Applications closed
Greencubator.Academy
Ukraine's first online learning platform for eco-startups. Free of charge, taught in Ukrainian, open from anywhere in the world. A course for green startups at the idea stage, for those who want to turn a green idea into a climate-friendly business.
A course for green startups, starting from the idea
Greencubator.Academy works at the earliest stage: when there is a green idea but no business yet. The course is free, taught in Ukrainian and open from anywhere in the world. It is built so that participants finish with tested assumptions and the readiness to build a business, not with a notebook full of notes.
The programme has two parts. The open part is available to everyone; the closed part only to those who completed the open one and submitted their assignments. Together that is 10 modules: from progress as problem-solving and market segmentation to customer discovery, lean canvas and jobs-to-be-done.
Two parts, follow-ups and work with experts
The open part is available to everyone. The closed one means working in a small group, expert webinars and personalised feedback.
Open part · 6 modules
From progress as problem-solving to market segmentation and the deal with the customer. The first 6 modules come with 3 follow-up sessions.
Closed part · modules 7-10
Business assumptions, customer discovery, lean canvas, jobs-to-be-done. Each module has its own follow-up, and participants receive personalised feedback.
Expert webinars
The closed part always includes a finance webinar; the rest follow the cohort's needs: marketing, positioning, legal questions, measuring environmental impact, organisational development.
Format
Lectures and materials available 24/7. Free of charge, taught in Ukrainian, open from anywhere in the world.
Materials and practice
Assignment templates for every module, self-check tests and follow-up sessions where we go through the work done and answer questions.
The idea is there, the business is not yet
Greencubator.Academy works earlier than acceleration, and that is deliberate.
- ✓Ukrainian eco-innovators and activists with a green idea of their own
- ✓Readiness to turn that idea into a climate-friendly business
- ✓Technical or sector experience is welcome but not required
- ✓No product, first customers or team needed
- ✓Early-stage teams who want to test what they already have
- ✓The course is taught in Ukrainian; materials and assignments are in Ukrainian too
Green startups: business that creates progress
Six modules, open to everyone who registers. Accompanied by three follow-up sessions.
Progress as the result of solving a problem
Why business starts with a problem, and why progress is what the customer gets once it is solved.
The problem as your opponent
How to see and articulate the problem your startup works with.
Founder roles built on strengths
Who is responsible for what in the team, and how to build roles around strengths.
Market segmentation for your startup
How to break the market into segments and choose the one to start with.
Your dominant height
Where exactly your startup can win, and what to focus on first.
The deal as the key to business
The value proposition a startup offers its customer.
Green startups: business as love for the customer
Open only to those who completed the open part and submitted their assignments.
Business assumptions
Which assumptions your business model rests on, and how to test them.
Customer discovery as the most valuable source
Conversations with customers as a way to learn the truth about the need.
Lean canvas, a business plan grown from the problem
Building a lean canvas that grows out of a real customer problem.
Jobs-to-be-done as a path to progress
An overview of jobs-to-be-done: which job the customer hires your product for.
Every module of the closed part has its own follow-up. On top of that, expert webinars: finance is always included, the rest depend on the cohort (marketing, positioning, legal questions, measuring environmental impact, organisational development and so on). Participants receive personalised feedback.
Projects that grew out of the course
Teams of green startups at different stages have gone through the Academy, from an idea to first customers. Below are a few stories from previous cohorts.
OKTOWN
A marketplace for local tourism in Ukraine: it brings together small and medium tourism businesses, activities and services across all regions, so that finding a break is easy even in small towns.
FlushWave
A compact automated system for reusing grey water (from sinks, showers and baths) for flushing, watering and car washing. It saves water and money for businesses and households.
rekava
A Ukrainian company making innovative materials from coffee grounds and other natural components: an example of the circular economy where sustainability meets quality and contemporary design.
RECUP GREEN
A circular packaging system for HoReCa and business: plastic-free packaging, local sorting stations and reverse logistics. Winner of ClimateLaunchpad Ukraine 2024.
SolarPlex
A hybrid solar panel technology that produces electricity and heat at the same time: over 90% of the solar energy goes into use, 10-20% more electricity and +50% to service life, at the same dimensions as ordinary panels.
Who teaches the course
Roman Zinchenko
Co-founder of Greencubator · expert in climate innovation development · facilitator of startup support programmes
What alumni say
«During Greencubator.Academy, rekava went from a startup making only biodegradable tableware to a micro-business making biodegradable decor as well. We gained knowledge we now use in our work. Thank you!»
«Everything changed. Before the course I took a long pause to rethink things. Greencubator really helped me crystallise the brand concept from the sustainability and business-model side. The course was fascinating and useful, both the core sessions and the meetings with speakers. Thank you for the support!»
«Brayton did not simply change during the course, it was reborn two or three times, from an old project into a new one. Despite the full-scale war and relocations, we kept rebuilding the team, now spread across 5 countries, and became the only hardware startup to reach the YepStarter final.»
«That is how we finished the course. We went through it together and did not give up. Thanks to the knowledge we gained here, our project made it to Las Vegas, Berlin and Liverpool. That is a direct sign we did things right. Thank you to all the teams and organisers!»
Applications are closed
Leave your contact details and we will let you know as soon as the next application round opens. If your company already has a product and first customers, check out GCIP Ukraine 2.0, the next step after the Academy.
Join the waiting listExplore GCIP Ukraine 2.0
Greencubator.Academy is delivered with the support of the Green for Growth Fund and the financial support of the European Union. The course reflects the views of its authors and does not necessarily reflect the position of the Green for Growth Fund or the European Union.