Help for the “Help Yourself” Ukrainian middle class

MIT AG supports the Ukrainian “middle class” since 2006 and initiated the “Business Plan Competition Odessa” together with the Ukraine-Bavarian-Management-Training Center (UBMT GmbH).

An initiative of the Bavarian Ministry for labour, family and women established1993 a German cultural centre in Odessa: The Bavarian House and the UBMT as its commercial daughter. One of the important issues there is the support and fostering of the Ukrainian “Middle Class”. This small company landscape is still largely underserved due to the formal socialistic economic and political culture in the Ukraine. The “Business Plan Competition Odessa” aims to encourage Ukrainians with a business idea to start their own company. For Markus Sackmann, Secretary of State of the Bavarian Ministry for labour, family and women “the Business plan Competition Odessa is an interface between Bavaria and the Ukraine that helped to initiate and realize the transfer of know-how and experience.”

Not only is the MIT AG sponsor of the competition. They also support the participants with their specific know-how: In order to realize their ideas swiftly and successfully the potential start-up entrepreneurs learn all about the necessary tools – such as creating a professional business plan. In addition, MIT invites successful companies to come to the Ukraine and help coaching the participants. The best ideas are awarded with up to 5,000 Euro.

Since 2006 a total of over 40 successful start-ups and business expansions happened. 

Impressions of the award ceremony on 26 October 2018 in the Bristol Hotel, Odessa, Ukraine.