At Dalarna Science Park, new opportunities are being developed for Ukrainian women who have fled the horrors of war. Through the BSI_4Women project, these women are given tools and support to not only find a foothold in their new home country, but also develop as entrepreneurs.
Under the name Entrepreneurial Gateway, we have started an inspiring journey that combines dreams with concrete business development. Together with experienced business coaches and innovation leaders at Dalarna Science Park, participants will work on their own business ideas, marketing strategies and customer analysis using, among other things, the Business Model Canvas tool.
- It's not just about theory, we mix inspiring lectures, personal coaching sessions and practical examples of successful businesses. The course is flexibly designed with a combination of face-to-face sessions, pre-recorded lessons in English with Ukrainian subtitles, so participants can study at their own pace. In addition, Ukrainian-speaking interpreters are available to support throughout the process, says project manager Ann-Louise Larsson.
A platform for the future
The target group is clear: women from Ukraine who now live in Sweden and have the dream of building their own business. Through the course, they will not only gain knowledge, but also a network of like-minded people and a chance to present their business ideas in international arenas, such as the Carpathian Start-Up Fest 2025 in May in Poland.
- We have already seen inspiring examples of this. During our Business Start Ukraine workshops, nearly 30 participants explored everything from brainstorming to speed-pitching. The result was lots of interesting business ideas and a growing belief in their own abilities," says business coach Jörgen Steen.
One of them is Olena, who after fleeing Ukraine alone with her children and mother, has now not only found work in Sweden and her children in school, but also runs her own lingerie business with six employees, right from her kitchen in Ludvika! A shining example that nothing is impossible when the will and support are there.
-"These are not people who sit with their arms crossed". Ambition is high, the will to learn strong, and the energy contagious. "Our meetings, which often start with a simple 'Swedish fika', quickly develop into creative forums where dreams for the future take shape," Ann-Louise and Jörgen sum up.
About BSI_4Women Entrepreneurial Gateway
The project, funded by the EU through Interreg Baltic Sea Region, is being implemented simultaneously in Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Denmark and Poland. There too, Ukrainians have fled the war and many are participating in business development programs to create an entrepreneurial future in their new home countries. The project will provide recommendations on national and international development and financing opportunities for business development for foreign-born women.
