A unique opportunity for you to meet fellow Ukrainian AWE exchange alumni in one place, providing you with vital resources to advance your entrepreneurial journey and expand your network to include other Ukrainian women entrepreneurs facing similar challenges across Europe.

The summit aims to empower Ukrainian women entrepreneurs and rebuild Ukraine's entrepreneurial ecosystem, one business at a time.

Don't miss the game-changing insights awaiting you at the AWE 4U - AWE 4 Ukraine Summit!

Grow your mindset, grow your business.

Rebuilding one business at a time through:

Learning

Get feedback and learn from other founders experiences to solve your critical business problems.

Inspiring

Be inspired by the stories of founders building and scaling their businesses and overcome your challenges.

Sharing

Become part of an international peer-to-peer community to share and get support so you don’t build your business alone.

Connecting

Connect with your new international peer-to-peer community and create new business opportunities and international partnerships.

What can you expect from the AWE 4 Ukraine Summit?

The community atmosphere, the sharing of knowledge and expertise, and the inspiration. We're doing this successfully with the three generations of women entrepreneurs who are taking part in the AWE (Academy for Women Entrepreneurs) in Slovenia.

AWE First Generation - Pitching Day / Participants group photo.

AWE First Generation - Pitching Day / Participants group photo.

AWE First Generation - Pitching Day / The stage is set.

AWE First Generation - Pitching Day / The stage is set.

AWE First Generation - Pitching Day / Pitching in action.

AWE First Generation - Pitching Day / Pitching in action.

AWE First Generation - Pitching Day / "Merciless" jury.

AWE First Generation - Pitching Day / "Merciless" jury.

AWE First Generation - Pitching Day / Opinion sharing during networking.

AWE First Generation - Pitching Day / Opinion sharing during networking.

AWE First Generation - Pitching Day / Relaxed networking.

AWE First Generation - Pitching Day / Relaxed networking.

AWE First Generation - Pitching Day / After pitching satisfaction.

AWE First Generation - Pitching Day / After pitching satisfaction.

AWE First Generation - Closing conference / Final presentations.

AWE First Generation - Closing conference / Final presentations.

AWE First Generation - Closing conference / Final presentations.

AWE First Generation - Closing conference / Final presentations.

AWE First Generation - Closing conference / Round table discussion.

AWE First Generation - Closing conference / Round table discussion.

AWE First Generation - Closing conference / Graduation ceremony.

AWE First Generation - Closing conference / Graduation ceremony.

AWE First Generation - Closing conference / Let's celebrate.

AWE First Generation - Closing conference / Let's celebrate.

AWE Second generation - Opening conference / The stage is set.

AWE Second generation - Opening conference / The stage is set.

AWE Second generation - Opening conference / Experience sharing.

AWE Second generation - Opening conference / Experience sharing.

AWE Second generation - Opening conference / Experience sharing.

AWE Second generation - Opening conference / Experience sharing.

AWE Second generation - Opening conference / Guest speaker Maria Anselmi, Bisnode Slovenia, CEO.

AWE Second generation - Opening conference / Guest speaker Maria Anselmi, Bisnode Slovenia, CEO.

AWE Second generation - Opening conference / Guest speaker Maria Anselmi, Bisnode Slovenia, CEO.

AWE Second generation - Opening conference / Guest speaker Maria Anselmi, Bisnode Slovenia, CEO.

AWE Second generation - Opening conference / Networking.

AWE Second generation - Opening conference / Networking.

AWE Second generation - Opening conference / Friendships are forever.

AWE Second generation - Opening conference / Friendships are forever.

AWE Second generation - Opening conference / They meet new friends.

AWE Second generation - Opening conference / They meet new friends.

AWE Second generation - Opening conference / Training for signing large contracts..

AWE Second generation - Opening conference / Training for signing large contracts..

AWE Second generation - Pitching Day / Participants

AWE Second generation - Pitching Day / Participants

AWE Second generation - Pitching Day / Pitching in action.

AWE Second generation - Pitching Day / Pitching in action.

AWE Second generation - Pitching Day / Pitching in action.

AWE Second generation - Pitching Day / Pitching in action.

AWE Second generation - Pitching Day / Pitching in action.

AWE Second generation - Pitching Day / Pitching in action.

AWE Second generation - Pitching Day / Pitching in action.

AWE Second generation - Pitching Day / Pitching in action.

AWE Second generation - Pitching Day / Encouraging reaction from the audience.

AWE Second generation - Pitching Day / Encouraging reaction from the audience.

AWE Second generation - Pitching Day / Guest speaker Hajdi Ćenan, AI startup Airt, Cofounder and CEO.

AWE Second generation - Pitching Day / Guest speaker Hajdi Ćenan, AI startup Airt, Cofounder and CEO.

AWE Second generation - Pitching Day / New friends.

AWE Second generation - Pitching Day / New friends.

AWE Second generation - Pitching Day / Welcome bucket.

AWE Second generation - Pitching Day / Welcome bucket.

AWE Third generation - Opening conference / Jeremy from the US Embassy gave the opening speech.

AWE Third generation - Opening conference / Jeremy from the US Embassy gave the opening speech.

AWE Third generation - Opening conference / Group discussions.

AWE Third generation - Opening conference / Group discussions.

AWE Third generation - Opening conference / Group discussions.

AWE Third generation - Opening conference / Group discussions.

AWE Third generation - Opening conference / Group discussions.

AWE Third generation - Opening conference / Group discussions.

AWE Third generation - Opening conference / Networking.

AWE Third generation - Opening conference / Networking.

AWE Third generation - Opening conference / Networking.

AWE Third generation - Opening conference / Networking.

AWE 4U Opening Day & AWE Community Event

AWE 4U Opening Day & AWE Community Event

AWE 4U Opening Day & AWE Community Event / Ukrainian women entrepreneurs established in Slovenia inspired the public.

AWE 4U Opening Day & AWE Community Event / Ukrainian women entrepreneurs established in Slovenia inspired the public.

AWE 4U Opening Day & AWE Community Event

AWE 4U Opening Day & AWE Community Event

AWE 4U Opening Day & AWE Community Event / Guest speaker Mojca Randl, Formitas group.

AWE 4U Opening Day & AWE Community Event / Guest speaker Mojca Randl, Formitas group.

AWE 4U Opening Day & AWE Community Event / Ukrainian and Slovenian women entrepreneurs get to know each other in relaxing vibe.

AWE 4U Opening Day & AWE Community Event / Ukrainian and Slovenian women entrepreneurs get to know each other in relaxing vibe.

AWE 4U Opening Day & AWE Community Event / Ukrainian and Slovenian women entrepreneurs get to know each other.

AWE 4U Opening Day & AWE Community Event / Ukrainian and Slovenian women entrepreneurs get to know each other.

AWE 4U Opening Day & AWE Community Event / Ukrainian and Slovenian AWE moderators.

AWE 4U Opening Day & AWE Community Event / Ukrainian and Slovenian AWE moderators.

AWE 4U Opening Day & AWE Community Event / Ukrainian and Slovenian women entrepreneurs get to know each other.

AWE 4U Opening Day & AWE Community Event / Ukrainian and Slovenian women entrepreneurs get to know each other.

AWE 4U Opening Day & AWE Community Event / Ukrainian and Slovenian women entrepreneurs get to know each other.

AWE 4U Opening Day & AWE Community Event / Ukrainian and Slovenian women entrepreneurs get to know each other.

AWE 4 Ukraine Summit Experience

Immerse yourself in a supportive environment designed for open and honest discussions during workshops and peer-peer sharing sessions.

Keynote speeches will encourage participants to learn from the founder’s experiences and be inspired to take their businesses to the next level.

We will kickstart an international peer-peer community of support and foster new friendship and business partnerships.

Experience an interactive setting where all entrepreneurs are equal, sharing the same ups and downs on their journey.

Agenda

  • Arrival
    6:00 PM - 8:30 PM / Welcome Reception
    Location: City Hotel, Dalmatinova 15, Ljubljana

    Opening Greetings (U.S. Department of State and U.S. Embassy Ljubljana)

    Dinner & Networking

  • 9:00 AM - 4.30 PM / Business & Learning
    Location: Crystal Palace, Ameriška 8, Ljubljana

    9:00 AM - 9:30 AM Opening Speeches: Sheila Casey (Managing Director for Policy in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. State Department) & Michael J. Marble (Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Embassy in Slovenia)
    9:30 AM - 10:05 AM Building a Strong, Sustainable Economy by Supporting Women-Owned Businesses: Kate Isler / keynote speech
    10:10 AM - 10:40 AM How I Sold a Toothbrush to Netflix - Founders Journey: Dasha Kichuk / speech
    10:40 AM - 11:00 AM coffee break
    11:00 AM - 11:35 AM My Way to Hearts Through a Story - Founders Promise: Inna Yarova / speech
    11:35 AM - 12:10 PM How to Scale From 0 to 10 - Founders Reflection: Andrew Skrypnyk / speech
    12:10 PM - 1:10 PM lunch
    1:10 PM - 1:45 PM Shaping the Future of Your Business: Jaka Levstek / speech
    1:45 PM - 2:45 PM eCommerce: Empowering Women Entrepreneurs for Global Success: Kate Isler / workshop
    2:45 PM - 3:05 PM coffee break
    3:05 PM - 4:15 PM Lessons Learned in Building My Business / Speakers: Dasha Kichuk, Andrew Skrypnyk, Inna Yarova, Jaka Levstek, Kate Isler / Facilitator: Galyna Paliychuk / panel
    4:15 PM - 4:30 PM Reflection and Wrap-up


    7:00 PM - 9:00 PM / Success is Sweeter When Shared
    Location: Slovenia Post, Slovenska cesta 32, Ljubljana

    Pitching competition: Selected Finalists Will Pitch In-Person and Compete for Seed Funding
    Dinner & Networking

  • 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
    Location: Ljubljana Castle, Grajska planota 1, Ljubljana

    9:00 AM - 9:30 AM Setting the Ground for the Day
    9:30 AM - 10:10 AM What if Everything Works Out? Kate Isler / speech
    10:10 AM - 10:50 AM Reaching Out With Confidence to People You Don't Know / Galyna Paliychuk / speech
    10:50 AM - 11:10 AM coffee break
    11:10 AM - 12:30 PM Round 1: We Grow in the Community - share, listen, exchange, do / peer-peer discussion groups
    12:30 PM - 1:30 PM lunch
    1:30 PM - 2:50 PM Round 2: We Grow in the Community - share, listen, exchange, do / peer-peer discussion groups
    2:50 PM - 3:10 PM coffee break
    3:10 PM - 4:30 PM To Sum It Up: The Only Way to Grow Is To Go Through It (Alone and Together) / Speakers: Kate Isler, Galyna Paliychuk, Dasha Kichuk, Andrew Skrypnyk, Inna Yarova, Jaka Levstek / Facilitator: Anja Šerc / panel
    4:30 PM - 5:00 PM break

    5:00 PM - 6:00 PM / Awards Ceremony & Farewell Reception

  • Goodbye to new-found friends, and business partners.

AWE 4 Ukraine Summit Facts

  • June 10-13, 2024

  • Ljubljana, Slovenia

  • 3 days of inspiration, learning, and global connections

  • Seed funding for top 3 business pitches

People

  • 80-100 fellow Ukrainian AWE exchange alumni entrepreneurs from 8 countries:

    Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Ukraine

  • International speakers, founders, and executives from the United States and Europe

Summit Logistics

  • All travel, accommodations, and food will be provided.

  • Accommodations will be in central Ljubljana.

  • Other logistical information will be provided soon.

The Summit will be hosted by the U.S. Embassy in Ljubljana, 

in coordination with implementing partner CEED Slovenia.