In May, the EasyBusiness team, together with our partners, focused on actively supporting small and medium-sized businesses. As part of our mission to create opportunities for entrepreneurs across the country, EasyBusiness, together with partners, implemented three large-scale initiatives. These initiatives combined educational, financial, and strategic tools to strengthen Ukrainian SMEs.

• “Restart for IDPs”: $200,000 in SME Development Grants and Mentorship from IREX and EasyBusiness

IREX and EasyBusiness, with the support of the U.S. Department of State, launched the educational and grant program “Restart for IDPs.” The program targets businesses founded or relocated by internally displaced persons and provides:

• Grant support of $10,000 for each winner;
• Mentorship from EasyBusiness experts.

This is more than just grant funding; it is an investment in empowering entrepreneurship in regions that have become the new home for business.

Application deadline: June 15, 2025 (23:59)
Details and registration: https://bit.ly/3SQxyRV

• Business Intensive: European Funding Programs for Ukrainian Businesses

On May 13-14 in Kyiv, together with Civitta and with the support of the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, we organized a two-day business intensive dedicated to opportunities for attracting EU funding.

More than 100 business representatives learned:

• How programs such as Horizon Europe, Digital Europe, LIFE, CEF, and Ukraine Facility operate;
• What roles Ukrainian companies can play in European grant programs;
• How to prepare successful applications and build strong consortia.

Special attention was given to the new Ukraine Investment Framework total potential volume of up to €40 billion in investments, which opens unprecedented opportunities for SMEs.

• “Doing Business in the EU: A Month of Strengthening Business Support Organizations”

In partnership with EU4Business: SME Policies and Institutions Support (SMEPIS) and Civitta, we conducted a month-long program (April 30 – May 30) aimed at strengthening business support organizations.

The program included:

• 7 events, 12 training modules, and 11 expert speakers;
• Online seminars, training sessions, and workshops;
• Participation of over 1,000 representatives of associations, clusters, and business unions;
• An opportunity for the most active participants to join a study tour to the EU to establish new partnerships.

The program’s goal was the strategic strengthening of business support organizations helping them not only adapt to European standards but also become key drivers of Ukraine’s business integration into the EU.