The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship /nnov8 launches Mission Possible — a venture building programme for entrepreneurs

Kyiv, October 27, 2023, — The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship /nnov8 is collaborating with world leading Saïd Business School, University of Oxford academics to help train the country’s next generation of tech entrepreneurs, who will be at the vanguard of the recovery from Russia’s invasion.

With the support of the Western NIS Enterprise Fund (WNISEF) Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship /nnov8/ launching an innovative 6-month venture building program “Mission Possible” for Ukrainian professionals, leaders, visionaries and innovators who are ready to become entrepreneurs and build a global innovative business.

Oxford Saïd will provide access to training in the international cohort of the Oxford Venture Creation Programme and the Oxford Venture Finance Programme. Those completing the programmes will be awarded a certificate, and given the opportunity to find partners, co-founders and mentors through the community. Participants will also be able to use the School’s Entrepreneurship Centre materials.

The program will start on November 27 and will last until May 2024.

Mission Possible is a transformative in-real-life program that empowers talented entrepreneurs, startups, professionals with big business or consulting experience, and academics with a strong technology background to create or scale an innovative and technology startup and provides them with support and accommodation in the Kyiv-based Kooperativ space. 

“The program we are building is unique because we connect the world’s best educational materials from Saïd Business School with high-profile networking and mentorship, a hands-on experience of building companies in Ukraine in a very challenging time. We are looking for ambitious young professionals, prominent leaders, bright scientists, and CEOs of traditional businesses who want to build something great,” Oleksandr Akymenko, Director of Mission Possible

“It takes a lot of courage to plan for the future in times of war, but this is precisely what this initiative is about. To prepare the next generation of Ukrainians who will build the innovation ecosystem for their rebounding post-war economy,” Thomas Hellmann, DP World Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Oxford Said.

With a philosophy based on the principle of "Lead-Build-Drive", Mission Possible offers a unique approach in which participants combine 2/3 practical and 1/3 theoretical knowledge. In particular, during online training from academic partners, business breakfasts with top Ukrainian companies, offline workshops with leading experts, mentoring from business founders and pitching ideas to experts and industry leaders.

“We strongly believe that innovation and entrepreneurship will become the locomotive of Ukraine’s economy. That's why we created Mission Possible, a program that is directly designed to help become entrepreneurs, launch and scale technology businesses. Our goal is to give Ukrainian entrepreneurs the best possible start to their entrepreneurial journey," Sviatoslav Sviatnenko, founder of Mission Possible, co-founder of /nnov8.

We at Mission Possible believe that founders come from any background, and support principles of inclusion, equality and diversity, encouraging the participation of female entrepreneurs, and underrepresented groups.

“Mission Possible represents a remarkable partnership between /nnov8, WNISEF, and the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. We are thrilled to support this program, which brings together seasoned professionals, bright scientists, and aspiring entrepreneurs to foster innovation, create opportunities, and drive positive change. The entrepreneurial journey begins here, and we are excited to witness the impact these mission-driven founders will have on Ukraine's economy,” Anton Waschuk, Economic Leadership Programme Director at Western NIS Enterprise Fund

You can find out more about the terms of participation and the possibilities of the Mission Possible programme via the link.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

/nnov8 is a center of innovation and entrepreneurship, founded for the development of the technological ecosystem in Ukraine. The center helps potential and existing entrepreneurs create and scale startups as well as technology businesses.

Western NIS Enterprise Fund (WNISEF) is a regional fund with a capital of 285 million USD, a pioneer in Ukraine and Moldova with more than 29 years of successful experience in investing in small and medium-sized companies. WNISEF finances innovative, highly effective projects aimed at implementing reforms and changing the lives of ordinary people in Ukraine and Moldova.

MEDIACONTACT

Al’ona Guseva
Head of PR & Communications
Mission Possible & /nnov8
aguseva@cyberinnov8.com