#NEF More than 180 local and relocated entrepreneurs received support within the project

            More than 180 local and relocated entrepreneurs received support as part of the "New Economy of Ivano-Frankivsk" project/

            12 trainings, 4 networking events, 30 involved experts who conducted 245 business consultations, more than 180 local and relocated entrepreneurs who took part in the project events — these are the results of the New Economy Ivano-Frankivsk project during the support of the crisis coordination center Save Business Now from April to December, for 9 months of full-scale war.

            Ivano-Frankivsk became one of those cities in which entrepreneurs, in whose cities active hostilities were and are being conducted as a result of full-scale Russian aggression, found temporary or permanent shelter.

            From the first days of the war, the Save Business Now crisis coordination center supported businesses and entrepreneurs who relocated to Ivano-Frankivsk.

            The "New Economy of Ivano-Frankivsk" project supported the activities of the crisis coordination center Save Business Now and, as a response to the challenges of the war, implemented activities to support local and relocated businesses.

            Such support included free trainings from practicing experts, networking events, free consultations from specialists financed by the project during the first year of operation, from April 2022 to March 2023.

            As part of the "New Economy of Ivano-Frankivsk" project, from April to December, more than 180 entrepreneurs attended 12 free trainings on various topics: marketing, export, personal branding, cooperation with the media, development of digital products, successful relocation experience, team support during war and team management, etc. The project team invited 12 practicing professional speakers who shared their experience with the participants - local and relocated entrepreneurs, representatives of micro, small and medium businesses. On average, about 40 participants attended each training.

            Hanna Yakushko, owner of an online store for gluten-free products: "As a micro-entrepreneur, it was very valuable for me to receive support, useful information and new acquaintances. Some communications have turned into friendships, and some into joint projects, and this is another important value of your project. When, if not now, to unite and create something together, supporting and inspiring each other."

            Another useful format for business was networking, including networking for designers, architects and manufacturers on the topic "Design as a business", which gave impetus to the next event - "Factory tour" - a tour of three production enterprises in Ivano-Frankivsk. There was also a networking event jointly with Chernivtsi Business Group, a business club from Chernivtsi, and a final networking event jointly with the Ivano-Frankivsk Business Association (BAIF), where business representatives talked about their biggest challenges in 2022 in a panel discussion. It is interesting that the business, although difficult, continues to develop, some companies have even managed to increase sales volumes.

            Ruslan Kolishenko, entrepreneur, captain of the Armed Forces, Ambassador of BOARD Business Communities: “First of all, the events of the Save Business Now community are new interesting acquaintances and very high quality networking. There was a lot of interesting and valuable information, sharing thoughts, cool speakers, and the opportunity to ask our questions to them. For example, it very motivates me to create jobs and invest in new ideas - it is a very powerful energy to develop yourself as a person. I am not ready to allocate someone specifically from the speakers, because everyone was unique and valuable. From every event, you take a part of the right for you. And that where the buzz of those events is. Plus, this great levels your emotional background, encourages, motivates, etc.”.

            In the "Quick Business Help" format, 30 experts provided 215 free business consultations on various topics: marketing, sales, business processes, export, grant financing, business strategy, personnel management, and others.

            "The format of short consultations helps to focus on a specific request, to receive advice and recommendations in the form of concentrated information. And even if one of the topics did not seem to be a priority — thanks to the consultations, there is an understanding of where to turn the focus of attention." - says Viktoriya Ivanova, the founder of Kryza Store, who, thanks to consultation with grant expert Lyuba Mocharska and the selected grant program, wrote a grant application and her company received confirmation of financial assistance from the UN for relocated enterprises in Ivano-Frankivsk region.

            Within the framework of the project, two-hour consultations and longer formats of consulting for business are also available. From April to December, more than 30 two-hour consultations took place. Register for such consultations via the link.

            For Oksana Arkhipchuk, the founder of the Kaizen network of small schools, the result of consulting was a new school business strategy with long-term development planning until 2025: "The approach of the experts was clear and understandable, the program "New Economy of Ivano-Frankivsk" turned out to be very useful for me.

            I had a consultation from several specialists: in marketing, business development and strategy. Quick business help provides an opportunity to form short-term requests and quickly receive answers from the subject matter specialists. At two-hour consultations, there is an opportunity to focus on a specific topic and work on it."

            Over 9 months, the Save Business Now crisis coordination center with the support of the "New Economy of Ivano-Frankivsk" project helped many entrepreneurs.

            During this time, there were many inspiring stories, warm meetings and useful acquaintances.

            The "New Economy of Ivano-Frankivsk" project will continue its activities of support and assistance in the development of micro, small and medium-sized businesses in Ivano-Frankivsk.

            Dmytro Melnykovych, an expert in the development of personal branding, Vice President of PR at the IT Ukraine Association: "In my opinion, such events are very effective, because businessmen and entrepreneurs can come and immediately receive advice from competent experts. Such meetings are now very on time, because they help businesses in difficult times. I am grateful for the clarity, constructiveness and usefulness of expert advice, everything went very well."

            «New economy of Ivano-Frankivsk (NEF)» is a project that involves the process of transforming the city into a competitive, innovative economic center. The project is implemented by a consortium of partners: the Executive Committee of the Ivano-Frankivsk City Council, the Promprylad.Renovation innovation center, the METALAB urban laboratory, the PPV Knowledge Networks  economic development agency, and the Teple Mіstо platform.