Oschadbank calls to join the second wave of the “CREATE!” grant program for women entrepreneurs

Women are launching new production lines, automating workshops, and entering new markets, and they are doing it in Ukraine despite the war. The “CREATE!” program to support Ukrainian women's businesses returns with a second phase and a budget of more than $1 million; a corresponding memorandum was signed at the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025 in Rome.

“CREATE!” is a grant program to support women developing businesses in manufacturing and processing. It was launched in 2024 by the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine and the Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund (UMAEF). The initiative is implemented by the KSE Foundation in partnership with the Aurora multimarket chain and Oschadbank.

In 2025, the program was extended: the total budget of the second stage exceeds $1 million, with a maximum grant amount of $15 thousand. Grant funds can be used for the purchase of equipment, its logistics and installation, as well as software (the latter up to 30% of the grant amount).

Applications will be accepted until October 31, 2025. To apply and learn more about the program, please visit

https://vlasnaspravagrant.com.ua/create/?utm_source=release_start 

“CREATE!” stimulates the manufacturing sector and women's business

The program creates the preconditions for sustainable development of local production, GDP growth, and expansion of sales and export markets. Women who receive grants scale up their businesses, create new jobs in their communities, and strengthen Ukraine's economic capacity at the local level.

Yulia Svyrydenko, First Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Ukraine: “When we launched the ”CREATE!" program, we did not expect such a great response. We received over a thousand applications from women from all over Ukraine - owners of factories, craft workshops, and processing and machine-building enterprises. It was not easy to choose 65 winners. Among them are women entrepreneurs from big cities and those who work in small communities or villages. There are owners of furniture and jewelry brands, fashion designers, and heads of printing houses, farms, and factories. All of them are strong examples of how women in Ukraine are creating jobs, developing the economy, and keeping their businesses going in a very difficult time. We continue this program because we see its effect. And we want more stories like these. So I encourage other women entrepreneurs to apply. We are ready to support them financially and systematically. It is precisely these businesses that are the backbone of the country's recovery today."

Tetiana Berezhna, Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine: "In 2024, we received more than 1,000 applications from women who wanted to develop their businesses. About 70% came from local industries located outside regional centers. In particular, a grant was received by a woman entrepreneur from Pokrovsk who had to relocate her production, but the equipment purchased with the grant will still allow her to increase production and reduce costs by the end of 2025. We support Ukrainian women entrepreneurs who, despite the war, are working, scaling their businesses, striving for more, and achieving it."

Focus on small and medium enterprises as a critical sector for economic recovery

The program focuses on supporting businesses with high development potential, namely women seeking to improve efficiency, modernize production, and expand their presence in domestic and foreign markets.

Jaroslawa Z. Johnson, President and CEO of UMAEF: "The development of small and medium-sized enterprises is one of the key factors of economic resilience, especially in wartime. UMAEF invests in a competitive economy to create strong, prosperous, and secure business opportunities. The “CREATE!” program is in line with our strategic goal of supporting entrepreneurs who have the potential to scale, invest in technological development, and contribute to economic growth at the local level. Today, it is extremely important to create effective tools that not only provide short-term support but also build Ukraine's long-term economic capacity."

Women in business: who the program will support in 2025

Entrepreneurs registered as sole proprietors or co-owners of LLCs or private enterprises are invited to participate in the program. Women must own more than 50% of the business. The production must comply with the Codes of Economic Activities Section C and have been operating for at least one year at the time of application.

Svitlana Denysenko, Director of the KSE Foundation: “I believe that ”CREATE!" is a tool for deeper changes than just financial support. The program has already allowed us to form a community of strong, motivated women who are not afraid of challenges and are working hard to develop their own businesses in Ukraine. Our winners include women owners of various businesses, from cosmetics and jewelry production to materials for the construction and electrical industries. We pay great attention to the rationality of the request and the availability of a realistic development plan, so we see a significant effect from our support. A grant of up to $15,000 is an opportunity to invest in modern, energy-efficient, technological equipment that gives a business a new impetus. The second stage of the program is about growth and sustainability."

 Inna Boichuk, Corporate Affairs Director of Aurora multimarket chain: "We believe in our producers and support Ukrainian businesses in every way possible. Our goal is to increase the share of Ukrainian products on Aurora's shelves, and today it is almost 50%. Therefore, it is important for us to support those who create Ukrainian products. The “CREATE!” program is an investment in and support for women's businesses, and we are happy to be a part of it. We hope to see the winners' products on the shelves of our stores. This is about trust, shared values, and contribution to the development of our country's economy."

 Natalia Butkova-Vitvitska, Member of the Management Board of Oschadbank responsible for MSMEs: "Oschadbank understands the importance of women's entrepreneurship, especially during a full-scale invasion, and appreciates the role it plays in the country's economic recovery. That is why we are pleased to join an important initiative - the second stage of the “CREATE!” program. Our role in the process of reviewing grant applications is to check the business reputation of entrepreneurs. However, we do not want Oschadbank's involvement in their future to end there - we are determined to help them in every way possible to further develop their business. For this purpose, we have a wide range of national, regional, and international entrepreneurship support programs."

The stages of receiving the grant are review of applications by the grant committee, evaluation of the submitted business development plan, and verification of the business reputation of potential winners. Oschadbank will carry out the assessment and provide recommendations on grant awards.