The Impactpreneurship 2.0 grand finale: dreams become reality

On 5 September 2024, the grand finale of the social entrepreneurship course «Impactpreneurship 2.0» took place in Kyiv on the FUNdraiser platform. The event was the culmination of an intensive three-month programme in social entrepreneurship and fundraising for veterans, internally displaced persons, women, and entrepreneurs from every corner of Ukraine. More than 780 participants formed 109 teams, of which the 15 best earned the chance to present their projects to the jury. The event was opened by project coordinator Svitlana Olieinikova.

During the event, participants heard words of support from distinguished guests: Stas Topolnytskyi, head of the "Recovery, Rehabilitation and Reintegration" programme at the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine; Jens Alsbirk, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Denmark in Ukraine; and Kesa Kat, First Secretary of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The atmosphere was styled as a Black & Red Oscar, with everyone following the original dress code of red and black attire, and at the end participants received symbolic statuettes.

The grand finale jury included representatives of UNDP in Ukraine, UN Women, the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, and the United Nations Population Fund.

Of the 15 teams, 11 received additional funding. Each team was recognised with a unique nomination for its achievements, including categories such as "Best Social Impact", "Sustainability Champion", "Most Scalable Venture", and others.

Participants of the grand finale played the interactive fundraising game Funds Hunter™, run by Svitlana Manzer and Liudmyla Zubarieva.

The initiative is implemented by the NGO "International Agency for Change" with the support of UNDP in Ukraine and the financial backing of the governments of Denmark and the Netherlands and the European Union.