Across Ukraine, women are showing extraordinary resilience and vision – rebuilding their communities, creating new businesses, and embracing innovation. To strengthen this movement and fuel their next leap forward, Garage48 and Divergent Woman with the support of ESTDEV are launching Tech-driven Growth – an entrepreneurial acceleration programme that empowers early-stage women founders to scale their businesses using digital tools, technology, and leadership development.

ABOUT THE PROGRAMME

This programme is designed for early-stage female entrepreneurs with a strong interest in technology and innovation. The focus is on businesses developing digital outputs – such as websites, platforms, online services, or other web-based tools – that enable products or services to reach a wider audience and create a stronger overall impact.

Working languages: Ukrainian and English

WHAT THE PROGRAMME OFFERS

We deliver the programme in two stages, fully online:

1) Business model design sprint (January 2026)

A practical, hands-on sprint where participants develop and validate their business models while learning essential entrepreneurial and digital skills.

Key topics include:

• digital tools & cyber security essentials
• user-centred product development
• design thinking
• market & competitor analysis
• branding and marketing
• financial planning & funding opportunities
• mental well-being & burnout prevention

2) Business Accelerator (February-March 2026)

The accelerator is aimed at the 15 top participants who successfully complete the design sprint. Selection is based on business clarity, scalability, market potential, export readiness, and the participant’s engagement and commitment. Preference is given to ideas that already have a digital solution or a clear readiness to develop one (e.g. online services, digital tools, AI-based solutions).

Accelerator is focused on business scaling and digitalisation, providing participants with continuous support from lead mentors and experts. The programme includes personalised mentoring, practical workshops, group mentoring, and networking opportunities. As a result, women entrepreneurs adopt new digital solutions that help them expand their market reach and increase their impact. The accelerator ends with a Demo Day.

PRIZES

Seed funding is provided to Accelerator graduates to support services that help further develop their product or service, with a strong focus on implementing digital solutions. The use of the seed funding is defined in the company’s action plan together with the lead mentor. Access to funding requires successful completion of the full programme and having a legally registered IE or a company.

WHO CAN APPLY?

We welcome applications from:

• Early-stage and emerging women entrepreneurs with a digital focus from all regions of Ukraine (operating in government-controlled territories)
• Founders of small and medium-sized businesses ready to digitalise, automate, and scale
• Women interested in technology who wish to start a business with a more substantial technological component

NB:

• Businesses that already have – or plan to develop – digital components (websites, platforms, online services, AI-based tools) are given priority.
• Participants with strong English-speaking skills are given priority.

TIMELINE

• Jan 04: Application deadline
• Jan 16: Opening session
• Jan 17 – Feb 01: Business model design sprint
• Feb 06: The sprint Finals
• Feb 09 – Mar 30:  Business Accelerator
• Apr 02: Demo Day

Register HERE

If you have any questions, please contact us at kseniia@garage48.org

The project is funded by the Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV).