What it really takes: How focused mentorship helps female founders navigate complexity
“Some of my mentees show up after nights of missile attacks, on minimal sleep — still ready to discuss business models, growth plans and leadership issues,” writes Hannele Mennala, a mentor in the Seeds of Bravery Female Entrepreneurship and Leadership program.
“Their persistence, clarity, and focus are a reminder that mentorship isn’t a one-way exchange. Every session offers new insights and renewed energy — for both sides.”
In entrepreneurship, not every challenge is strategic. For many Ukrainian women building companies today, decision-making is shaped by ongoing war, resource constraints, and emotional fatigue. Leadership in this context requires clarity, perspective, and the ability to move forward under pressure.
The Female Entrepreneurship and Leadership (FEL) program was developed in response to this need. It offers structured, one-on-one mentorship for Ukrainian female startup founders and executives, creating a dedicated space for reflection, insight, and intentional decisions.
Within the broader UASEEDs consortium, FEL plays a focused role: offering support that helps founders lead more confidently, even in unpredictable environments.
A format that prioritizes thinking
Each founder in the program is matched with a European mentor for eight structured sessions. The content is shaped by the mentee’s needs: some focus on team communication, investor readiness, or scaling; others work through personal questions — how to lead through uncertainty, recover after burnout, or make difficult decisions with clarity.
What makes FEL impactful is how tailored and grounded the mentorship feels. “This journey goes beyond professional goals,” said participant Anna Protsenko. “It’s about leading with clarity and confidence, honouring your values, and safeguarding your mental well-being.” The one-on-one format makes the experience deeply personal and often transformative.
Participants frequently highlighted the relevance and practicality of their mentorship, pointing to mentors’ expertise in fundraising, business development, and international markets. For many, the outcome was greater confidence in their leadership and decision-making.
Mentorship in FEL is also a two-way process. Mentors bring experience in leadership, product, fundraising, and team development, but leave with a new perspective on resilience in practice. Several described being inspired by founders who continue building companies under extraordinary pressure, using mentorship not as motivation, but as a tool for focus.
This mutual value was clear at a recent Seeds of Bravery community event, where Iryna Savytska, Co-Founder and CEO of Bank of Memories, joined her mentor, Ekaterina Parashina, Sales Lead at willhaben, to reflect on their collaboration. Their sessions had formally ended months earlier, yet they stayed in touch.
“A mentor is someone outside your organisation who immediately sees what’s wrong and how to fix it. It’s like working out with a trainer at the gym — it’s faster, produces better results, and makes you happier,” said Iryna. “If you’re also lucky to have your mentor through your investors or grants, that’s an incredible opportunity to grow.”
Part of a wider support system
FEL is deeply embedded within the broader infrastructure of the Seeds of Bravery initiative. Rather than functioning in isolation, it connects directly with other UASEEDs services — including business advisory, matchmaking, tech tickets, investor readiness, and peer support — offering founders multiple ways to move forward. For many participants, mentorship became a starting point: a space to reflect, find clarity, and then engage more fully with other opportunities across the ecosystem.
In 2024, this integration became especially visible through a series of high-impact activities. At Luxembourg Venture Days, FEL participants from Ukraine and Luxembourg joined a closed workshop focused on pitching and peer feedback. The session was deliberately practical — founders tested their messaging, shared challenges, and received input from investors and each other.
At a women-focused investor workshop, founders and early-stage investors discussed funding readiness, founder–investor alignment, and how trust is built over time. The session was not a pitch event, but an open dialogue that allowed both sides to compare perspectives and ask practical questions.
FEL also contributed to a dedicated Demo Day showcasing female-led startups within the Seeds of Bravery initiative.
Some participants used the program as a springboard to refine their value propositions, pursue follow-up advisory sessions, or prepare for investor meetings. Others explored international market opportunities through UASEEDs tech tickets. Several continued working with their mentors even after the formal program ended, maintaining relationships that still shape their growth.
By connecting one-on-one mentorship with broader resources such as investor readiness and advisory support, FEL provides founders with both clarity and practical tools. It gives them a stronger starting point for navigating an ecosystem under pressure — where clarity and resilience often matter more than speed.
🔗 Additional info: FEL is an ongoing programme implemented by FundingBox, YEP Accelerator, Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship, and Luxinnovation as part of the EU-funded Seeds of Bravery initiative under the European Innovation Council. Over 70 Ukrainian women from across the Seeds of Bravery beneficiaries have taken part, with a goal of supporting 100 in total by March 2026.