The latest SheLeads educational program concluded with a final pitch event, where three participants were selected as winners by the jury. This year, the number of participants grew again; the program received over three hundred applications, and 220 successfully completed the program and moved on to the next stage. With guidance from experienced mentors, 120 participants gained hands-on experience throughout the entire product development cycle – from idea to implementation.
How This Year’s SheLeads Unfolded
Youth development is the foundation of Ukraine’s future, according to Serhiy Tokarev, founder of the Tokarev Foundation. The SheLeads program consists of several stages, during which participants must present their ideas and bring them to life. To support this process, mentors share their expertise while project partners provide participants with the resources they need. The program’s primary goal is not to help participants win a competition but to equip them with the skills and experience needed to build their own products.
“This isn’t a competition. It’s proof. Ukraine will answer the question of who will rebuild the country – and SheLeads is shaping the very cohort of people who will do just that. Not someday. But right now – through a prototype, a pitch, and an initial internship,” emphasized Serhiy Tokarev.
The project’s key focus is on hands-on experience. Each stage is designed to mirror the real-world product development process – from developing an idea to pitching it.
Results: Which Projects Stood Out and Won
After this year’s SheLeads, three participants tied for first place:
- ReGrow – a project by Iryna Terekhova aimed at restoring damaged soil. By using packaging made from natural straw and micro-seeds, this project has the potential to address pollution and offer an alternative that is not only harmless but also beneficial.
- Efficient Energy – a project created by Sofia Kedria. The project aims to significantly improve the efficiency of solar power plants by using optical lenses to concentrate sunlight. This technology could make conventional solar panels more efficient.
- GymGames is a project by Solomiya Andriychuk. The project encourages a new approach to healthy living through technology. By combining traditional gym equipment with gamification, Solomiya aims to transform workouts from a necessity into entertainment.
Each season brings fresh ideas and new approaches to real-world challenges. SheLeads participants not only bring their own perspectives to these issues but also show a clear commitment to solving them. “Every SheLeads season provides fresh evidence that young women in Ukraine are ready to build a tech-driven future. At SheLeads, our goal is to provide young women with the experience, resources, and opportunities they need to succeed,” said Anastasia Deeva, CEO of the Tokarev Foundation.
The Story of SheLeads
The joint program by uBoost and the Tokarev Foundation was developed specifically to promote entrepreneurship among young women. The program aims to provide ambitious young women with the resources and mentorship they need to build their own products. Through prototyping, mentorship, and pitch sessions, participants gain experience as they compete for internships at tech companies.
Serhiy Tokarev, General Partner at Roosh and founder of the Tokarev Foundation, is convinced that initiatives like this are the key to Ukraine’s future. The foundation implements projects in EdTech and HealthTech and also invests in educational programs such as SheLeads.
