Frequently Asked Questions!

The program consists of five key components: 

1. The Training Academy provides an interactive online learning experience designed to enhance financial acumen, business planning, and impact-driven and user-centric entrepreneurship.  

1. The subsequent Master Class serves as a hybrid accelerator for selected venture teams, focusing on strategy, market entry, and investment readiness. It culminates in refined business and financial plans, along with a pitch presentation.  

1. Starting with the Master Class, participants will receive ongoing coaching and mentoring, offering tailored support in business development, financial planning, and investment readiness.  

1. Selected teams will also receive seed funding to implement their ventures. 

1. Finally, participants will join the REDpreneur Network, a peer support community connecting URCS branches, social entrepreneurs, and impact investors. 

We invite you to apply for the first stage of the program – the online Training Academy, designed to build core entrepreneurial skills.  

💡 Clarify Your Vision and Mission – Develop a clear understanding of your business’s purpose and direction. 

​​✅​ Gain Practical Skills and Mentorship – Receive hands-on training and ongoing support from experienced mentors. 

📚 Learn How to Validate Your Idea and Build a Business Model – Understand the key steps to test your idea and create a solid business model. 

📌 Craft a Strong Value Proposition – Learn how to clearly define the unique value your business offers to customers and stakeholders. 

🚀 Develop a Clear Growth Plan – Create a roadmap for your business's future and be ready to launch a pilot project. 

🤝 Understand the Difference Between Social Entrepreneurship and Humanitarian Work – Learn how these two fields intersect and differ. 

💰 Master Business Planning, Financial Models, and Pitching – Acquire the skills to create a business plan, financial model, and pitch for potential partners. 

🌱 Gain Inspiration and Support from Fellow Entrepreneurs – Connect with like-minded individuals for mutual support and motivation. 

🔍 Explore Key Aspects of Social Entrepreneurship and Financial Sustainability – Learn the fundamentals of social entrepreneurship and how it ties into financial stability. 

🎯 Boost Your Confidence as an Entrepreneur – Gain the knowledge and support you need to confidently grow your business. 

• Foundations of Social Entrepreneurship – Motivation, mindset, and vision/mission development. 

• Strategic Planning – Value Proposition Canvas, customer understanding, and business/financial planning. 

• Idea Validation & Execution – Materializing ideas, low-cost testing, and competition analysis. 

• Alignment & Impact – Ensuring ventures align with Red Cross values and the program roadmap. 

• Pitch Presentation Training - Mastering the art of delivering a compelling pitch that effectively communicates the venture’s value proposition, impact, and business potential to investors, partners, and stakeholders.  

 1/ The online Training Academy starts in early June 2025 and lasts for 8 weeks. The program requires approximately 2 hours of learning per week, making it easy to balance with your other commitments. 

2/ After completing the Training Academy, the most accomplished teams will have the chance to apply for a 3-month Master Class and ongoing mentorship support, starting in September 2025. During the Master Class, teams will refine their venture ideas and pitch them for a chance to receive seed funding. Successful teams are expected to receive funding and begin implementing their grants in early 2026. To support this process, mentorship and coaching will continue for several months after the program. 

 We invite applications from URCS branches who meet the following criteria: 

• Project with Potential: We welcome applications from teams with innovative ideas in their early stages. Preference will be given to ideas related to the core services \ mandate if URCS, for example in the following areas: Health & Wellness (e.g., salt rooms, massage services), Repair & Recycle (e.g., sewing workshops, mobile repair services) and other services to the communities based on needs. However, innovative and unique social enterprise ideas are also welcome to apply. Whether your idea is fully formed or still in development, we’ll support you in validating it, building a business model, and creating a sustainable financial plan. Existing initiatives can also be accelerated through this program.  

• Motivation to Succeed: Teams should demonstrate a strong motivation to develop their idea into a sustainable and impactful social enterprise, with a clear commitment to achieving both social and financial goals. 

• Dedicated team: Each application must include a project leader, a financial manager, and an additional team member (e.g., volunteer or stakeholder representative). 

• Institutional support: For the application, include a written endorsement letter from the respective URCS regional (oblast) organization. Please note that this call is open to all URCS branches except those that have already benefited from REDpreneur support during the first cohort in Ukraine in 2024.