The reliance on grant programs and donor-driven capital has long been the baseline for emerging tech ecosystems. While essential for early-stage survival, this model poses a fundamental paradox: how does a wartime tech hub transition from temporary support to long-term, self-sustaining growth?
Mission Possible, a prominent Ukrainian startup platform, is addressing this challenge head-on. The organization has officially announced the launch of its Board of Supporters (Advisory Board) – a strategic coalition of tech leaders tasked with building a sustainable infrastructure for technological entrepreneurship in Ukraine.
The Ecosystem Architects
The newly formed Board brings together seasoned founders, venture capitalists, and ecosystem builders who will contribute their expertise, networks, and strategic vision to scale the organization.
The Board of Supporters includes:
Bohdan Dreihaupt – Co-founder & CEO at Crosscheck, alumnus Mission Possible
Stakh Vozniak – Founder & CEO at Cargofy
Ivan Kutanin – CEO at Skylum
Max Shtepa – CEO & Co-founder at SKELAR
Dmytro Lola – Founder & CEO at Kiss My Apps
Sviatoslav Sviatnenko – Managing Director at Endeavor Ukraine, Founder & Chairman at Mission Possible
Andrew Sorohan – Venture Director at u.ventures
Anton Waschuk – Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund
Strategic Transition: From Accelerator to Ecosystem Institution
The announcement coincides with “Building Globally from Kyiv”, a two-day forum in Kyiv bringing together Ukrainian founders, international investors, and tech leaders. The event features the Demo Day of Mission Possible’s fourth batch, showcasing 13 accelerated startups, alongside a series of meetings with international investors from the US, Estonia, Poland, and the Czech Republic – including Jim Curry, Markus Fertig, Zbigniew Łukasiak, and Patrik Parev.
This initiative marks a pivotal evolution for Mission Possible, shifting its focus from siloed programmatic support to building a comprehensive, long-term infrastructure. The goal is to establish an environment where a founder can navigate the entire lifecycle – from initial ideation to launching, scaling, and expanding into global markets.
“The Ukrainian startup ecosystem has long developed mainly thanks to grant programs and donor-driven support. But for the long-term development of the tech industry, we need sustainable models, strong institutions, and people who are ready to invest not only resources into the ecosystem, but also their own expertise, reputation, and network”, comments Margarita Velebnyk, Managing Director of Mission Possible.
A Three-Pronged Infrastructure
To achieve this vision, Mission Possible currently operates across three core pillars:
Accelerator: A dedicated acceleration program tailored for tech startups with global ambitions.
YNBA (You Never Build Alone): An early-stage program designed for aspiring entrepreneurs working on their initial concepts.
Community: A collaborative network of founders, mentors, alumni, investors, and partners facilitating new ventures and joint projects.
As international investors gather in Kyiv despite geopolitical headwinds, the creation of the Board of Supporters signals a critical maturity shift. The question now is whether this institutional framework can successfully unlock domestic corporate engagement and venture recycling, setting a new precedent for emerging markets globally.
Reference & Partner Profiles
Mission Possible is a platform for startup founders building tech companies with global ambitions, supporting them from inception to scaling. The organization was named “Accelerator of the Year 2024” by the Innovation Development Fund (Ukrainian Startup Fund). Learn more at missionpossible.ventures and explore the Board details here.
Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund (UMAEF) is a regional fund funded by the US government through the US Agency for International Development (USAID). UMAEF has been investing in Ukraine and Moldova since 1994, and since 2015 has been implementing a technical assistance program financed through refinancing and grants.
Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford is one of Europe’s youngest and most entrepreneurial business schools. As an integral part of the University of Oxford, it combines academic rigor with the innovative thinking that has made Oxford a world leader in education for over 800 years.
Additional Ecosystem Partners include u.ventures, Kooperativ, and the Ukrainian Startup Fund.
