Together with our partners, we create an environment in which a responsible and ethical business drives positive change in communities. We believe that partnership between entrepreneurs, the state and society are the key to sustainability, where each party strengthens the competences of the other and together achieves more.

Our project “Course to Independence” is more than grants for small and medium-sized businesses development and training for entrepreneurs. Like other social impact projects of Astarta, it is an investment in the ecosystem of Ukrainian responsible business formation, in which sustainability, ethics and partnership are the basis of success:

  • entrepreneurs receive support and knowledge to develop their business ideas,
  • responsible small and medium-sized businesses support displaced person and fill community food banks,
  • communities grow through new jobs, taxes, and social initiatives,
  • Ukrainian and international businesses, the state, and communities work together on the principles of trust, respect, and partnership.

The total investment in the project amounted to €4ml. During the two waves of the project, 170 entrepreneurs received grants to purchase equipment to scale their businesses, received trainings at the MIM business school (participants of the second wave), created over 660 new jobs, and joined in filling food banks in the communities where they work.

Viktor Ivanchyk told Forbes Ukraine what socially responsible business in modern Ukraine means and how big business support small entrepreneurs in communities and stimulate responsible business development. Find the full version of the video following the link Гранти для бізнесу, соціальна відповідальність і єдність України 🌱 Курс на Незалежність

“Course to Independence” is an educational grant project to support Ukrainian entrepreneurs, which is implemented thanks to the financial support of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany, the German Development Bank DEG in partnership with Astarta-Kyiv and the Charity Fund “Believe in Yourself”.