mobile image

How Ukraine Fosters Business Climate via the Diia.Business Web Platform

The Diia.Business Web Platform offers a comprehensive digital solution that supports entrepreneurship at every stage of business development. It acts as a one-stop shop for Ukrainian enterprises, providing tools, resources, and support services that help startups and established companies grow and expand in local and international markets.


Empowering Ukrainian Entrepreneurs through a Unified Digital Platform

The Diia.Business project is owned and coordinated by the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, which is responsible for its strategic direction and overall management. Ukraine has about 698 legal acts within the deregulation reform and 791 tools of the state’s deregulation. In this regard, to enhance the business climate and drive economic growth, the Ukrainian government prioritises the reduction of regulatory burdens through the digitalization and deregulation of licenses, permits, and approvals. In 2024, the Diia.Business team developed an adapted EntreComp+ Entrepreneurial Competency Framework, enhancing it with new skills that reflect the evolving digital entrepreneurship landscape and emphasize adaptability and lifelong learning.


Addressing the Need: A Holistic National Initiative

Due to the lack of a comprehensive state solution for supporting entrepreneurship at all stages—from idea and business registration to scaling—the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine launched the Diia.Business national project in February 2020. Additionally, the web portal was designed to provide free digital services for entrepreneurs, particularly amid COVID-19 and the shift to online business operations. Diia.Business contains two components: the Diia.Business online web portal, operating as a one-stop shop for entrepreneurs since 2020 and updated in September 2024, and the Diia.Business entrepreneur support centers, which include 15 offline hubs in Ukraine and beyond.

Key stakeholders include the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, local government agencies and regional authorities, financial institutions and donor organizations, private sector partners such as IT companies and business consultants, and end users (entrepreneurs).


Expanding Reach and Relevance through Offline and Online Synergy

A network of 15 entrepreneur support centers—14 in Ukraine and 1 abroad in Warsaw—has already been visited by over 188,000 entrepreneurs. Since its launch, the Diia.Business web portal has seen a remarkable expansion, with user numbers rising from 1.5 million in 2021 to 13.6 million by 2025, demonstrating a nearly tenfold increase in visit frequency over four years. This sustained growth underscores the government's ability to anticipate market trends, deliver high-value content, and continuously enhance user experience. Diia.Business plays a pivotal role in business support by offering free expert consultations across more than 16 key domains, including finance, legal advisory, taxation, HR, and export. Over four years, the volume of consultations has grown nearly eightfold—from 5,700 in 2021 to 47,000 in 2024—highlighting the initiative’s growing relevance and effectiveness. With 70% of Diia.Business center services offered at no cost to businesses, the remaining 30% supports the financial sustainability of business support centers, covering rent and personnel expenses. By the start of 2025, Diia.Business had disbursed over UAH 211 million in grants, empowering businesses with critical financial support. Furthermore, it organized over 65 national stands at international exhibitions, with more than 440 companies participating in such events during 2022–2024. 

The Diia.Business team can identify trends, optimise resource allocation, and refine business support services to better align with market needs. The main list of KPIs of the Diia.Business is: 

  • Portal traffic and user engagement metrics
  • Number of free consultations provided 
  • User satisfaction and feedback scores
  • Growth in business registrations and export activities
  • Participation rates in events and educational programs
  • Overall impact on the development of the entrepreneurial system

Solution: Leveraging Infrastructure for Scalable Digital Delivery

The solution leverages existing government digital infrastructure, including robust server capacities and an integrated email distribution service. The web platform is hosted on scalable cloud services and is planned for further enhancement with artificial intelligence to improve user engagement and service personalization. Additionally, the platform integrates data analytics and visualization tools in real time, which are part of the government's infrastructure. These tools provide real-time insights into user interactions and web platform performance, enabling informed decision-making and continuous service optimization.

The Diia.Business portal includes several useful navigational sections tailored for specific user groups. These include Diia.Business Start, Diia.Business Development, Diia.Business Export, Diia.Business for Women, Diia.Business for Veterans, and Diia.Business Digital. The platform offers a free consultation service for entrepreneurs covering over 70 topics, supported by about 100 professional experts who participate on a pro bono basis. A financial opportunities marketplace allows users to search for available financial programs for business development. This service currently features over 400 financial programs from 35 banks, 17 regional administrations, and 4 donor organizations, all of which manage and update their programs via their own accounts on the portal.

Export services are available for companies planning to or already developing export potential. These include tools like export readiness assessments, foreign market research, international product requirements, and international public procurements. The portal also features partner proposals from the private sector for entrepreneurs and exporters, along with tenders and sourcing requests that help establish B2B partnerships between Ukrainian companies and foreign buyers.

Other services offered include a list of business ideas for startups with minimal capital investments, self-assessment tools for data protection, data security, business practices, and human rights, as well as a tool for searching the UKTZED code for Ukrainian export-oriented companies. Entrepreneurs and exporters can also benefit from analytics tools presented through research and interactive industry dashboards.

Educational support includes free online courses (more than 18) on topics such as improving business processes, financial literacy, sustainable development, and marketing, along with webinar projects and long-term programs. A calendar of events and exhibitions for entrepreneurs and exporters is regularly updated, and the platform shares success stories and practical case studies detailing professional journeys. It also provides directories such as the Entrepreneur Handbook and Exporters Handbook, and delivers news on innovations, initiatives, and external opportunities.

Tangible Benefits

These include:

  • A catalog of business ideas with ready-to-use templates and legal documents
  • Online services and support programs for entreprenuers
  • A handbook for entreprenuers which has been compiled by government and industry experts
  • Success stories of individuals who started their own business
  • Expert consultations via video call on topics such as business process management, marketing, sales etc

The updated Diia.Business portal offers enhanced functionality for entrepreneurs. It features a personal user account that stores the most up-to-date content on export, grants, educational programs, training, and other development opportunities. The portal provides personalized content recommendations and event listings—including workshops, seminars, and international exhibitions—with the ability to add events to Google Calendar with one click. A chatbot also delivers content on demand, easing navigation through the portal.

The Diia.Business team can identify trends, optimize resource allocation, and refine business support services to better align with market needs. Its key performance indicators include portal traffic and user engagement metrics, the number of free consultations provided, user satisfaction and feedback scores, growth in business registrations and export activities, participation rates in events and educational programs, and overall impact on the development of the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Partnerships and Procurement

The solution was developed through a competitive procurement process and strong public-private partnerships. Collaborations with leading Ukrainian IT companies ensured access to modern technology and innovation, while adherence to transparent procurement practices maintained cost efficiency and customization suited to the project’s needs.

Rollout Strategy

The platform was deployed in a phased manner. A pilot phase in select regions allowed the project team to refine the solution based on user feedback before a nationwide rollout. Following the domestic launch, the network expanded internationally with a support center in Warsaw. This strategy facilitated gradual scaling and iterative improvements.

Core Technological Components

The web platform employs a robust web-based architecture with cloud-based infrastructure. Key components include AI-driven chatbots for personalized user assistance, advanced data analytics and interactive dashboards, secure APIs for integration with government databases and external services, and a modular design that enables continuous updates and feature expansion.

Designed with a modular and cloud-based architecture, the solution is also highly scalable. It can support a growing number of users and additional functionalities, making it adaptable to other governmental projects or regional expansions with minimal modifications.

Security and Data Management

High-standard cybersecurity measures are in place, including data encryption, multi-factor authentication, and regular security audits. The platform complies with national and international data protection regulations, such as GDPR, to ensure data integrity, confidentiality, and user privacy.

Scalable Beyond Borders

Diia.Business shows how a government can actively empower its entrepreneurs by combining smart digital tools with real-world support. By building a single platform that brings together consultations, funding opportunities, training, export support, and expert advice, the Ukrainian government has created a practical, accessible space where businesses can thrive—from their first idea to international growth. The project not only makes it easier for people to start and grow businesses, but also strengthens the country's economy by encouraging innovation and resilience. As Diia.Business continues to grow and adapt, it stands as a powerful example of how digital public services, when thoughtfully designed and rolled out, can make a real difference in people’s lives.

Year published
07 April 2025
Organization involved
Avatar Image
GGTC Kyiv
Foundations
Policy and Regulation, Digital Public Infrastructure
Category
Legal Processes and Regulation
Region
Europe
Content Type
Use Case