Mentoring the Next Generation of Ukrainian Startups with IdeasLab
We joined UCU’s IdeasLab as mentors, guiding student teams in idea validation and prototype testing ahead of Demo Day.
Teaming Up with IdeasLab
If you didn’t already know, our CEO, Ivan Denysiuk, graduated from UCU Business School. So, when we were invited to join IdeasLab—the student accelerator created by UCU’s CfE Accelerator—it brought excitement and a bit of nostalgia.
Getting to Know IdeasLab
IdeasLab is an 11-week, free accelerator program open to student teams from any university in Ukraine. It’s the country’s only university-based accelerator that offers student teams up to UAH 200,000 in funding to validate their ideas.
Throughout the program, students:
- Develop problem hypotheses
- Research the market
- Test value propositions and prototypes
- Create go-to-market strategies
- Learn the ins and outs of pitching and scaling
This year, IdeasLab received a record-breaking 152 applications, with 45 teams advancing to interviews and just 21 teams selected for the program.
Coaching the Next Generation
Our CEO Ivan and Design Team Lead Oleh consulted with 8 teams. Ivan even took on a lead mentor role, preparing the Savvy startup team—which focuses on loyalty programs for restaurants—for Pitch Day II. After days of intensive sessions, refinements, and a polished pitch deck, Savvy earned a Top 5 spot in this year’s cohort and a UAH 60,000 grant to help grow their vision.
