The Franco-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry announced the winners of the Created by Women Award 2026

Equipment that helps businesses, hospitals, schools, and critical infrastructure facilities operate more efficiently and energy-efficiently. Clothing that restores a sense of dignity to people after amputations and cancer treatment. A brand that helps talk about women's health without shame or taboo. Eco-friendly straws made from reeds that replace single-use plastic in HoReCa and business. Therapeutic equipment that helps adults and children with injuries and disabilities recover and live with dignity. All of these are businesses founded by women that were recognized this year by the Created by Women 2026 Award.

This year, the Franco-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry named three winners. In addition, the Award's partners recognized two finalists who became their favorites. 

This year's three laureates embody three pillars of the country's future reconstruction: industry and energy independence, innovations for the benefit of people, and care for women's health. These are women who not only endure the war but are already building the Ukraine of the future.

Over the eight years of the "Created by Women" award, it has grown significantly. While in 2019, when the competition was first launched, 37 applications were received, this year there were already 284. In total, over the entire period, more than 2,000 women entrepreneurs have participated in the award, and the amount of grant support has exceeded 2.5 million UAH.

This year's award winners:

1st place — Olena Kovalchuk, ALTEZUM (RK Modul)

Olena's company creates modern equipment for heating and cooling systems. These are engineering solutions that help businesses, social facilities, and critical infrastructure operate more efficiently and energy-efficiently.

Her products have already become a competitive alternative to imports and are used at critical and social infrastructure facilities. 

By choosing mechanical engineering, Olena deliberately entered a field where women are traditionally few. Today, she shows that engineering and industry are spaces where women can set the direction.

The main winner received 200,000 UAH, membership in the Franco-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and support for the development of Ukrainian production and the implementation of innovative technologies.

"My victory is, first and foremost, a powerful signal for all Ukrainian women: never be afraid to choose complex, technical, or stereotypically 'non-female' fields. It is absolutely possible! Believe in your strength, break down prejudices, boldly plan, and just act. Women's leadership and expertise today are not only about self-realization; they are about a new force that drives Ukrainian business forward and creates the future," commented Olena.

2nd place — Anastasiia Klymenko, Zhaga

Zhaga is a brand of adaptive multifunctional clothing for people with prosthetics, after injuries, surgeries, or cancer treatment. The brand's main mission: clothing should provide not only comfort but also freedom and a sense of personal dignity — adapting to a person's needs, not the other way around.

Anastasiia is developing production in the Kyiv region, creating jobs, and the brand has already represented Ukraine at the Future Fashion Forum. The brand's founder received 150,000 hryvnias, which will allow the creation of new models and make them accessible to more people.

"This award is the result of a long journey, as I have been participating in the Award for several consecutive years. And only now, this year, came the absolute realization: I am ready to win. Now I have a strong development strategy, so this grant has become a timely and precise resource for the company's growth. To those who hesitate, I want to say: if this is the work of your life, act without doubt. Move forward, focus on the result, and do not pay attention to temporary difficulties. Recognition will definitely come if you believe in your mission and do not stop in the face of challenges," shared Anastasiia.

3rd place — Viktoriia Maslova, Wellwet

A Ukrainian manufacturer of intimate cosmetics that creates products with a focus on women's health care. Viktoriia's mission is to make the topic of women's intimate health a natural and open part of self-care, without taboo or shame.

The brand is developing a new category for the Ukrainian market — intimate skin care — and is already represented in national cosmetics chains, pharmacies, and health stores.

Victoria will use the grant of 100,000 hryvnias to scale up her educational activities and accelerate the brand's entry into international markets.

"This award is proof of our shared resilience. Despite the fact that the war has taken too much from us — it has robbed us of safety, peace, stability, taken homes from some, and loved ones from others... Yet it is unable to destroy our love for life and our passion for creation. The women who are creating and developing businesses in Ukraine today demonstrate an incredible strength to build and bring ideas to life against all odds. Wellwet is exactly about this: about creation, about quality of life, and about the ability to speak loudly. For me, the topic of intimate health is also a personal challenge, so this award is a great source of inspiration, and I am immensely grateful to everyone for their support," says Victoria.

All the winners were waiting for another special award — tickets to Paris.

"When you look through the stories of this year's laureates, it becomes obvious: they are all united by a common idea. They are not just overcoming the challenges of war — they are already shaping the Ukraine of the future. Each does it in their own way: Altezum develops industry and strengthens energy independence, Zhaga creates innovations that work for the benefit of people, Wellwet cares for women's health and well-being. For me, this is the main message: different fields, different businesses, but behind them is one great work — building the country it is meant to become," noted Maud Joseph, Director of the Franco-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and founder of the "Created by Women" Award.

In addition, this year two finalists received special distinctions (coups de coeur) from the Award partners, whose projects impressed the jury with their social impact and development potential:

The favorite of UKRSIBBANK BNP Paribas Group was Oksana Farenik, founder of YES STRAWS, which produces eco-friendly straws from reeds and other sustainable products for HoReCa and businesses. The brand's journey was not easy: the pandemic, a fire at the production facility, and then the full-scale war. When Oksana's husband and co-founder of the brand joined the defense of Ukraine, Oksana took responsibility for the business and the team — she preserved production, jobs, and continued exporting Ukrainian products to Europe. The entrepreneur received 100,000 hryvnias for the development of her business.

Michelin supported Maryna Guralchuk, founder of ISD | Inclusive Space Developer, with a grant of 100,000 hryvnias, which creates therapeutic equipment and solutions for inclusive spaces, helping adults and children with injuries and disabilities recover and live with dignity. The company's story is about resilience: after the 2022 invasion, Maryna lost almost everything, but managed to rebuild the business, giving it an even deeper social mission.

This year's Award participants once again proved: Ukrainian women's entrepreneurship is a space of powerful ideas that are changing the country. The final brought together eleven projects, each deserving individual attention. Along with the laureates, the final included:

·       Yuliia Koinak — founder of VITA325, an AI platform for digital rehabilitation and mobility assessment;

·       Anastasiia Kondratieva — founder of SPOGAD, who develops a startup in the field of fashion technology and transforms plastic waste into premium fashion products and accessories;

·       Iryna Lova — founder of the gastronomic brand "Pampushka", which creates cheese pampushky according to a grandmother's recipe;

·       Yelyzaveta Nyshchuk — founder of the farm "RosteVse", which grows seedlings and seasonal vegetables;

·       Yuliia Siletska — founder and CEO of ÜLKA / SVJ Beauty Equipment LLC, a brand of professional equipment for the beauty industry;

·       Kateryna Uvarova — founder of the eco-brand 3,14BAN, which transforms banners into unique products.

Each of these projects impresses with its innovation and social value, and reaching the final is already recognition of their significant contribution to the development of Ukraine.

The "Created by Women" Award is an annual initiative of the Franco-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Its goal is to support and develop women's entrepreneurship in Ukraine, promote gender equality, and foster sustainable economic growth. The award recognizes female entrepreneurs who develop their businesses amid war and uncertainty, disproves prejudices about "women's" businesses, and inspires women to believe in themselves. Today, it is a powerful platform for development, expert support, and new opportunities.