Throughout September and October, the six pilot regions of the UCORD project — Vinnytsia, Ternopil, Odesa, Poltava, Khmelnytskyi, and Volyn regions — became hubs of creativity and entrepreneurial energy.
It was here that the training intensives of the “Ideas Greenhouse” program took place, implemented as part of the Swiss–Ukrainian project Ukraine’s Cohesion and Regional Development of Ukraine, with the support of Switzerland.
The educational component of the program was implemented in cooperation with Lanka.pro and creative hubs in the pilot regions. In addition, regional development agencies — key regional partners of the UCORD project — were actively involved in delivering the program.
A Space for Ideas and Growth
The “Ideas Greenhouse” program is designed to support professionals from the cultural and creative industries in developing their own businesses, building partnerships, and creating sustainable products that improve the quality of life in local communities.
In each pilot region, a three-day bootcamp was held, bringing together more than 140 creative entrepreneurs. The intensive program combined hands-on training, work on business models, pitch sessions, collaborative discussions, and inspiration from peers across the sector.
“We see that the creative industries have enormous potential. Our goal is to help build a supportive ecosystem for the growth and strengthening of creative startups. We hope this program will foster collaboration between entrepreneurs, local hubs, and development agencies,” says Lina Romanukha, Regional Coordinator of the “Cultural and Social Cohesion and Civic Engagement” component of the UCORD project.
From Bookstores to Urban-Themed Board Games
Each bootcamp had its own unique atmosphere, shaped in part by invited local speakers — successful, practicing entrepreneurs from the creative industries. In Vinnytsia, one of the guests was Antonina Liulka, founder of the memorial bookstore “Heroes”, who shared her experience of turning an idea into a socially meaningful business dedicated to her brother, who tragically lost his life in the war.
Local partners in Ternopil, the NGO Institute of Urban Culture, brought together entrepreneurs working in fashion, design, crafts, and education. Among the local speakers’ stories were brands of ethnic clothing, an entertainment center, and publishing ventures. During the pitch sessions, participants presented equally fascinating business ideas spanning a wide range of creative sectors: an arts center with a signature café, bas-relief production, a veteran hub, and even a Tinder-style app for pets. As part of the evening program, bootcamp participants in Ternopil enjoyed a boat ride accompanied by live jazz from TernoSound.
In Odesa, local business leaders shared their experiences with participants, including Halyna Puzyrna, founder of the artistic textile brand Gala Patterns Design, and Kateryna Kulay, director of the Odesa National Art Museum, who also led an evening tour for creative entrepreneurs from the region. The local partner for the bootcamp was the community space “Na Chasi”.
In Opishnia, Poltava region, an offsite bootcamp was held for creative entrepreneurs from Sumy. During the final pitch session, ideas ranged from designer clothing and traditional motanka dolls to eco-friendly 3D printing and media projects focused on the region’s cultural heritage. Local partners, the Okhtyrka Youth Center NGO, organized a clay sculpting workshop and a tour of one of Opishnia’s many museums for the participants.
In Kamianets-Podilskyi, Khmelnytskyi region, the historic city setting provided the perfect backdrop for nurturing new ideas. The bootcamp featured prominent cultural figures such as Maksym Cherkashyn, co-founder of the Faine Misto Festival, and Volodymyr Kokhan, creator of the YouTube project “Khashchi”. The intensive concluded with a performance by the band Zapaska in the museum courtyard, organized by local partners Bakota Hub, Khmelnytskyi Regional Youth Association, and NGO Territory.
The final bootcamp took place in Lutsk, where 30 entrepreneurs from Volyn worked on their business ideas, built new partnerships, and prepared to participate in the grant program recently announced under the “Ideas Greenhouse”initiative. Participants included veterans, displaced persons, and representatives of emerging brands in art, education, design, crafts, and tourism. Local partners, the Action Algorithm Platform / Algorytm NGO, organized a tour of the space planned for a large creative cluster, showcased a new contemporary art gallery, and hosted a networking evening at misto.cafe.
Networking, Collaboration, and Regional Partners
An important part of the program was moderated discussions with representatives of Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) — key UCORD partners in the pilot regions. They shared their experience in implementing regional strategies, presented research on local cultural potential, and introduced participants to opportunities for supporting their businesses.
«Впевнені, що це створить мультиплікаційний ефект у вигляді чудових творчих рішень, переосмислення та примноження культурної спадщини, нових відвідувачів, додаткових робочих місць, податків до місцевих бюджетів та здоровішого і міцнішого суспільства», – Катерина Кравчук, кураторка компоненту розвитку спроможності, представниця Lanka.pro.
“Ideas Greenhouse” by the Numbers
- 6 cities
- 170 participants
- 19 guest speakers
- 6 local partner hubs
- 6 Regional Development Agencies
Попереду — грантовий етап
After completing the educational component of the program, participants are preparing to take part in the grant competition, which launched on October 15, 2025. The most promising ideas will receive support for further development — helping participants create or grow their own businesses in the cultural and creative industries.
The “Ideas Greenhouse” program is implemented as part of the Swiss–Ukrainian project Ukraine’s Cohesion and Regional Development of Ukraine, carried out with Swiss support by NIRAS Sweden AB.
Photos by: Oleksii Kibkalo, Nadiia Rotman, Borys Bakhman, Anna Motrechko, Maksym Lisovskyi, Mykola Tsymbaliuk