Ideas Center UCU of the Ukrainian Catholic University, in collaboration with the Stanford Graduate School of Business, is launching the second round of the free educational program for 42 Ukrainian small and medium-sized business entrepreneurs — Stanford Ignite Ukraine. The training will begin in March 2026 and will consist of one week at the Ukrainian Catholic University, four weeks online, and three weeks on-site at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, one of the world’s top business schools. The organizers will cover the full cost of the academic program.

The Stanford Ignite Ukraine program is realized by Ideas Center UCU of the Ukrainian Catholic University, in collaboration with the Stanford Graduate School of Business, and supported by the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, UCU Business School, and the Ukrainian Startup Fund.

The program is designed for small and medium-sized business owners with at least three years of business experience, with a staff of 8 to 249 employees, who are looking to scale, launch new products/services, attract investments, or enter new markets.

The program content is designed to provide participants with a comprehensive experience, including one week at the Ukrainian Catholic University, four weeks online, and a three-week visit and intensive classes on the Stanford GSB campus under the guidance and mentorship of leading faculty. Participants will also have the opportunity to apply their knowledge practically, working on team projects that will later be presented to investors, experts, and other entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley.

What participants gain in the program:
– Knowledge and tools from Stanford GSB professors: from building business models, marketing, and finance to design thinking and managing businesses during a crisis.
– Implementation of acquired knowledge in practice, working in teams, under the mentorship of Stanford GSB and UCU faculties, and business practitioners.
– Networking with the Silicon Valley community, receiving feedback from investors, entrepreneurs, and experts, and the opportunity to become part of the Stanford GSB community.

The idea for this educational opportunity for Ukrainians originated with Natalia Anon, a member of the board of the UCU Foundation and one of the patrons of the Stanford Ignite Ukraine program. 

Stanford Ignite Ukraine is a bridge between Ukrainian entrepreneurs and the Silicon Valley community. The program aims to empower Ukrainian entrepreneurs to become those whose businesses will shape Ukraine’s future and change the world.

You can find the program description, selection criteria, registration form, and other details on the Ideas Center UCU website: https://ideascenter.ucu.edu.ua/ 

The application deadline is October 15, 23:59 (Kyiv time).