Ukrainian entrepreneurs are finding new ways to adapt their businesses to wartime challenges through a consulting programme under the PROMTECH initiative. Supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine and funded by the Government of Sweden, the programme has become an important platform for technological transformation and professional development for companies operating in difficult conditions.
The programme is designed as a continuous process of transformation. It begins with introductory diagnostic meetings where managers or company representatives assess the current state of their businesses, identify key challenges, and explore potential opportunities for growth. Based on this assessment, each company receives an individual profile and a clear roadmap for development. After this stage, participants work closely with experts to address specific needs such as updating business models, refining marketing strategies, entering new markets, digitalising operations, and preparing for business expansion. The overall objective is to strengthen the strategic, operational, and market capacity of Ukrainian entrepreneurs.
Several companies have already benefited from the initiative. One example is KVOTA, a manufacturing company based in Ternopil Oblast that has operated in Ukraine for 35 years. Founded in 1991 by design engineer Volodymyr Melykh and mathematician Yulia Melykh, the company specialises in designing and producing high-precision moulds used to manufacture plastic products ranging from everyday household items to automotive components. Over the years, the family business has evolved, and today their daughter Olha leads the company, bringing financial expertise and professional experience to support its growth.
The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 became a turning point for the company, prompting a strategic reset. Despite the challenges, KVOTA managed to obtain ISO 9001 certification, an international standard that confirms the quality of its processes. At the same time, the company chose environmental sustainability as a new direction by focusing on moulds for bioplastic products. This shift encouraged the team to consider expanding into Sweden, known for its strong environmental standards and competitive market.
Entering such a market required careful preparation, so the company joined the consulting programme with support from UNDP and Swedish funding. Through the initiative, KVOTA worked with international expert Soledad Piñero Misa, who specialises in helping businesses become both environmentally sustainable and profitable. One of the key lessons for the team was understanding the importance of trust and reputation in Sweden’s business environment. According to Olha, maintaining reliability and delivering quality products are essential because any breach of trust can quickly affect opportunities in the market. The consulting process also helped the team refine how they present their products, shifting from lengthy technical presentations to concise and focused pitches better suited to international partners. As a result, KVOTA is now negotiating with potential partners in Sweden and preparing for meetings that could lead to its first orders and opportunities for mass production.
Another company benefiting from the programme is TIKPACK, whose development is closely linked to the consulting firm Zenith Expert, which focuses on land management, geodesy, and legal support for agribusiness. Nataliia Syrotyuk, the current Chief Executive Officer of TIKPACK, previously worked with Zenith Expert before founding the packaging company with her husband in 2021. Their extensive experience and established connections with more than 250 agricultural enterprises helped lay the foundation for the new venture.
However, the war significantly affected their initial consulting business when state registers were suspended and land privatisation was halted in 2022. Facing the challenge of maintaining their team and six regional branches in western Ukraine, the company made a strategic decision to shift its focus entirely to developing TIKPACK. While the company initially concentrated on food processing and cereal packaging, it soon realised that the agricultural sector required more advanced technological solutions.
Drawing on their experience managing large land areas, the team identified a gap in the market related to technological support for farming operations. They began developing specialised equipment designed for precision and research farming, aiming to address long-standing challenges faced by farmers in the field. To implement this ambitious project, the company needed specialised engineering and legal expertise, which it found through the PROMTECH platform.
Through this cooperation, consultants helped the team evaluate the potential of their concept, provided support with complex engineering questions, and assisted in creating a roadmap for establishing a new production facility. According to Taras Boichuk, Head of the Export Department, the collaboration worked effectively because the company approached the programme with a clear objective and found experts who could directly address their needs. This alignment between business demand and professional expertise enabled the company to make tangible progress.
The format of the programme also played a key role in its success. While many resources today are available online, the TIKPACK team found personal consultations with experts particularly valuable. Direct interaction allowed them not only to receive advice but also to implement practical solutions and move their project forward with confidence.
Today, TIKPACK continues to develop prototypes for technologies related to field cultivation and agricultural analysis. The project has helped the company preserve jobs while transforming from a traditional consulting business into a technology developer. Overall, the PROMTECH initiative demonstrates how targeted support, expert guidance, and strategic planning can help Ukrainian businesses adapt, innovate, and remain resilient despite the ongoing challenges of war.
