Not all startups and small businesses immediately see themselves as potential clients of a European Digital Innovation Hub. Many say, “We’re already digital enough.” However, digital transformation goes far beyond adopting yet another CRM system or updating a website. True, comprehensive digitalisation means rethinking how your business scales, making your business model more agile and better equipped to respond to risks and market challenges. All of this combined strengthens the project’s resilience and makes it far more attractive to investors.

This is where Win-Win EDIH can serve as the starting point for preparing startups and SMEs for future investment in a structured and strategic way.

 

How It Works

Win-Win EDIH doesn’t provide direct investment. Instead, its focus is on creating the right conditions to help startups and SMEs become more mature, structured, and attractive to potential investors — from local business angels to European funds. In other words, the hub’s experts help prepare both the project and the team for their next stage of growth — including investment readiness. This support follows a multistep approach:

• Digital Maturity Assessment (DMA): This is where the journey begins. The DMA helps identify where the business currently stands, what its strengths are, what areas need improvement, and which direction to take next. Based on this, teams receive a tailored roadmap of changes needed to move their project to the next level.

• Test Before Invest: For hardware or deep tech teams, access to testing environments is crucial. Win-Win EDIH facilitates the validation and testing of ideas, prototypes, or digital solutions through partner labs at its three founding universities: Kyiv National Economic University, Chernihiv Polytechnic, and Zhytomyr Polytechnic.

• Cybersecurity, Cloud Solutions, Legal Readiness: These elements often become critical when preparing for investment. The hub supports businesses through basic audits and guidance on cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, and legal compliance, or connects them with trusted, specialized partners.

• Tailored Consultations: These can focus on the project’s business model, product architecture, investor communication, or grant applications. Participants receive practical advice from experts who have themselves worked with investors or supported other teams through the process. If challenges arise, the hub’s experts are available to provide fast and targeted support.

• Events and Trainings: The hub offers a range of services designed to help teams build the skills they need for successful product development. For example, in May, Win-Win EDIH clients participated in:

• Incubation Community Days: Deep Tech Startups. A two-day program featuring investor and founder Q&A sessions, pitch training, and business model reviews — all designed to help early-stage startups better understand the market’s real expectations.

• Bootcamp: From Overthinking to Prototyping. An online program focused on building MVPs without programmers using no-code/low-code tools. Founders learned how to validate ideas quickly and affordably.
  Workshop on Communications for International Events. From crafting a compelling pitch to making the most of networking opportunities — practical advice from experts at SLOVA Tech PR.

• Ecosystem support: The Win-Win EDIH consortium includes the Ukrainian Startup Fund, as well as accelerators such as YEP Accelerator and Vacuum Deep Tech Acceleration. This community ensures a deep understanding of startup needs and development cycles. WIN2EDIH also collaborates with other European Digital Innovation Hubs and startup programs, co-organises events and facilitates knowledge exchange.

• Comprehensive preparation for investor matchmaking: Win-Win EDIH builds a database of interested investors in Ukraine and across Europe, and prepares teams for meetings with them, helping refine their pitch decks and identify the most effective engagement formats. 

What value does the startup receive?

Teams that have gone through the collaboration journey with Win-Win EDIH gain a clearer understanding of their investment readiness, improve the way they articulate their value proposition, and communicate more confidently with potential partners. Some have received invitations to international programs; others have received expert feedback on how to improve their product and are now implementing meaningful changes.

At the same time, all participants are guaranteed a structured approach to development and a step-by-step path toward tangible results.

How to access the hub’s services?

Getting started with Win-Win EDIH is simple: just fill out a short form. This helps the hub team better understand your needs and match you with the most relevant services.
More information about available services and programs can be found in the catalogue on the Innovation Ukraine platform.