Mayor Vadym Boichenko has signed a Memorandum on the establishment of a Startup Fund with USAID and Social Boost. It will open up new opportunities for IT specialists not only in Mariupol, but throughout Ukraine. The signing took place within the framework of the forum for the development of the startup ecosystem of the East of Ukraine - "EAST COAST: IT Investment Forum".
“With our international partners, we have created a full-fledged IT cluster that united the technology community. Today we are developing and strengthening this direction. We are creating a Startup Fund, which will allow IT specialists from all over Ukraine to realize their ideas. This opens up new opportunities for young people and is another important step towards transforming the economy of Mariupol, ” the Mayor stressed.
Vadym Boichenko added that during the global pandemic, when the whole world and Ukraine in particular fell under forced quarantine, it was the IT sphere that was able not only to withstand, but also to adapt to new challenges. The Mayor expressed confidence that the IT sector should become a new point of economic development for the city. He appreciated USAID for supporting Mariupol in developing the economy and opening up new opportunities.
Michael Pillsbury, USAID Project Director for Economic Support to Eastern Ukraine, noted that the Fund will unite efforts to attract investment.
“Many investors are constrained by the risks involved in financing startups. The Fund is a mechanism that provides guarantees for new initiatives that will help ensure the flow of new opportunities for the development of the East of Ukraine.
This step is necessary for the development of the region's economy. We invite other partners to join the initiative, ” he said.
Executive Director of NGO Social Boost Viktor Gursky expressed confidence that the Fund will become one of the magnets for attracting investments. It will make start-up funding available in the earliest stages.
“This is important for the development of young innovative teams that will create an ecosystem for the IT environment. We need to give more opportunities to young people to experiment. This Memorandum is a signal to the investor community that Mariupol is ready to support innovation, ” he stressed.
It is worth noting that today on the basis of the Startup Development Center “1991 Mariupol” an online forum on the development of the startup ecosystem of the East of Ukraine - “EAST COAST: IT Investment Forum” was held. It was initiated by the 1991 Mariupol Startup Development Center and the Social Boost NGO with the assistance of the USAID Project "Economic Support to Eastern Ukraine".