Competitive Project Selection under the Open Program "VARTO: STEP FORWARD"

The "VARTO: Step Forward" competition is implemented by the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine in partnership with Kernel and the "Together with Kernel" Charitable Foundation. This initiative is designed as a large-scale national program for the economic reintegration and systematic support of veteran entrepreneurship during the full-scale war. The main goal of the program is to provide a non-repayable financial resource stimulus for veterans, female veterans, family members of veterans, and families of fallen (deceased) Defenders who strive to restore, develop, or scale their own businesses after returning to civilian life.

The competition focuses on stimulating entrepreneurial activity as a key element of the country's economic stabilization, veteran self-employment, and the creation of new jobs. The received funding is directed toward launching new production lines, expanding the range of services, purchasing modern equipment, technologies, raw materials, and supplies necessary to bring enterprises to a new level of operational efficiency.

Special attention in the program is paid to regional development and the adaptation of businesses to modern economic challenges, including relocation, digitalization of processes, and diversification of sales markets. The organizers strive not only to cover current needs for production or commercial resources, but also to ensure the long-term sustainability of enterprises, increase their competitiveness in domestic and foreign markets, and contribute to the formation of a strong veteran business community capable of generating added value for the economy and supporting one another through horizontal connections and socially responsible initiatives.

• War veterans and female veterans registered as sole proprietors (FOP) or self-employed individuals, as well as their family members (husband/wife).
• Families of fallen (deceased) Defenders and Defendesses of Ukraine who have the legal right to conduct business activities and meet the program's criteria.
• Private legal entities whose ultimate beneficial owners are veterans, female veterans, or their family members (subject to a specified ownership share in the authorized capital).
• Absence of debts to the state budget and tax authorities, as well as the absence of open bankruptcy or liquidation proceedings against the enterprise.
• Conducting activities exclusively in the controlled territory of Ukraine and having a real business that requires scaling, recovery, or further development.

• Grant Size: from 500,000 to 1,500,000 hryvnias for the implementation of the approved project.
• Permitted Expenses: Purchase of equipment, raw materials, supplies, software, components, vehicles (exclusively for commercial and production activities), as well as payment for services necessary for business scaling.
• Non-Permitted Expenses: Repayment of loans and debts, payment of fines and penalties, purchase of real estate or land plots, expenses on alcohol and tobacco products, gambling, and administrative expenses not related to direct production or provision of services.
• Co-financing: Requirements for a mandatory own contribution depend on the terms of the specific current round of the program (usually welcomed and demonstrates the applicant's additional financial stability).

• Purchase of production equipment, machine tools, specialized machinery, tools, and software necessary for the expansion or optimization of business processes.
• Acquisition of raw materials, supplies, components, and other inventory values directly involved in manufacturing products or providing services.
• Purchase of vehicles used exclusively in the production, commercial, or logistical activities of the enterprise.
• Payment for services of third parties necessary for project implementation (product certification, marketing research, development, or updating of digital resources).
• Creation of new jobs and ensuring the operational activities of the enterprise within the approved grant budget and business plan.

1. Start Date of Submission: Opening of application submissions via the official online portal of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation.
2. Submission Deadline: The final deadline for submitting project applications and document packages (until September 29, 2026, 6:00 PM Kyiv time).
3. Technical and Expert Selection: Verification of the document package for compliance with criteria and evaluation by the Foundation's expert council.
4. Announcement of Results: Official publication of the list of competition winners.
5. Contract Signing and Financing: Signing of grant agreements with winners and transfer of funds to start the implementation of the business project.

1. Register on the official portal of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation.
2. Fill out the electronic application form and attach the business plan.
3. Upload copies of registration documents and confirmation of veteran status.
4. Submit the generated application by September 29, 2026 (6:00 PM).

• Applicant Compliance: Strict adherence to the status of veteran entrepreneurship and the presence of necessary supporting documents.
• Relevance and Viability of the Idea: Market demand for products or services, realism of the business plan, and economic feasibility.
• Scaling and Job Creation: The enterprise's potential for growth, expansion of activities, and employment of other veterans or citizens.
• Financial and Managerial Capacity: The applicant's business experience and the presence of a team for successful project implementation.
• Social Impact: Contribution to the development of the local community, support for the veteran community, and economic recovery.

• Extract from the Unified State Register of War Veterans.
• Extract/certificate from the USREOU or certificate form No. 34-OPP.
• Description with access code to the current version of the Charter (for legal entities).
• Decision of governing bodies on participation in the competition (if necessary).
• Certificate of formation of the authorized capital (for legal entities).
• Copy of the combat veteran certificate (UBD) or certificate of a person with a disability as a result of war.
• Project application according to the form.
• Estimate (filled out in CRM).
• Resumes of all team members.
• Project implementation period according to the form.
• Guarantee letter on co-financing (if available).
• Certificate of no tax debt.
• Financial reporting for the last period (balance sheet/report for legal entities or copy of reporting for sole proprietors).
• Guarantee letter on the absence of corruption facts.
• Guarantee letter on not receiving other types of state support.
• Information about the person/head in any form.

• Submission of regular financial and content reports on the targeted use of grant funds and the achievement of planned business plan indicators within the deadlines established by the contract.
• Provision of a full package of supporting documents (invoices, waybills, work completion certificates, bank statements, and commercial proposals).
• Implementation of checks by the Foundation on the targeted use of funds, monitoring of production processes, and evaluation of project implementation results throughout the entire period of the contract.

1. Go to the official website of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation and find the page of the "VARTO: Step Forward" grant competition.
2. Register or log in to the applicant's personal account on the Foundation's grant project submission platform.
3. Fill out the electronic application form, detailing the business hierarchy, project goal, implementation stages, and expected results.
4. Generate and upload the full package of mandatory documents, including a detailed business plan, cost estimate, copies of statutory or registration documents (sole proprietor/legal entity), and documents confirming veteran status or belonging to the families of fallen Defenders.