ACSI’s first training: how young people can get the eRobota Own Business grant
On June 11 at the Urban Library, ACSI held its first public training on the eRobota Own Business grant – from business idea to application, financial planning, and interview preparation.
On June 11, the Urban Library hosted the first public event of ACSI NGO – the practical training “How to get the eRobota Own Business grant.” For the organization, this was more than just a first event: it was the first public step in delivering ACSI’s mission to make knowledge about grants, research programs, and business support accessible to a wider audience in Ukraine.
ACSI: why this organization was created
Academic Support for Innovation brings together researchers, innovators, and experts who want to advance science, attract EU funding, and implement research developments in Ukraine. The organization works in several directions at once – from Horizon Europe and Erasmus+ applications to startup support and the commercialization of research. Training on grant programs, including eRobota, is one of ACSI’s key workstreams aimed at practical support for people who want to start their own business but do not know where to begin.
Opening remarks from the chair
The training was opened by Nazariy Andrushchak, chair of ACSI. In his opening remarks, he outlined the context in which the organization emerged: Ukraine has many grant opportunities, both state and international, but awareness of them remains low, especially among young people. That is why ACSI deliberately chose an educational format as the entry point – not just to inform, but to teach in a practical way so that after the event each person could take a concrete next step.
Speaker: Pavlo Ilchuk
The training was led by Pavlo Ilchuk, Doctor of Economics, finance expert, and international project manager with years of experience in grant programs and business planning. His approach set the tone for the whole event right away: no unnecessary theory, only what is truly needed for a successful application. Over two hours, participants followed the full path from validating a business idea to preparing for the interview with the selection committee.
What the training covered: seven blocks
The training program consisted of seven sequential blocks, each logically preparing participants for the next step.
- Block 1. How the Own Business Grant program works – participants learned the key conditions of eRobota, grant amounts, recipient obligations, and the selection process.
- Block 2. Whether your business idea fits the grant – the speaker helped assess whether an idea meets the program requirements and what affects the chances of success.
- Block 3. Business Model Canvas – participants filled in the canvas in real time and looked at their business ideas as structured models.
- Block 4. Strategic goals of your business – the group discussed how to formulate goals that both convince the committee and reflect real business development logic.
- Block 5. How to complete the business plan application – a step-by-step walkthrough of the application structure, focusing on common mistakes that lead to rejection.
- Block 6. Financials without fear – Pavlo Ilchuk explained the financial section in simple language, covering key indicators and common risks.
- Block 7. Interview preparation – participants practiced common questions and how to confidently present their idea to the committee.
What participants took away
After two hours of work, each participant had more than new knowledge – they left with concrete results: a completed Business Model Canvas for their own project, an understanding of how to structure a business plan, and a clearer idea of what a successful application looks like from the committee’s perspective. The format deliberately avoided a lecture style, focusing instead on real-time work with participants’ own ideas and feedback from an experienced speaker.
“The eRobota program is not just about money. It is a challenge: are you ready to think like an entrepreneur? We want young people to approach it prepared,” said Pavlo Ilchuk.
What’s next
The June 11 training is only ACSI’s first public step. Many more events from our organization are ahead. Follow updates on the website and ACSI’s social media so you do not miss the next activities.