The CfE accelerator of the Ukrainian Catholic University, in collaboration with the Stanford Graduate School of Business, is launching a free educational program for 42 Ukrainian small and medium-sized business owners – Stanford Ignite Ukraine. The Program will begin in February 2024 and take place for 4 weeks online and 3 weeks in-person at the Stanford Graduate School of Business campus. The organizers cover the cost of tuition, accommodation and basic logistics costs.
“Networking in the Stanford GSB environment is a unique opportunity for Ukrainian entrepreneurs to see the wider market and its rules of the game, increase ambitions, rethink, and develop their businesses. Participants will receive feedback from investors, field experts, and entrepreneurs of Silicon Valley and will become part of the Stanford Graduate School of Business community,” said Ivan Petrenko, CEO of CfE accelerator.
The Program is created for small and medium-sized business owners with at least 3 years of business leadership experience and intent to scale, develop innovations, launch new products/services, attract investments, enter new markets, or other growth ideas for their enterprise in Ukraine.
“The resilience, ingenuity, and perseverance of the Ukrainian people inspire the world, especially how business innovates in war conditions. Stanford Ignite Ukraine is exactly the Program that will help Ukrainian leaders and their businesses thrive while minimizing possible risks,” Professor Yossi Feinberg, Stanford Ignite Program Director, said.
The idea of creating an educational opportunity for Ukrainians belongs to Nataliya Anon, who is a director of the UCU Foundation and one of the patrons of the Ignite Ukraine program: ‘After graduating with the MBA at Stanford GSB, I dreamed that Ukrainian entrepreneurs would also learn from the teachers of one of the world’s best business schools the knowledge and experience that will help them not only develop their own business but also allow them to compete in international markets.”
Stanford Ignite Ukraine is implemented with the support of the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, the USAID Competitive Economy Program in Ukraine, and the Ukrainian Catholic University.
“For Ukrainian small and medium-sized businesses to develop even more actively, it is important that entrepreneurs can borrow international experience, deepen their knowledge, reach a new level, and, as a result, create jobs and restore the economy of Ukraine. After all, 81.7% of all those employed in business work in small and medium-sized enterprises,” Yuliia Svyrydenko, First Vice Prime Minister, Minister of the Economy of Ukraine, said.
Stanford Ignite Ukraine aims to implement the experience gained and ambitious ideas within existing enterprises in Ukraine.
“At the UCU, we believe in cooperation. Because only cooperation with strong leaders makes it possible to achieve great joint results, we strive and dream that tomorrow Ukraine will be talked about as a ‘country of economic miracle’ and as a ‘country of decent life,” Taras Dobko, Rector of the UCU, said.
The Program description, selection criteria, registration form, and other details are on our website. Apply for the program and get experience that transforms Ukrainian businesses and its leaders.
Deadline for applications: 23/12/23 at 11:59 p.m.