How the business community can support veterans and the Armed Forces of Ukraine, illustrated by the Young Business Club.

"In November 2023, we established a charitable foundation for the club, with one of its goals being to assist veterans and military personnel," says YBC founder Andrey Ostapchuk. "We see that on the front lines, people are acquiring new skills and setting different goals. Most veterans do not return to their previous jobs and switch careers. The club's greatest asset is the social capital of entrepreneurs: over 1,000 businesspeople with experience in more than 40 niches. Therefore, we offer employment opportunities to our participants, club partners, and business mentorship for veterans and military personnel."

Marketplace Editor and Tea House Founder

More than two dozen veterans have found new jobs, including roles such as UAV assembler, cybersecurity specialist, security director, and even deputy school principal. For instance, 32-year-old Viktor Korchev from Odessa, who returned from service with an injury, sought remote work. He had been a sapper and senior platoon operator, participating in battles near Bakhmut.

"Before my service, I worked at a factory as a machine operator, and now I decided to retrain," Viktor explains. "I was advised to contact the Young Business Club by VeteranHub. I then had an interview with a recruiter, received help in crafting my resume, and just a few days later, I landed a new job. I've been working as an editor on a marketplace for over a month now, where I can choose my workload independently."

There are examples of veterans who have already launched and are managing their own businesses. One active military member opened a car rental fleet with the help of a friend, while another started a pastry shop with his wife. A notable example is Sergey Stepanenko, who joined the Territorial Defense Forces in the early weeks of the full-scale invasion and later transitioned to the Defense Forces. During his service, he was a driver and sapper, but he spent the most time as a machine gunner in a sniper company. The Kyiv resident participated in the liberation of Kherson and later defended Bakhmut and Volchansk. Sergey left the Armed Forces with honors, having received the Golden Cross for Courage, 2nd class.

Initially, the 38-year-old family man aimed to help his wife open a coworking space for beauty industry professionals, and YBC member Yegor Rozhkov provided mentorship to him. However, after some consideration, Sergey decided to pursue a more familiar venture—opening a food establishment. At just 22, he had launched a sushi restaurant with a friend and later worked as a manager for a chain of pubs.

"During the war, I had the call sign 'Chinese' because I loved drinking quality tea. I promised my combat comrades that when I returned to civilian life, I would open a tea house, and that's exactly what I did," the veteran recounts. "It's not a traditional establishment; it's a tea house where delicious food is also served. Six months after opening, the establishment's revenue grew sevenfold, and we can only accommodate guests on weekends with prior reservations due to high demand."

Serving and Growing a Business

Entrepreneurs also assist club members who are defending our country. Several dozen entrepreneurs are serving in the Armed Forces. Kyiv resident Dmitry Mashinets, who has been in the auto business since February 2022, is currently serving in special operations forces, while Kharkiv resident Taras Shevchenko is now the commander of a separate military unit.

YBC participant and Poltava resident Yevgeny Rakita successfully balances service with managing his business. In his youth, he graduated from the Poltava Military Institute with honors, served five years in the Armed Forces, achieved the rank of captain, and then ventured into business. Yevgeny is the founder of a company producing corrugated cardboard and a partner of a major postal operator.

For the first few months, the entrepreneur actively volunteered, and even before becoming a soldier, he was present in the hottest spots. In the spring of 2022, he joined the 18th Army Aviation Brigade, which supports infantry on the front lines. Initially, Yevgeny served as the head of the onboard communication unit and later transitioned to the position of head of the communications group. He now collaborates with media, volunteers, and advocates for his brigade's interests among authorities. Yevgeny recalls that in the first six months, when the brigades' supplies were not yet established, other club members helped procure necessary equipment. Currently, he not only fulfills his duties in the Armed Forces but also manages his enterprise remotely. During this time, he has doubled his turnover and expanded production.

One Million for Restoring Lviv Homes

The Young Business Club continues to expand globally. Over eight years, the business community has grown to 11 branches across seven countries. All branches regularly organize fundraisers and auctions to support our defenders. For instance, members of the Lviv club alone raised 3 million hryvnias in six months, which were used to purchase a pickup truck, a cargo van, charging stations, and information-gathering equipment for the 74th separate reconnaissance battalion. In August, entrepreneurs donated 740,000 hryvnias to the Ukrainian Development Fund for drone purchases as part of the "Birds of Victory" project.

In addition to supporting the Defense Forces and veterans, YBC members are involved in other initiatives. A donation of 100,000 hryvnias was made for the "Give a Child a Chance" project—assistance directed at children from families of fallen servicemen and orphans. Perhaps the most ambitious initiative is participation in the Lviv City Council's #TakeCareOfTheHouse project, launched after the shelling on September 4, which damaged 189 homes due to the blast wave. 42 member companies raised over one million hryvnias, for which they received gratitude from Mayor Andriy Sadovyi.

"The example of the Young Business Club community clearly shows that unity creates a powerful synergy. Entrepreneurs, despite the challenges of war, continue to work, support each other and the economy, create jobs, and assist those defending the country from the enemy," summarizes Andrey Ostapchuk.