Building Bridges across the startup ecosystems of Berlin and Kyiv

The Ecosystem Connectors project builds bridges across European entrepreneurship ecosystems with the aim of encouraging a stronger economic integration through facilitating partnerships, knowledge sharing and resource exchange between entrepreneurs and stakeholders. The project’s first edition focuses on connecting Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Berlin while the project’s second edition is focussing on Ukraine and Berlin.

Through regular networking events, dedicated training and workshops, and exchange trips, the project will provide entrepreneurs across Ukraine with market access and business development support, and access to opportunities for international growth.

We’re kicking off the project on the 2nd of December in Berlin with startups, investors and ecosystem stakeholders from Berlin and Ukraine!

Launch event

Ecosystem Connectors Berlin Kyiv launch and networking

Register now

Get to know the project

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Ecosystem Connectors Forum Berlin

An evening of exchange centered around entrepreneurship in Kyiv (Ukraine) and Berlin. The event will explore the business opportunities, potential collaborations and best practices from the two ecosystems. If you’re an entrepreneur, investor or ecosystem enabler interested in getting to know new markets, this is the event for you.

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Delegation trip to Berlin

In September 2025, up to 35 entrepreneurs and ecosystem enablers from Ukraine will have the chance to take part in a series of tailored workshops to get to know opportunities for expanding their businesses to Berlin. Up to 10 will take part in an all-expenses paid exchange trip to visit the Berlin startup ecosystem.

Timeline

Berlin

2 Dec 2024

Ecosystem Connectors Berlin Kyiv launch event

Jan 2025

Ecosystem Report

Feb 2025

Applications open for delegation to Berlin

Virtual

Jan to Apr 2025

Interactive sessions

Virtual

Apr to Sep 2025

Workshop series

Berlin

Sep / Oct 2025

Delegation trip to Berlin

Based in Berlin?
Join us this December!

The Ecosystem Connectors project kicks off with a networking evening on the 2nd of December. If you’re a Berlin-based founder, an investor or an ecosystem enabler interested in or already working with startups in Ukraine, this is the event for you.

Why should you take part?

  • Organized networking sessions
  • Panel discussions on business opportunities and the overall entrepreneurial climate in Ukraine
  • First-hand accounts of success stories and best practices from startups based in Ukraine
  • An overview of the Ecosystem Connectors project and how you can get involved

Register for free today to save your spot!
Tell us about yourself, your work and what type of collaborations you’re looking for. You will be matched with others based on your profile to ensure that you can make the most out of the event!

Curious about the vibe of the event and what to expect? Check out the recap of our Berlin Sarajevo Tirana launch event!

 

Register for free today to save your spot!

Tell us about yourself, your work and what type of collaborations you’re looking for. You will be matched with others based on your profile to ensure that you can make the most out of the event!  

Register

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Who does the program support?

The program supports founders and ecosystem enablers in Ukraine as well as founders in Berlin.

If you’re a founder based in Ukraine

Ecosystem Connectors can be your first step towards expanding your work into the EU market through Berlin, gaining global visibility and creating strategic EU partnerships. You can take part in a workshop series led by founders and enablers from the Berlin ecosystem. You will also have the opportunity to join a delegation trip to Berlin in 2025 to meet startups, investors and policymakers and get first-hand insights into the market.

If you’re a founder based in Berlin

Join our kickoff event on the 2nd of December to get to know the project and how it can support you, and have the opportunity to directly meet and network with ecosystem enablers and founders from Ukraine. You can also take an active part during the delegation trip from Ukraine to Berlin in 2025.

If you’re an ecosystem enabler in Ukraine

Whether you’re working with a support organization, supporting the growth of the startup ecosystem or investing in startups, you can grow your network and expertise through the Ecosystem Connectors program. You will have the chance to exchange learnings, gain new insights and work with Berlin-based organizations to provide further support to your entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Learn more about our other programs in the region!

Berlin Founders Program is aimed at aspiring entrepreneurs and representatives of support organizations, providing them with a self-paced crash course on entrepreneurship and an all-expenses paid trip to Berlin.

Learn more

About the partners

The project is funded by the Berlin Senate Department for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The project is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH through the “Bund-Länder-Programm – German Government and Federal States Program (BLP)” in cooperation with the non-profit organization enpact.

The project is being implemented in Ukraine with the support of the ReACT4Ukraine project (“Utilization and Implementation of the Association Agreement between the EU and Ukraine in the field of trade”), that is financed by the German Government. The project aims to improve competitiveness and resilience of Ukrainian small and medium–sized enterprises, especially with regard to EU accession. 

 

 

About the partner projects

ReACT4Ukraine

The international cooperation project ReACT4UA (“Utilization and Implementation of the Association Agreement between the EU and Ukraine in the field of trade”) is financed by the German Government. The project aims to improve competitiveness and resilience of Ukrainian small and medium-sized enterprises, especially regarding EU accession. The strategic implementer of the project is the German federal company “Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH”.

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