Nearly 200 participants convened in Kyiv on 17 November for the Women’s Entrepreneurship EXPO 2025 satellite event, which brought together 100 women entrepreneurs from across Ukraine for a day of networking, training and business development. The event, organised by UN Women, aimed to strengthen opportunities for women-led enterprises at a time when female entrepreneurship continues to expand despite the ongoing challenges created by conflict.
Among those attending was 48-year-old entrepreneur Mariia Chytova, founder of “SINO” (Hay), an online platform offering natural therapy with horses. After fleeing war-affected Kharkiv in 2022, Chytova rebuilt her life in Kyiv and channelled her experience into developing a specialised form of hippotherapy for people coping with trauma.
“I have several areas of activity. The first initiative is called ‘Doctor Horse’. This is when we bring a horse to hospitals to visit patients. We were the first in Ukraine to introduce this approach at the National Research Center for Radiation Medicine in Kyiv, in the palliative care department. Similar projects exist in the UK and France,” she said.
Chytova now leads off-site rehabilitation sessions, retreats and group programmes, yet is still seeking the resources needed to scale her business. She joined the EXPO in search of professional connections that could help her turn her growing initiative into a fully developed enterprise.
According to UN Women, women registered 60 per cent of all new companies in Ukraine by 2025, signalling a rapid rise in female-led innovation. “The number of women entrepreneurs continues to grow; this is a powerful sign of progress and a call to keep going,” said Sabine Freizer Gunes, UN Women Representative in Ukraine. “Across the country, women are creating jobs, generating income for families and communities, and driving innovation. Yet they still face barriers to finance, markets, and networks.”
This year’s Kyiv event combined a product exhibition with an opportunity fair, where private companies and business accelerators introduced grant programmes, loans and training initiatives. More than 50 women-led businesses showcased their products while participants took part in information sessions focused on enterprise growth.
For many attendees, the day’s networking opportunities were especially valuable. “The opportunity to learn is essential for me,” said Chytova. “Here, among a community of women entrepreneurs, we inspire each other to think bigger and see opportunities instead of obstacles.”
UN Women also presented the first Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) Award in Ukraine, recognising companies advancing gender equality. Winners included Lika Comfort, specialising in air conditioning and heating systems, and RIVOLTA, a family-run coffee shop in Ternopil.
Other entrepreneurs spoke about the sense of solidarity the EXPO creates. “There is extraordinary power when women unite, because real women never compete; they lift each other up,” said Ira Korobko, founder of the Pink E52lephant tea brand. Yoga instructor and Ashram of Peace founder Olena Vlasynevych added that the event broadened her opportunities for collaboration after being displaced from Skadovsk.
Reflecting on her journey, Chytova urged others to trust their ambitions: “Be brave and follow the voice of your soul. Six years ago, I discovered the healing power of horses, and since then, my journey has been one of faith, strength, and love.”
