The results of this year’s SheLeads program demonstrate that the future belongs to the next generation. The program’s fundamental goal is to enable participants to prove themselves and bring their own ideas to life, using all available resources and mentoring support. This year, the program received 365 applications, and 15 participants have already started internships with leading technology companies.
How SheLeads Works: A Ticket to the Tech Future
Although SheLeads includes a competitive component, it was never intended to be a contest with just one winner. On the contrary, the most valuable aspect is the experience of participation itself, as it provides participants with valuable contacts, their first experience working with mentors, and the opportunity to turn their ideas into reality.
“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. Right now – through a prototype, a pitch, and a first internship,” emphasized Serhii Tokarev. To achieve this, the program is divided into several key stages.
Completing the Course
This stage introduces participants to the fundamentals of entrepreneurship. They gain access to professional training materials and learn more about prototyping and pitching. During the course, participants learn:
- How an idea works
Before an idea can be developed, it needs to be clearly defined and communicated. This helps participants avoid misunderstandings and communicate their ideas more effectively. Even the best idea can go nowhere if it isn’t communicated clearly to others.
- How to work in a team
This lesson is no less important. Building something new requires a range of skills and expertise, and outside help is essential. Properly establishing processes and delegating tasks are key to successful implementation.
- How to pitch
The process of presenting an idea to investors is a crucial stage for any startup. Without a strong pitch, an idea won’t be able to attract investment and will therefore remain just an idea.
This knowledge becomes the foundation for the next stages of the program. It also enables participants to continue their entrepreneurial work beyond the program.
Mentoring Support
This year, 120 participants received mentoring support. At this stage, participants combine fresh ideas with the experience of seasoned mentors. Mentors guide participants at every stage, sharing their expertise and knowledge. According to the founders, it is precisely this combination that enables the creation of new approaches and tools for solving pressing problems.
Final Jury Evaluation
Participants who have passed the previous stages get the opportunity to present their projects to a qualified jury. The jury selects the winners at this stage.
Each juror has the experience and expertise to show participants how even projects that did not win can become breakthroughs after the necessary adjustments.
This stage challenges participants; by completing it, they gain practical experience and knowledge under the guidance of mentors. The program’s main reward is the opportunity for an internship at leading tech companies. This year, the project’s partners include Sigma Software Labs, Ukrainian Startup Fund, Healthy Mind, and AI HOUSE.
Life After SheLeads: What Lies Ahead for Participants
Despite its complexity, the program is intended as a launching pad into entrepreneurship. Having gained experience, many participants continue developing their projects after the program. A great example of this is participation in the international Technovation Girls competition. This year, two teams made it to the finals, and their projects received international recognition:
- RoSTEMo is an AI-powered platform that connects researchers, mentors, and students within a single STEM ecosystem. By combining innovative ideas, professional experience, and resources within a single infrastructure, the project is capable of accelerating the process of developing and implementing new solutions.
- LocalVest – this project also follows STEM principles but applies them to the business-investor context. The idea is simple: to bring together small business owners and local investors, thereby strengthening local communities and providing the necessary resources to implement projects.
Both projects made it to the semifinals. This best illustrates their international recognition and underscores the view of Anastasia Deeva, CEO of the Tokarev Foundation: “Each season of SheLeads provides new evidence that women in Ukraine are ready to build a technological future. We see how participants come in with an idea and leave with a product, a team, and their first industry contacts. This is exactly the infrastructure of opportunities we want to create,” said Deeva. Serhii Tokarev also shares this view.
How SheLeads Began
SheLeads is an educational program aimed at fostering female entrepreneurship in Ukraine. The project is the result of a collaboration between uBoost and the Tokarev Foundation. The program’s goal is to give young women interested in STEM, artificial intelligence, and entrepreneurship the opportunity to try their hand at entrepreneurship and go through the entire process from idea to product.
During the program, participants learn to create their first prototypes, work with mentors, and pitch their ideas to real investors. The experience gained through SheLeads not only enables participants to bring their own projects to life but also to secure internships with leading technology companies.
One of the program’s driving forces is the Tokarev Foundation – a technology-focused philanthropic organization working to develop a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable Ukraine. The foundation focuses on developing and launching projects in EdTech and HealthTech. Its founder, Serhii Tokarev, is one of the initiators of STEM is FEM, a co-founder of Roosh, and the founder of SET University.