KYIV, 13 March 2026 — Ten women entrepreneurs took the stage at Grand Pitch Day of the "Vidvazhna 3. Digital Evolution of Business" accelerator in Kyiv on 13 March, unveiling roadmaps for the digital overhauls of their businesses following the conclusion of 14-weeks of intensive training. 

The accelerator saw Ukrainian women plan how to integrate advanced AI and automation to scale their operations amidst a challenging economic landscape.

Following evaluation of the pitches, the top prize of UAH 1.5 million for scaling and business development was awarded to Veronika Sheheda, founder of the Ukrainian brand MamoTato from Dnipro, which specializes in transforming furniture and products for newborns and expectant parents. Veronika expressed her gratitude to the “Vidvazhna” program organizers: "I want to wish the businesses of all the participants prosperity and that they may bring pride to Ukraine. I also hope that as many children as possible are born in our country, because they are our future."

Nine other winning finalists were awarded UAH 300,000 each for the implementation of their digital roadmaps. The winners came from a wide range of business areas – from veterinary centres and educational platforms, to manufacturers of transforming furniture.

The total prize fund for the third season was UAH 6 million. Earlier, five other participants of the educational programme were awarded UAH 300,000 each, and another three participants received UAH 100,000 each for their digital evolution projects. In addition, the overall winner received digital tools worth UAH 200,000 from the programme’s technology partner.

The “Vidvazhna 3. Digital Evolution of Business" accelerator was the third season of a national programme to support women entrepreneurs. In total, 1,703 women from all regions of Ukraine have taken part, with 1,174 studying online, and 529 receiving in-depth support through offline training and mentoring.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine funded the 14-week educational programme with support from the Government of Japan. The programme included 180 training sessions and 2,500 hours of individual mentoring. The utility of this support has been confirmed by the UNDP study "The Impact of the War on Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in Ukraine," which shows that while 83% of small businesses were negatively impacted by the war, enterprises that invest in digitalization have a higher chance of resuming operations and entering new markets.

Valeriia Koval, Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation for the Development of the Ecosystem of Digital and Offline Personalized Services at the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, said: “We have talked a lot about scaling into international markets. Today, Ukraine’s digitalization experience is among the best in Europe. Our women entrepreneurs should become ambassadors of this efficiency. The world must see that Ukrainian business is not only about quality, but also about the most advanced technologies.”

Monica Rijal, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Ukraine, noted: “Digital transformation and women's entrepreneurship are two driving forces shaping Ukraine’s recovery and development. Today's finale demonstrates the remarkable readiness of Ukrainian women to adopt cutting-edge technologies. It's not only about individual success – this initiative equips women with the tools to build sustainable businesses and helps shape a stronger and more inclusive Ukrainian economy.”

Background:

The "Vidvazhna 3. Digital Evolution of Business" accelerator was implemented by the Diia.Business network in cooperation with the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine and the Entrepreneurship and Export Development Office. It was organized with assistance from UNDP in Ukraine and financial support from the Government of Japan, and in partnership with the IT Ukraine Association and the “She's Next” global initiative by payment card company Visa.

The accelerator was part of a series of joint initiatives that also includes the national programme "Trajectory", which has already provided more than 1,000 veterans and their family members with intensive business training.

Media inquiries: 

Yulia Samus, Head of Communications and Advocacy at UNDP Ukraine, yuliia.samus@undp.org