Digital Booster4SME Launches: 150 Kharkiv Region Businesses to Receive Up to UAH 35,000 for Digit...

Серпня 31, 2026

Kharkiv IT Cluster has launched Digital Booster4SME, a pilot project supporting the digitalisation of small and medium-sized businesses in the Kharkiv region. During the first round, 150 businesses will be able to receive up to UAH 35,000 to implement a digital solution, along with expert support — from identifying a business need to integrating the technology into their operations.

The programme was publicly presented in Kharkiv at an event that brought together more than 800 representatives of the technology and traditional business sectors, government institutions, and partner organisations.

The Digital Booster4SME presentation was attended by Oleksandr Tsybort, Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine for Digital Development, Digital Transformation and Digitalisation; Olha Shapoval, Executive Director of Kharkiv IT Cluster; and Vicky Aken, Country Director of Mercy Corps in Ukraine.

Here is what entrepreneurs and Ukrainian technology companies need to know about the programme.

Helping Businesses Digitalise What Really Needs to Change

We do not want entrepreneurs to purchase technology simply for the sake of “digitalisation.” That is why Digital Booster4SME starts not with a specific product, but with a business challenge.

Together with experts, a participating business will:

• identify which processes would benefit most from digitalisation;
• select a solution based on its specific needs;
• find a Ukrainian technology company or IT integrator;
• receive up to UAH 35,000 to implement the solution.

Support in Three Key Areas

• Sales and customer management — helping businesses improve customer relationships and increase sales.
• Internal process automation — helping reduce manual work and save the team’s time.
• Replacing Russian software — helping businesses switch to Ukrainian digital solutions.

These may include CRM and ERP systems, accounting solutions, warehouse management tools, workflow management systems, and other digital products.

How Will It Work?

First, the business identifies a process or task it wants to improve using digital tools. Digital Booster4SME then helps find a suitable solution and technology partner.

Once a solution has been selected, the business receives a voucher of up to UAH 35,000 to implement it. This means businesses do not have to search for technology on their own, compare dozens of products, or figure out how to integrate them into their operations. The programme combines financial support with expert guidance throughout the process.

“We want digitalisation to be not an abstract strategy for businesses, but a practical tool for solving everyday challenges. That is why Digital Booster4SME starts with the needs of the business itself: we help identify what can be optimised, find a suitable Ukrainian solution, and guide the business through the implementation process. For the Kharkiv region, this is also an opportunity to improve business efficiency while increasing demand for Ukrainian technology products. We connect these two sides — businesses that need digitalisation and technology companies that already have solutions to address these challenges,” says Olha Shapoval, Executive Director of Kharkiv IT Cluster.

Want to Digitalise Your Business?

Join Digital Booster4SME. If your business has a process that is long overdue for automation, a problem that could be solved with technology, or Russian software you want to replace, apply to the programme.

👉Entrepreneur application

During the first round, we will select 150 businesses from the Kharkiv region that will receive expert support and a voucher of up to UAH 35,000.

Do You Have a Digital Solution for Businesses?

We also invite Ukrainian technology companies and IT integrators to join the programme. If you have a solution that helps small and medium-sized businesses automate processes, manage customer relationships, manage resources, or replace Russian software, join Digital Booster4SME.

👉 IT partner application

Kharkiv IT Cluster creates a direct connection between businesses with specific digitalisation needs and Ukrainian companies that already have ready-to-use technology solutions.

Digital Booster4SME as Part of the BLOOM Programme

We are implementing Digital Booster4SME as part of the BLOOM Programme, with financial support from the UK Government through UK aid and with the support of the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine and the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine.

Digital Booster4SME is one of the tools being introduced in the second year of the BLOOM Programme, which supports people, businesses, and communities affected by the war.

During its second year, BLOOM provides, among other things, support for microbusinesses, socially impactful enterprises, professional training and career development, as well as tools for the digital modernisation of businesses in the Kharkiv region.

During the first year of BLOOM, more than 3,300 micro, small, and medium-sized businesses received support. More than 1,000 people completed retraining or upskilling programmes, 935 microbusinesses received grants, and another 106 grants were awarded to small and medium-sized enterprises.

“Businesses in the Kharkiv region are operating under extremely challenging conditions, yet they continue to create jobs, support the economy, and invest in their future. Through the BLOOM Programme, we want to help businesses not only overcome the consequences of the war, but also adapt, modernise, and grow. Digital Booster4SME provides an opportunity to connect businesses’ need for digitalisation with Ukrainian technology solutions,” says Vicky Aken, Country Director of Mercy Corps in Ukraine.

About the Programme

The Digital Booster4SME project is implemented by the BLOOM Consortium with financial support from the UK Government through UK aid as part of the BLOOM Programme. The programme is implemented by the BLOOM Consortium, which includes Mercy Corps, Swisscontact, and Right to Protection (R2P).

BLOOM (Building Livelihoods and Opportunities for Optimised Markets) is a comprehensive programme supporting people, businesses, and communities affected by the war. Its goal is to help people restore their sources of income, start or grow their own businesses, acquire new professional skills, and find employment opportunities. For businesses, the programme creates opportunities for recovery and growth, job preservation, and greater social impact.

The programme is implemented by the BLOOM Consortium, comprising Mercy Corps, Swisscontact, and Right to Protection (R2P), with financial support from the UK Government through UK aid and with the support of the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine.

Mercy Corps is an international humanitarian organisation operating in more than 35 countries worldwide. Since the beginning of the full-scale war in 2022, Mercy Corps has supported 1.5 million Ukrainians in Ukraine, Poland, Moldova, and Romania. The organisation provides psychological support and grants for micro, small, and medium-sized businesses, including those in agriculture, and conducts information campaigns to raise awareness of available opportunities.

The BLOOM Programme aims to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable households and communities affected by the war by protecting and restoring their livelihoods, food production, and other sources of income, thereby improving food security and self-reliance.

Looking for More Opportunities to Grow Your Business?

Digital Booster4SME is just one of the ways we support businesses. Join Kharkiv IT Cluster to access services, expertise, partnerships, educational opportunities, and a professional community.

Join Kharkiv IT Cluster