Educational Grant Project “Brave 5.0”

The "Brave 5.0" project has been implemented since 2022 supported by Raiffeisen Bank in partnership with the Astarta-Kyiv agro-industrial holding and the Povir u Sebe (Believe in Yourself) Charity Fund.

The goal of the fifth wave is to strengthen the economic capacity of women in communities, support small businesses, and form a community of female leaders.

The program plans to involve 200 applicants, 75 of whom will undergo business plan development training, and 30 winners will receive funding. Special attention is given to cultural projects (bookstores, cultural spaces).

General eligibility criteria

To participate in the program, an applicant must meet at least three eligibility criteria defined in the program regulations.

Applicant’s social status requirements:

• must be a citizen of Ukraine residing in a rural area;
• may have internally displaced person (IDP) status;
• may be raising a child with a disability or three or more children;
• may be a spouse, parent, or family member of a combat veteran;
• may be a family member of a fallen servicemember.

Business-related eligibility requirements

Eligible applicants include:

• sole proprietors who are citizens of Ukraine;
• privately owned legal entities classified as small businesses;
• businesses whose ultimate beneficial owners are citizens of Ukraine.

Mandatory requirements:

• the applicant must have a business idea aimed at developing or expanding their business;
• must plan to implement business development activities for at least 3 months;
• must be ready to implement the business plan in accordance with program conditions.

Restrictions and grounds for disqualification

Applicants are not eligible if they:

• are undergoing bankruptcy or business closure procedures;
• have outstanding debts to the state budget or financial institutions;
• are subject to sanctions or conduct business in the Russian Federation or Belarus;
• are involved in the production or sale of alcohol, tobacco, or weapons;
• operate in temporarily occupied territories or active combat zones;
• have provided false or misleading information in their application.

Additional obligations of grant recipients

• recipients must implement the approved business plan in accordance with program requirements;
• recipients must carry out business activities after receiving the equipment;
• recipients are required to provide goods or services to support the local community, equivalent to 5% of the value of the received equipment.

Grant funding

• the program provides grant support for 30 selected winners;
• each winner receives a grant in the form of equipment worth up to UAH 100,000;
• funding is provided exclusively in the form of equipment necessary for business development.

Eligible use of the grant:

• grant funds may be used only for the purchase of equipment directly related to business activities.

Restrictions on grant use:

• the grant cannot be used to cover salaries, raw materials, or supplies;
• grant funds cannot be used for rent or logistics expenses;
• funding cannot support activities that violate national legislation or international conventions.

Prohibited business activities include:

• gambling and activities related to the sex industry;
• production or sale of narcotics, weapons, or ammunition;
• activities related to alcohol, tobacco products, or vaping products;
• activities that pose a risk to the environment.

Educational support and additional opportunities

• winners receive access to free training at MIM Business School lasting 2 months;
• participation in the training is granted exclusively to program winners;
• participants who successfully complete the training may receive a certificate.

Obligations of grant recipients:

• ensure proper and intended use of the granted equipment;
• participate in the required training program;
• comply with all grant program terms and conditions.

• Business management training course at MIM Business School.
• Financial and digital literacy training.
• Mentoring support and mental health training.
• Purchase of production equipment.

Stage I — Registration and training

At the first stage, the organizing committee:

• publishes the official announcement of the Project launch, including conditions and deadlines, through official communication channels;
• receives applications and conducts a technical eligibility review;
• forms a shortlist of applicants who meet the program requirements;
• organizes and delivers a business plan development training for selected participants.

Stage II — Submission and evaluation of business plans

At the second stage, applicants are required to submit:

• a business plan;
• a video presentation introducing their project.

The organizing committee forwards these materials to the Expert Committee for evaluation.

Important conditions:

• applicants are responsible for the accuracy and completeness of the submitted information;
• documents submitted after the deadline or not properly completed will not be considered;
• communication between the organizers and applicants is conducted via email.

Stage III — Final selection of winners

At the final stage, the Expert Committee:

• evaluates the business plans and identifies applicants who received the highest evaluation scores;
• forms the final list of 30 Project winners;
• sends official notification to winners within 7 working days after the decision is made;
• publishes the results on the official communication platforms of the organizers and partners.

Fill out the online form at https://forms.gle/4u6U3zP929R4hT837 by the specified deadline.

To sign the agreement and receive the grant-funded equipment, winners must submit a complete set of required documents upon request from the organizing committee. The document requirements vary depending on the applicant’s legal status.

Documents required for legal entities

Legal entities must provide:

• an extract from the Unified State Register of Legal Entities;
• an extract from the Single Taxpayer Register (if applicable);
• a copy of the company director’s passport or ID card with proof of registration;
• a copy of the tax identification number;
• a bank certificate confirming no outstanding loan debts;
• a copy of the company charter or other founding documents;
• an official order or protocol confirming the appointment of the company director;
• documents confirming eligibility under the program’s social criteria;
• a letter confirming cooperation with the local community, including provision of goods or services equal to 5% of the value of the received equipment.

Documents required for sole proprietors (FOP)

Sole proprietors must provide:

• a copy of the passport or ID card;
• an extract from the Unified State Register of Sole Proprietors;
• an extract from the Single Taxpayer Register or confirmation of the taxation system;
• a copy of the tax identification number;
• a bank certificate confirming no outstanding loan debts;
• documents confirming eligibility under the program’s social criteria;
• a letter confirming cooperation with the local community.

Important submission requirements

• all documents must be complete, accurate, and up to date;
• documents must be submitted upon request of the organizing committee for agreement signing;
• failure to submit the required documents may result in loss of winner status;
• in such cases, grant eligibility may be transferred to the next ranked applicant.

After the selection of winners and the provision of grant support, recipients are required to comply with established conditions regarding equipment use, reporting, and monitoring of business plan implementation.

Transfer and use of grant-funded equipment

• equipment is procured by the organizer and transferred to winners under a free-of-use agreement and an official handover certificate;
• the equipment must be used strictly for its intended purpose, in accordance with the approved business plan;
• the grant recipient bears responsibility for obligations to third parties arising during project implementation.

Grounds for termination of support and equipment withdrawal

The organizer has the right to terminate the agreement and withdraw the equipment in the following cases:

• misuse of the grant-funded equipment;
• failure to comply with program requirements;
• failure to launch business operations within 2 months after receiving the equipment;
• refusal to allow monitoring visits by authorized representatives;
• failure to complete the mandatory training program or obtain the required certificate.

Reporting and monitoring requirements

The project team conducts ongoing supervision of business plan implementation, including:

• verification of the proper and effective use of grant support;
• assessment of progress toward business plan objectives;
• collection and analysis of implementation data;
• monitoring visits and compliance checks;
• review of reports and supporting documentation submitted by recipients.

Monitoring activities include:

• submission of required data and supporting evidence by grant recipients;
• evaluation of business performance and implementation progress;
• preparation of a final monitoring report upon project completion.

Oversight and accountability

• the project team performs regular monitoring of business plan implementation;
• recipients are required to cooperate with monitoring and reporting procedures;
• the organizer is not liable for the recipient’s inability to receive equipment due to missing documentation or other circumstances beyond the organizer’s control.

The grant program establishes the legal framework for participation, defines the roles of participants, and outlines mandatory compliance requirements governing the implementation of the project.

Key legal definitions and provisions

• the educational grant project is a program that provides a grant in the form of equipment and access to training to support business development;
• an applicant is an individual who submits an application to participate in the program;
• a winner is an applicant selected by the Expert Committee to receive grant support;
• the grant is provided exclusively in the form of equipment, intended for business development;
• the business plan is a mandatory document describing the business idea, objectives, and financial projections;
• the training program includes lectures, workshops, and structured learning activities aimed at developing entrepreneurial skills.

Organizational and regulatory structure

• the Organizing Committee is responsible for planning, coordination, and oversight of project implementation;
• the Expert Committee conducts evaluation of business plans and selection of grant recipients;
• all grant decisions are made in accordance with the established procedures and regulations of the program.

Legal participation requirements for applicants

• participation in the program is voluntary and carried out personally by the applicant;
• the applicant assumes full responsibility for participation and related risks;
• each applicant may submit only one business plan;
• the applicant must comply with all program rules, requirements, and procedures.

Obligations and legal implications of participation

• submission of the business plan and supporting materials constitutes formal acceptance of the program’s terms and conditions;
• the applicant agrees to comply with all requirements established by the program regulations;
• participants must act in good faith and must not interfere with other applicants;
• all legal relations arising from participation in the program are governed by the official grant program regulations.