The Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs IMPACT consortium: an outstanding example of resilience

We want to shine light on the excellent results, especially in adverse situations, of the IMPACT consortium, led by the Ukrainian organisation LLC "Civitta Ukraine". 

Some numbers on the consortium’s results: 

• a total of 190 entrepreneurs matched (with almost 74% New Entrepreneurs NEs and 26% Host Entrepreneurs HEs),
• a high rate of female NEs: 70%,
• 56 exchanges with involvement of Ukrainian NEs supported with total financial assistance of €127 000. 

For a full overview of all its successes, you can have a look at the recently produced infographic on the IMPACT consortium statistics. 

An initiative that entails physical, cross-border exchanges encounters natural problems and restrictions (costs, documentation, availability, etc.), but is certainly affected by exceptional circumstances that limit movement. 

The COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine created several problems for all EYE consortia. It not only hindered international exchanges but also made direct contacts more complicated.  

The IMPACT consortium was of course touched by these restrictions as well. But even when facing these unprecedented circumstances, the consortium demonstrated its resilience.  

EISMEA supported the consortium allowing enough flexibility (e.g. remote exchanges) to ensure that young Ukrainian entrepreneurs could still benefit from the advantages of the EYE programme even in these unprecedented, extremely adverse circumstances. 

Thanks to this support, as an answer to the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, the project managed 10 fully remote exchanges that allowed New and Host Entrepreneurs to work together even if not meeting in person. This is the experience of the Civitta consortium partners. 

Alina Rudnytska, Senior Consultant at LLC "Civitta Ukraine", said:

The IMPACT Consortium continued to foster entrepreneurship and make an impact even during incredibly challenging times. The COVID-19 pandemic almost fully stopped the relationship building, and Russia's full-scale invasion impacted not just our two Ukrainian partners but the entire consortium. Ukrainian organisations were no longer able to build exchanges with host entrepreneurs, so other partners stepped up to support them by matching Ukrainian new entrepreneurs (NEs). Thanks to the collaboration and synergies within the consortium, we achieved 26 intra-consortium exchanges, contributing to a total of 190 successfully completed exchanges.

Ivanna Didur, Civitta Ukraine Associate Partner, said:

The key to success in overcoming the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19 and the full-scale Russian war in Ukraine with two partners being from Ukraine, included accessing the strengths of each partner and supporting them in implementing the project building on their strengths as well as continuous mutual support between the partners, which resulted in 26 intra-consortium exchanges.

The great results are echoed by the voice of the direct beneficiaries of the programme. 

From the words of the New Entrepreneur Iryna Savytska, who participated remotely in the EYE programme: 

Sometimes you only need your passion and support from people who believe in you. Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs was not about money; it was about a large group of people whom I met through the programme and who accelerated our brand and growth of the Bank of Memories. Thanks to this programme, we found a great sales channel and have been funded afterward by investors. 

The adverse circumstances of the war on Ukraine did not stop young, innovative Ukrainian entrepreneurs in achieving big success – and even winning prizes! 

Mariia Alipatova, founder and CEO of Tova Industries, a Ukrainian start-up formed in 2021 with an innovative system using solar power for building illumination, participated in the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs (EYE) programme and won the EYE Innovator Awards 2023 as new entrepreneur. She went on to win the Youth Startup Competition at the SME Assembly 2023, whose prize consisted in the participation in the EIC Summit 2024. There, she had the chance to meet with other fellow innovative entrepreneurs and investors. 

She is of course continuing to grow, and she is currently testing the prototype of Solar Optic technology on her original business idea while developing two new business ideas. 

Discover more about her experience! 

The EYE’s support to Ukrainian entrepreneurs is certainly not halted. 

Currently, there are 5 ongoing projects that aim at facilitating the matching of about 500 Ukrainian new entrepreneurs with experienced host entrepreneurs abroad. 

Ralph Diestelhorst, Programme Coordination Manager - EISMEA, European Commission, said:

As coordinator of the EYE team within the EISMEA, I see every day how Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs (EYE) is a life-changer for its participants: it strengthens entrepreneurs' resilience and equips them with skills for the future. It also creates links for further collaboration and creates lasting impact for the entrepreneurs involved. 
For this reason, I am proud that the EYE support to Ukrainian entrepreneurs continues with currently 5 ongoing transnational projects which can help rebuilding Ukraine, at individual entrepreneur level – now and in the future.