Over 100 youth grants: supporting student projects at Hillel IT School

From idea to real product – that’s the journey young Ukrainians are taking today through hackathons and startup battles. Hillel IT School supports such initiatives across the country by offering scholarships for free education and personal development opportunities. One recent example is the support for a student startup battle at the Odesa National Economic University (ONEU). Fifteen student teams competed in the final with projects ranging from medical apps to solutions focused on safety and animal care.

Startup Battle Fall 2025 brought together ideas in travel, youth mental health, healthcare, fire safety, and eco-projects – including those for bee and animal protection.The winning team, Daily Dose, presented an idea aimed at helping people stay consistent with their vitamin intake and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

“Our team consists of girls who care deeply about their health and take vitamins regularly – but we kept forgetting,” says team member Yuliia Vasylenko. “Since your phone is always nearby, a reminder app seemed like the perfect solution. Participating in the training and the battle gave us unique experience: unusual tasks, teamwork, and the chance to present our idea – all of that helped us win.”

Organizers say events like these help students shift from theory to practice. They learn to collaborate, pitch their ideas, accept feedback, and refine their products.

“ONEU has hosted Startup Battles twice a year since 2019,” explains Raisa Hrynchenko, Head of the Center for Youth Entrepreneurship Support Startup University. “Every year we see students becoming more creative and ambitious. They want to lead their own lives and businesses, turn their ideas into reality, and succeed. These events develop not only hard skills but also soft skills – self-organization, teamwork, presenting, leadership, and more. Startup Battles are also a platform to pitch ideas to real business professionals, get feedback, and possibly even investment offers.”

Hillel IT School awarded the winning team 15 scholarships, giving students the chance to deepen their tech skills or explore new directions. Winners can choose any course, fully covered by the school.

“Supporting youth means investing in future professionals who will drive the country forward,” says Vadym Drumov, CEO and Co-founder of Hillel IT School. “We see students need real platforms for growth – and we’re proud to help create them.”

In 2025 alone, Hillel IT School provided over 100 scholarships for youth through hackathons, competitions, and open learning programs. The school’s total investment in these initiatives has already surpassed 2 million UAH.