services, implement innovations, attract investments, or expand into new markets.

List of 42 selected participants for the Stanford Ignite Ukraine program:

1)    Igor Smetana is the owner of LUMINAL, a company that designs and engineers commercial, architectural, and landscape lighting.
2)    Sergiy Ratovskyj is a co-owner of the Ukrainian Steel Products Factory, a company that develops and manufactures metal structures of any complexity, as well as their subsequent installation.
3)    Mykola Maksymenko is a co-founder and CTO of Haiqu, a Quantum Computing startup developing breakthrough enabling technology for future quantum applications.
4)    Mariia Gavryliuk is a co-owner of Gunia Project, a brand of exclusive products created based on traditional Ukrainian ornaments and techniques.
5)    Taras Skorupskyi is a co-owner of "Dmytruk" company, known for its delicious meat snacks, especially kabanosy.
6)    Mariia Poliakova is the co-founder of INCHKIEV, one of the biggest and best pharma marketing agencies in Ukraine.
7)    Oleksandr Demus is the manufacturer of agricultural equipment DEMUS. 
8)    Vadym Gryshyn is a co-owner of "Sneco", a company specializing in the production of various snack foods.
9)    Viacheslav Mokhov is the owner of RalcoTechnic, the company that has been designing energy-efficient refrigeration supply systems and installing and servicing refrigeration equipment for the industrial, agricultural, and commercial sectors.
10)    Ievgeniia Todurova is the founder of the BAKERSTREET bakery, a pastry shop.
11)    Roman Kvashenko is the owner of KR Ingredients, one of the biggest manufacturers of ingredients for the food industry.
12)    Nazar Hembara is the owner of BotsCrew, the global leader in Chatbots and AI development, which helps small and medium enterprises bring stellar customer experiences to their markets.
13)    Taras Borshchovskyi is the founder of MetaliX, specializing in premium interior zoning structures and steel-and-glass doors.
14)    Mykola Gordiichuk is the owner of the agricultural company "PAPAS".
15)    Arsen Shlapak is the co-founder of the KREDENS coffee shop chain.
16)    Oleksandr Iefremov is co-founder of Kitsoft, a company that develops and implements digital technologies for government agencies and commercial organizations.
17)    Vadym Synzheretskyi is CEO and co-founder of BUKI - a global EdTech marketplace for local and online tutors (private teachers).
18)    Kyrylo Shyianov is the co-owner of "обJerky," a snack production company.
19)    Khrystyna Shabat is the co-founder of the kindergarten "Ptashenya. Children's Space."
20)    Vitalii Melnyk is the founder of the specialized machinery manufacturing company TAD.
21)    Dmytro Sofina is the co-founder of the research center for artificial intelligence development Winstars.AI.
22)    Viktor Kruglov is the founder of  "RANOK" Publishing House, the leader on the national market of educational, children's and methodical literature.
23)    Pavlo Zaiats is the founder of the pet store "Petslike."
24)    Oleg Khardin is the founder of "Premier Socks", one of the leaders in the Ukrainian market for the production and wholesale and retail trade of hosiery products.
25)    Ievgen Mordvinov is the co-owner of the dry cleaning "TSEKH."
26)    Volodymyr Nerubenko is the co-owner of TerraLab, a company that optimizes medical laboratory processes.
27)    Bogdan Dumenko is the owner of KIDIGO, a manufacturer of playground equipment.
28)    Sviatoslav Amelin is the founder of the furniture marketplace Mebelok.
29)    Oleksiy Kolchanov is the co-founder of the chocolate manufacturing company Meetty Chocolate.
30)    Vladyslava Zatsarynna is the co-owner of DOU, the largest Ukrainian online portal for IT specialists. 
31)    Denys Kudriashov is the co-owner of PaperBag, a company that first launched automated production of paper bags in Ukraine and ranks among the top three producers
32)    Oleksa Hereha is the co-owner of the furniture hardware manufacturing company Palmet.
33)    Khrystyna Dereha is the founder of the leather accessories brand JUNGLE.
34)    Denys Lohvynenko is the founder of the full-service creative digital agency Havas Digital Kyiv.
35)    Petro Lyshak is the co-owner of the group of companies manufacturing leather accessories Pol Leather & Poelle.
36)    Oleksandr Kobetiak is the co-owner of Nova Food, a company specializing in the production of wafer cones and cookies.
37)    Dmytro Iatsyna is the founder of Patsany & Divchata Agency, specializing in branding, communication strategy, and SMM.
38)    Sergii Velchev is the co-founder of ECOFACTOR, a manufacturer of both hardware and software for electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.
39)    Yulia Piatnytska is the co-founder of the bakery Bakehouse.
40)    Yulia Lisovska, a partner at TIVOLI, a company specializing in the production of wooden chairs and tables.
41)    Igor Blystiv is the director of the MSc in Marketing Management master's program at the UCU Business School.
42)    Artur Mikhno is the co-owner of the largest Ukrainian job marketplace Work.ua.

The Stanford Ignite Ukraine program is implemented by the CfE Accelerator UCU and the Stanford University Graduate School of Business, with support from the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, the USAID Competitive Economy Program in Ukraine (USAID CEP), and the Ukrainian Catholic University.

The USAID Competitive Economy Program in Ukraine (USAID CEP) supports Ukrainian businesses aiming to provide support for competitive industries and firms on Ukrainian and international markets, foster a better business enabling environment, and enabling Ukrainian companies to benefit from international trade.