uk 
Key topics included:
• Opportunities for business support: discussions centered around government tools and international programs aimed at starting a business.
• Grant writing assistance: experts Valentyna Bartoshyk, Yulia Trokhymchuk, and Tetiana Lysychenko shared valuable tips on crafting effective grant applications. Later, Andre Vedrina highlighted the remarkable success rate of the submitted grants—nearly all of which were approved—while also emphasizing the lengthy process of honing skills and perfecting grant proposals.
Success Stories
Participants learned about inspiring examples of veteran businesses:
• “Dried Joy” is a jerky and snack business made possible through the perseverance of its founder, Serhiy Zhukovsky. He started it during his rehabilitation at Superhumans after winning a grant titled “Reintegration of Veterans and War Veterans through Educational Opportunities,” administered by the German government’s DVV International in Ukraine.
• “SS isn’t 200” Service Station is an auto repair service that has already earned the trust of its customers. It has been operating successfully for two years.
• “Familin” is a family-run bedding business. Kateryna Borisova, the wife of a veteran, took on the responsibility of growing the business while her husband was defending the country.
• “Dreamers’ Story Workshop” is a book publishing house that proves creativity can be turned into a thriving business. Founders Andriy and Natalia Kaspyshak emphasize: “We are a veteran-operated publishing house, but we don’t tell stories about war—we tell stories about magic.”
Each of these businesses, despite numerous challenges and setbacks, continues to grow and expand in the market.
The Veterans Business Forum has demonstrated that the journey to owning a business is achievable when support, knowledge, and self-confidence come together. Let’s remember: success depends on us!
