For the first time this year, the It`s Craft team launched the Winter Wave of the Revolving Fund, which aims to support Ukrainian entrepreneurship. In the future, such competitions will be held every six months, and the winners will be able to receive 2-3 repayable interest-free grants. The Fund not only helps financially, but also inspires the development of local initiatives that strengthen the economy and community.

 

More information about the Revolving Fund can be found here.

 

Winners of the Winter Wave

This time, the winners were three participants representing different areas of small business.

 

Oleksandr Peretyatko: scaling up production

Oleksandr is an IDP from Berdiansk district who continues to build his business in Odesa. He is the head of the Gupt R'n'B embroidery workshop, where he produces chevrons and embroidered shoppers. In addition, Oleksandr has a clothing repair shop in Kramatorsk.

The UAH 40,000 raised will be used to purchase fabric and accessories for the production of shoppers and bowsers, an important element of equipment for the military. The products will be sold through social media, marketplaces and in stores in Kramatorsk and Odesa.

Oleksandr also plans to create his own website, launch a line of embroidered clothing, and expand sales channels. With a production facility and a team already in place, he shows great determination to develop light manufacturing even in the face of competition.

Artem Lifridov: PRO Galushki startup

Artem, a veteran from Poltava, plans to open the city's first street food restaurant, PRO Halushky. The idea is to create a full production cycle: from preparing semi-finished products to serving ready-to-eat meals in the center of Poltava. His establishment will offer authentic recipes for dumplings that Taras Shevchenko himself loved.

The UAH 30,000 will help Artem finance the external branding of the restaurant and the production of a signboard. With his experience in the catering industry and his studies at leading Ukrainian business schools, Artem is confident that his idea will become a new culinary highlight of Poltava.

Oleh Pistolyak: scaling, eco-friendly wooden decor

Oleg is the founder of HedonismwoodART, which creates stylish wooden decor and furniture. His products made from natural materials combine environmental friendliness and individual design. The workshop's assortment includes lamps, kitchen boards, tables and other products that have already found their buyers both in Ukraine and abroad through the Etsy platform.

Oleg plans to use the grant to expand his business by investing in marketing and new materials. His company not only popularizes Carpathian crafts, but also creates jobs in the region, supporting the sustainable development of the local community.

What's next?

The next wave of the Revolving Fund will take place in the spring and applications will be accepted until May 31, 2025. As before, we will give preference to projects with a focus on local production, sustainability, and social impact. More information about the terms and priorities can be found on the website.

 

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