Participants selected for the 4th season of the "Live towards" educational and grant program

PUMB has announced the completion of the selection process for veteran-owned businesses to participate in the fourth season of the "Live towards" educational and grant program. Forty-two teams representing veteran-owned businesses will undergo training and gain the opportunity to receive financial support from PUMB.

Experts reviewed 399 applications and selected 42 teams based on the quality of their entrepreneurial ideas and their level of motivation. Over the course of three months, they will acquire the necessary business knowledge and skills from KSE Graduate Business School instructors and receive ongoing mentorship and expert support from leading specialists at the NGO "Redut Business."

Starting a Business as a Way to Adapt to Civilian Life

The "Live towards" micro- and small business development program—launched by PUMB in partnership with the NGO "Redut Business" and KSE Graduate Business School—helps veterans transition back to civilian life through entrepreneurship. It combines online training, expert guidance and mentorship, and the opportunity to secure grant funding from PUMB to launch or scale a business.

The program is designed for teams of two or more people, consisting of a veteran or active-duty service member (with combatant status) and a civilian (or another veteran). Our defenders often launch their businesses alongside a spouse, family member, fellow service member, friend, or business partner. In this way, the business becomes a joint project that helps build a new chapter of life after military service.

Serhiy Chernenko, Chairman of the Board at PUMB, notes: "What makes our program unique is that, as a bank, we do more than just provide funding. We invest in people—through high-quality business training delivered by top instructors, as well as through expert support and mentorship that continues even after the grant is awarded. As a bank CEO, I know well that while capital is important at the startup stage, knowledge, support, and the right environment are often the decisive factors. These elements help entrepreneurs avoid mistakes, spot opportunities, and keep moving forward, even during challenging times. That is why we place such strong emphasis on training and providing ongoing support to program participants." All seasons of "Live towards"  share a common social goal: to help veterans and active-duty military personnel gain business education, test their ideas, find partners, and secure funding to launch or scale their own businesses."

Season 4 Participants

Following an expert selection process, 42 teams were chosen; they began their three-month training program on September 14.

The participants of the fourth season of "Live towards" include the following aspiring entrepreneurs:

1. Ivan and his wife Solomiya manufacture inclusive furniture for people with disabilities and prosthetic users.
2. Serhiy and his wife Olena are developing a berry farm that grows organic strawberries.
3. Dmytro and his wife Inna run a garment manufacturing business and export clothing via the Etsy marketplace.
4. Bohdan and his brother Vasyl are developing their own beekeeping business and apiary.
5. Vitaliy and his wife Yelyzaveta are building up a berry and fruit farm.
6. Dmytro and his wife Tetiana manufacture metal garden supports, arches, and trellises for vertical gardening.
7. Danylo and his friend Bohdan are creating an online service for renting out complete camping gear sets.
8. Oleksandr and his friend Artem use 3D printing to produce unique custom-made collectibles and souvenirs.
9. Valeriy and his wife Olha manufacture soft pet beds and other pet products.
10. Andriy and his business partner Mykyta provide maintenance and repair services for passenger cars.
11. Serhiy and his wife Maryna are developing an atmospheric coffee shop with an in-house pastry workshop.
12. Anatoliy and his wife Iryna create handcrafted items made from natural stone and artistic bronze castings.
13. Mariana and her husband Ivan are developing a street food business specializing in cauldron-cooked pilaf and BBQ dishes.
14. Yevhen and his wife Olha manufacture and sell balsa wood airplane model kits for children and adults.
15. Taras and his family member Mykola raise sturgeon and produce black caviar and fry at a sturgeon farm.
16. Mykola and his wife Hanna provide renewable and solar energy installation services.
17. Andrii and his wife Olha provide engineering consulting services and conduct energy audits using a mobile laboratory.
18. Volodymyr and his partner Anna are engaged in beekeeping and the production of one-piece polyurethane foam beehives.
19. Andrii and his wife Nataliia are developing a farm that grows berries and walnuts, and they also plan to develop agritourism.
20. Vitalii and his wife Olena are establishing a quail-farming business and producing eco-friendly poultry products.
21. Roman and his wife Viktoriia plan to develop a family café and organize children's parties.

Experienced participants who have passed the selection process:

1. Serhiy and his fellow veteran Viktor run a production facility for plastic PET containers serving businesses across various industries.
2. Artur and his girlfriend Anastasiia operate a modern veteran-owned coffee shop featuring high-quality coffee, desserts, and a cozy atmosphere.
3. Viktor and his family member Anna are developing a digital platform to help medical students prepare for the KROK exam and are selling educational literature.
4. Artem and his wife Liudmyla provide comprehensive veterinary services.
5. Taras and his girlfriend Mariia create and sell original handmade jewelry and fashion accessories.
6. Nazarii and his wife Yuliia provide veterinary services at a specialized clinic.
7. Vitalii and his fellow veteran Yaroslav produce patriotic craft goods in a veteran-run workshop.
8. Oleksii and his partner Valentyna are creating a new tourist route and destination for visitors to the city of Uzhhorod.
9. Bohdan and his wife Halyna manage the full production cycle of military and tactical protective gear.
10. Vladyslav and his business partner Yehor import and wholesale ornamental aquarium fish and related pet supplies.
11. Andrii and his brother Serhiy provide medical rehabilitation and kinesiotherapy services at a specialized center.
12. Dmytro and his wife Uliana offer grooming services and sell pet products at a dedicated pet center.
13. Andrii and his wife Inna engage in the commercial cultivation of fruit, berry, and vegetable crops.
14. Anatolii and his wife Oleksandra handle the production and delivery of bottled drinking water.
15. Andrii and his wife Anastasiia are developing a chain of family-run coffee shops.
16. Volodymyr and his business partner Oleksandr are engaged in regenerative agriculture and crop cultivation using no-till farming methods.
17. Artem and his girlfriend Oleksandra provide textile printing, embroidery, and branding services.
18. Denys and his wife Kateryna manufacture custom products in a casting workshop.
19. Oleksandr and his business partner Artem design, manufacture, and install case furniture.
20. Oleksandr and his son Yevhen grow oilseed and grain crops.
21. Bohdan and his business partner Yurii design, manufacture, and install metal structures.

The 20 winners who demonstrate commitment to their training and present the best business plans during the pitch session will receive grants from PUMB to launch or expand their own businesses—ranging from half a million hryvnias (for startups) to one million hryvnias (for experienced participants).

The program is designed to ensure the funds genuinely assist both aspiring and experienced entrepreneurs. That is why it begins with training, mentorship, and expert support, followed by the actual financing of business ideas.

"Today, it is crucial to create conditions where our veterans can realize their potential and play an active role in the country's economy. Owning a business enables them to create jobs and contribute to the nation's recovery. This is why it is important for KSE Business School to be part of the 'Live towards 4.0' program. The program equips participants with essential knowledge in finance, marketing, and management; most importantly, it helps them test their business ideas in practice, work with mentors from the NGO 'Redut Business,' and prepare to launch or scale their businesses. This year, 400 applications were submitted, and 42 participants were selected. All of them will gain new knowledge and a clear understanding of how to transform their ideas into viable businesses," said Yuliia Svyrydenko, President of the Business School.

New Partner and New Opportunities

The fourth season of "Live towards" features several significant updates. Notably, a new partner has joined the initiative: the NGO "Redut Business."

Logistics services have been added to the list of expenses eligible for grant funding. Additionally, participants who completed the "Live towards" program two years ago may apply again to expand their businesses or bring a new idea to life.

This season also sees an increase in the number of mentors drawn from the program's alumni. Veterans who have already navigated the journey from business idea to operating a business will now assist newcomers, share their expertise, and support teams as they develop their projects.

The next step in the program's evolution is the launch of the "Live towards" alumni community. After completing their training, participants will be able to stay in touch, share experiences, attend online and offline meetings, find partners, and grow their businesses within a community of like-minded individuals.

More Than Just Business

Over three seasons, "Live towards" has become one of Ukraine's largest education and grant programs supporting veteran entrepreneurship. It has received 1,045 applications; 110 teams completed the training and prepared business plans, while 57 received financial support from PUMB. The total grant funding amounts to UAH 41.5 million!

Grant support from PUMB has helped participants from previous seasons launch and grow ventures in areas such as food production, modular housing, home textiles, farming, tourism and rehabilitation spaces, workshops, educational projects, and more.

Over the past three years, the program has demonstrated that veteran entrepreneurship is about far more than simply starting a business. For many participants, this is an opportunity to return to active professional life, achieve financial independence, bring their ideas to life, and support their families. At the same time, these businesses create jobs for others, support the veteran community, and foster community development.

You can learn more about the "Live towards" program here.