Export Academy 2024: A Fast Track to the Success of Ukrainian Business in Global Markets

Read the full story on the Visionest Institute website.

Ukraine’s export potential today lies at the crossroads of challenges and opportunities. The Export Academy has become a gateway to new horizons for Ukrainian companies. In December 2024, the Academy successfully concluded its third cohort, showcasing remarkable popularity. Each year, the number of applications continues to impress, as the program offers practical tools to facilitate entry into international markets.

Each of the three Export Academy cohorts underscores one key insight: knowledge is the new currency of success. Program participants not only expand their own potential but also set new benchmarks for the Ukrainian business community.

Export Academy: A Response to Contemporary Challenges

For many Ukrainian companies, export is not just an opportunity but a necessity. Amid current economic and political challenges, entering international markets has become a priority for entrepreneurs. Export Academy 2024 serves as a critical tool for those ready to tackle these challenges. Its uniqueness lies in a comprehensive approach to training, covering the entire export preparation cycle – from market assessment to developing financial models and risk evaluation.

“Export is a long-term process, and avoiding mistakes along the way is crucial. This course provides a clear step-by-step guide to building a strategy for entering any market with any product,” explains Violetta Loziuk, the lead mentor of the program.

“Thanks to the Academy, we have developed a clear plan for our business’s future. All materials—from market analysis to strategy developmen were extremely practical,” shared Yana Mykytenko, a representative of PJSC Horol Mechanical Plant.

“Working with Ukrainian companies, I was impressed by their motivation, activity, and readiness to dive deep into the process. Their ability to adapt to challenges and quickly apply learned information in practical tasks deserves high praise. Being a trainer in such a program is a tremendous responsibility and an even greater pride in our entrepreneurs,” shared Valeriia Matvieieva, one of the program’s trainers.

Adaptability and Practicality: Key Success Factors

Within less than a month after the program’s announcement, Export Academy 2024 received 365 applications from entrepreneurs, with 80% successfully starting the training. Over 2.5 months of intensive learning, more than 130 participants earned internationally recognized certificates and developed practical export plans for their businesses.

The success of Export Academy 2024 lies in its adaptability and practical approach to training. Video lectures, handouts with templates and case studies, and live feedback sessions helped participants not only grasp theoretical knowledge but also immediately implement it in their businesses. One standout feature of the program was that all training materials were delivered in Ukrainian, significantly easing comprehension.

The program included:

• 7 training modules with video lectures and supplementary materials,
• 14 hours of online feedback sessions,
• Over 56 hours of independent work for completing assignments.

“We don’t just teach theory. Our focus is on ensuring that every participant has a clear action plan for entering a new market. This year, we implemented an intensive training format that condensed nearly a year’s worth of content into just 2.5 months. It was really an experiment, but the approach turned out to be extremely effective, and it became ideal for today’s conditions, when time is the most valuable resource” notes Loziuk.

This accelerated format allowed participants to immediately apply theoretical knowledge to their businesses. Each module involved creating a new section of an individual export plan, which became a valuable tool for future endeavors. Some participants even signed first export contracts within just 2.5 months.

“We were amazed by the results. After each module, we received over 100 completed assignments. This is the best outcome in the Academy’s history, even under challenging conditions such as airstrikes, power outages, and other difficulties,” comments Sergii Pashchukov, Head of Education at the Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office and Export Academy Project Manager on the Ukrainian side with Visionest.

“I received invaluable feedback on my work, resulting in a structured plan for determining the optimal market, developing an export strategy, analyzing competitors, finding potential partners, assessing risks, and pricing products for new markets. Overall, I now understand how to create an export plan for any market, and that is the key takeaway,” summarized Denys Grebenkov, director and co-owner of OVIN.

What’s Next?

This program has become a significant milestone in empowering Ukrainian entrepreneurs for success on the global stage. Visionest Institute, in collaboration with the Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office, is already planning the continuation of the program. The next Export Academy will be launched in the first quarter of 2025, allowing even more entrepreneurs to receive quality education and solidify the knowledge gained.

“We have taken another step toward the internationalization of Ukrainian business. Many challenges lie ahead, but we will always be there to support our participants. Our graduates form a strong community dedicated to support and knowledge-sharing, which is vital for the success of all our educational initiatives,” states Anu-Mall Naarits, CEO of Visionest Institute. 

Export Academy 2024 is part of Creating Export Training Platform in Ukraine project developed by Visionest Institute Estonia and implemented in cooperation with Ukraine’s Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office within the framework of the Diia.Business Ukrainian national project.