The long-awaited, EU-backed €20 million program to help Ukrainian startups integrate into the European tech ecosystem is being materialized at last. On December 20, “Seeds of Bravery” (UASEEDs) launched an open call for Ukrainian innovative tech companies to receive grants of up to €10,000.
These grants are aimed to cover business consulting costs in the fields of business modeling, business planning and growth strategy.
Technology startups or innovative SMEs may apply until Feb. 20, 2024. The call is open to entities that “have at least one founder or co-founder, or top manager (CEO, CTO, COO or equivalent key position) holding Ukrainian citizenship” — included those registered in Ukraine and those registered in Europe, or having relocated there since Feb. 24, 2022.
Within the next two years, the program will include such other components as “Innovation Services Entrepreneurship Programmes,” “Deep Tech Incubation Rebuild Ukraine,” and “DeepTech ScaleUp and Acceleration.”
Of the €20 million total program amount, €12 million is to be distributed to Ukrainian tech innovators.
“Seeds of Bravery” is operated by a consortium of startup associations, enterprise support centres, incubators and accelerators across Europe, led by FundingBox Accelerator in Warsaw. It was selected in May this year as part of a EU tender.
The program was designed to support some 200 Ukrainian high-tech startups in total.
“Seeds of Bravery” is starting as the focus of internationally-oriented Ukrainian startups is switching from the USA to the European Union. A considerable number of Ukrainian IT professionals have settled in the EU either before or after the war broke out in Feb. 2022.
