Women Innovators: Turning Ideas into Reality
The international project provided women innovators with an opportunity to gain knowledge, master practical tools, and receive mentoring support to develop their own projects.
The programme was implemented within the «Women Innovation and Startup Empowerment (WISE) Program» and combined an educational component, practical tools for commercialization, and individual support for promising startups.
The project consisted of two main stages:
1. Training course – online learning focused on intellectual property, innovation, and commercialization of developments.
2. Mentorship support – individual guidance aimed at developing participants’ projects, building their brands, and preparing for market entry.
Why is this important?
Gender equality in intellectual property is not only a matter of fairness but also a powerful driver of development. Today, women’s participation in innovation, entrepreneurship, and science holds enormous potential, as emphasized by Olena Orliuk, Head of the IP Office:
«The project we are launching together with the WIPO Academy and the Korean Intellectual Property Office is a comprehensive initiative aimed at empowering women to commercialize their developments in today’s economy. It provides opportunities to build professional networks, develop entrepreneurial thinking, and lay the foundation for sustainable growth. We strive to ensure that Ukrainian women have not only inspiration but also practical tools to transform their ideas into viable projects that will contribute to the development of the state and present Ukraine globally as a country that supports women’s leadership, science, and innovation.»
Olena Orliuk, Head of the IP Office
This is also highlighted by Olha Kulinich, Head of the IP Academy of UANIPIO:
«Women in STEM are changing the rules of the game – they think boldly, break stereotypes, offer unconventional solutions, and open new directions for the development of science, technology, and society. However, no matter how promising a development or technical solution may be, it cannot become the foundation of a successful startup without a proper legal framework. Basic knowledge of intellectual property is not just an important tool but a critical necessity for every woman working at the intersection of science, technology, and entrepreneurship.»
Olha Kulinich, Head of the IP Academy of UANIPIO
Stage One: Large-Scale Training Course
The first stage of the project took place from June 24 to July 17 and brought together over 680 participants from different regions of Ukraine – women who create, research, invent, and develop their own innovative projects.
The training was organized with the support of the WIPO Academy and the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO).
During 8 online sessions, participants, together with national and international experts:
- gained knowledge on intellectual property protection;
- explored mechanisms for commercialization of their developments;
- mastered branding, marketing, and pitching tools;
- found out about funding opportunities for startups;
- analyzed real case studies of innovative project development.
Training Course Topics
The course covered key aspects of intellectual property protection, innovation development, and entrepreneurship, including:
- introduction to the fundamentals of intellectual property;
- legal protection of industrial property: application procedures and obtainig patent;
- RsP and TRIZ methodologies;
- from idea to market: intellectual property commercialization;
- online marketing and branding;
- funding opportunities for women entrepreneurs;
- women innovators and entrepreneurs: success stories and pitching secrets.
Training Course Speakers
The training course featured national and international experts in intellectual property, innovation, entrepreneurship, and marketing, invited by the WIPO Academy, KIPO, and UANIPIO:
- Kyung-e Cha, CEO of ORBITN Co., Ltd., Director of the Korea Women Inventors Association;
- Louis Foreman, Founder and CEO of Enventys;
- Christoph Dobrusskin, Senior Functional Development Engineer, Philips;
- Tim Jung, Founder and CEO of the international crowdfunding company Starget;
- Margherita Marini, IP Commercialization Specialist, IP Ecosystems and Innovation Sector, IPID Department, WIPO;
- Alina Bazhenova, Founder of the full-cycle branding agency Futurist agency;
- Hanna Palahytska, Managing Partner of the Law Office «Hanna Palahytska»;
- Olha Kulinich, Head of the Department «Intellectual Property Academy» UANIPIO;
- Anna Tkachuk, Category 1 IP Specialist, Training and Professional Development Unit, UANIPIO;
- Yuliana Zukh-Kipriianova, Innovation Specialist, TISC Network Development Unit, UANIPIO;
- Olha Khmara, IP Specialist, Innovation Ecosystem Development Unit, UANIPIO;
- Olena Lytvynenko, Leading IP Specialist, Innovation Ecosystem Development Unit, UANIPIO;
- Halyna Shtohryn, Head of the Grant Coordination Unit, UANIPIO.
Stage Two: Startup Mentorship
The second stage of the project lasted from November 2025 to March 2026 and included individual mentorship support for four participants whose projects demonstrated strong potential for further development and commercialization.
The project mentor was Alina Bazhenova, Founder of the branding agency Futurist agency.
Within the mentorship programme, participants received comprehensive marketing and communication support aimed at developing their projects and preparing them for market entry. The support package included:
- preparation of investor presentations (pitch decks);
- creation of landing pages;
- development of visual materials for social media;
- creation of one-page informational brochures;
- production of promotional videos.
Over several months, participants worked on refining their projects, building their brands, developing communication strategies, and preparing presentation materials to effectively present their ideas to investors and wider audiences.
Alina Bazhenova emphasized the importance of such initiatives:
«The world is changing faster than ever – and women are increasingly not just keeping up with these changes but driving them. For me, this project is more than an educational initiative. It is a space where women gain tools to shape the future through innovation, entrepreneurship, knowledge, and vision.
I have been working in strategic marketing for over 13 years, creating trend books, analyzing consumption transformations, generational development, and the impact of artificial intelligence on the market. I am convinced that women must not only participate in these processes but lead them – not tomorrow, but today. That is why it was important for me to join this project and support those who seek to turn their ideas into real projects and find their place in the new economy.»
Alina Bazhenova, Founder of the branding agency Futurist agency
The practical conclusion of the international project «Women Innovation and Startup Empowerment (WISE) Program» was the final event held on March 18, where participants presented their startup projects.
During the final presentations, they demonstrated the results developed throughout the mentorship programme: brand concepts, communication strategies, investor presentations, and other tools prepared for further project development.
The event became not only a culmination of several months of work but also a platform for discussing startup development prospects, building new professional connections, and fostering a community of women committed to implementing their innovative ideas.