More than 200 entrepreneurs and their families gathered at SUP FAMILY PICNIC KYIV 2026, the annual family event of the business community traditionally held by the Union of Ukrainian Entrepreneurs (SUP) to mark Entrepreneurs’ Day.
The event was an opportunity to step away from the everyday demands of work and spend quality time with family in the company of like-minded people.
The conversations focused on what captivates, inspires and energizes entrepreneurs beyond work — family, personal interests, dreams, and the things that help them recharge and maintain balance amid a busy professional routine.
New Connections, Creativity and Discovery
Guests discovered new flavors, explored Ukrainian brands and took part in a variety of activities. Pastourelle treated guests to unique cheeses with a white noble rind, Stefaino served aromatic sausages and meat delicacies, Khlib-Trade prepared crispy rice snacks and corn chips, while Dried Foods offered delicious snacks for every taste. CAFEBOUTIQUE kept guests supplied with aromatic coffee, while lemonades, non-alcoholic beer and functional water from 2085 were available throughout the day to help everyone stay refreshed.
Creative activities added to the picnic program: TWINSS hosted a hat styling workshop, while Shpalta held a scarf styling workshop. PROZHEIKO Dental Studio prepared kits for daily dental and oral care, Natural offered natural treats for four-legged guests, and the SHERIFF team was on hand to ensure the safety of all participants.
A special program was prepared for children. Together with STEM-school INVENTOR, they built and experimented; with MriyDiy, they decorated their own wooden bookmarks; and Econia organized entertainment with animators and face painting. Lekvar treated the youngest guests to marmalade, Motorola offered ice cream and toy-filled lollipops, while Ideyka prepared paint-by-numbers kits as gifts for every guest. The family program concluded with a special screening of the Ukrainian film Foxter & Max, presented by FILM.UA.
Beyond Business: What Fills Our Lives
A dedicated part of SUP FAMILY PICNIC KYIV was a panel discussion focused on what helps entrepreneurs maintain balance, find energy and stay true to themselves beyond business.
Opening the discussion, Kateryna Glazkova, Executive Director of the Union of Ukrainian Entrepreneurs (SUP), invited the participants to look at themselves not only through the lens of business and professional achievements. She emphasized that despite challenging circumstances and numerous obstacles, entrepreneurs continue to work while also finding the time and energy for the things they are passionate about.
To begin the conversation, Kateryna asked the participants to imagine how they would introduce themselves if they could not mention their business.
“Everyone’s life encompasses more than just business. Each of us has a field that we are passionate about, draw inspiration from, develop or invest in,” Kateryna emphasized. The panel discussion focused on these passions, projects and personal pursuits, showing just how different entrepreneurs’ “second roles” can be.
Kostiantyn Yefymenko, shareholder and CEO of Biopharma Plasma, spoke about business as something that drives him and gives him the opportunity to independently create things he believes in. Education is one of the areas he is particularly passionate about. He founded two schools specializing in mathematics, chemistry and biology. His other projects include developing the infrastructure of Bila Tserkva: an innovative coworking space for biologists equipped with modern facilities, an ice rink, a figure skating section and a church. According to Kostiantyn, he is inspired by the opportunity to shape an environment for future generations and leave behind something greater than a business.
Serhiy Sozanovsky, co-founder and CEO of FILM.UA Group, shared his interests beyond business. They include books, wine and cinema, while a special place is occupied by the development of the FILM.UA Film School, which has already welcomed hundreds of aspiring actors and directors.
Oleksandr Povshednyi, Chairman of the Management Board of ProCredit Bank, spoke about his most important role outside work — being a father to five children. This part of his life, just like his work as a CEO, requires no less responsibility, attention and involvement.
Dmytro Stryzhov, founder of Sheriff Holding, spoke about the importance of not losing a sense of happiness while pursuing professional goals. Sport has become one of his main passions — an activity that requires a significant investment of time, but at the same time allows him to recharge and maintain balance.
An Inspiring Conversation About Entrepreneurship
The words of Yevhen Chykalenko, “And you, Marko, keep playing! We will play for as long as we have the strength, and after us, let others play, but let the song remain the same,” became the central theme of a conversation about entrepreneurship as an act of creation.
Oleksandr Khomenko, founder of the MUR creative association, compared our lives to a stage: we can be active protagonists, or we can simply wait for everything to end, but leaving the stage is impossible.
That is why our task is not simply to wait for difficult times to end, but to act, create and leave a foundation for those who come after us. We should strive to turn every problem into a solution.
In Ukrainian history, the people best remembered are those whose lives were far from easy. They were people who, despite all the challenges, took action, inspired others and became part of the country’s cultural memory.
Reader, Author, Publisher — Additional Roles of an Entrepreneur
A book can take on many different roles in business: it can be a way to monetize one’s expertise, a tool for developing a personal brand, or an opportunity to tell the story of one’s home region and preserve its cultural heritage. These were the opportunities discussed by the participants of the panel discussion “Reader, Author, Publisher — Additional Roles of an Entrepreneur.”
Natalia Shevchenko, Director and CEO of Alumil Ukraine, described her approach to a book as the first point of contact between an expert and a potential client. A person may first come to a book as a reader, become familiar with the author’s approach and expertise, and later turn to them as a professional — for example, for a consultation.
Oleksandra Fidkevych, Deputy CEO of Ma’Rijany Hemp Company, became a publisher herself in order to create more space for Ukrainian expertise. She emphasized that a book should be viewed as a fully-fledged product: it is important to understand who it is created for, what reader needs it to address, and what specific knowledge and tools it provides.
“Do what you can, where you are,” shared Serhii Sorokunskyi, founder of Sapfir Agro, as he spoke about the idea behind his book. What began as a personal desire to tell the story of Kherson cuisine gradually developed into a broader story about the region’s cultural richness and a way to preserve it through a book.
In closing, the discussion moderator Eduard Akhramovych, founder and CEO of Art Nation, noted that a book remains, first and foremost, a source of knowledge, while at the same time it can also serve as a business tool.
SUP 100. Change Leaders
A special part of SUP FAMILY PICNIC KYIV 2026 was the official introduction of the Union’s new ambassadors.
In April, the SUP 100. Change Leaders program was presented at SUP DAY FORUM KYIV. The program brings together leaders of the business community who have a direct impact on the future of Ukrainian entrepreneurship.
When people with such influence come together within a single institution, their voice becomes significantly stronger in dialogue with the government, the media and international partners.
The new SUP ambassadors are: Anastasiia Gurska (Anastasiia Gurska Law Firm), Tetiana Abramova (RITO), Eduard Akhramovych (MagicBux), Serhii Bykov (ELEKTROSVIT), Liudmyla Bogush (BogushTime), Svitlana Vyhranenko (Astron Law Firm), Dmytro Stryzhov (SHERIFF Security Companies Holding), Iryna Zubrytska (Parker Russell), Volodymyr Lempert (Spetztekhosnastka), Nataliia Suzdaltseva (Junimed Health and Organic Group), Anatolii Moloshnyi (Industrial Solutions Center), Dmytro Solomianchuk (MediGo), Eugene Bondarenko (Polymercenter), Iryna Minkovska (Me and My School), Oleg Savchuk (Tribo).
Supporting Ukraine’s Defenders
An important part of the event was a charity auction, through which entrepreneurs supported a fundraiser for quad bikes for the Rokit Special-Purpose Unmanned Systems Unit. The vehicles will enable service members to move more quickly within operational areas, work more effectively and reduce their vulnerability. We thank everyone who took part in the charity auction and supported Ukraine’s defenders. Your support is especially important during these exceptionally difficult times.
If you would like to support the fundraiser, you can contribute via this link.
We would also like to thank the partners who contributed lots to the charity auction: Serhii Sorokunskyi (Sapfir Agro), Natalia Shevchenko (Alumil Ukraine), TWINSS, Multiplex and PROZHEIKO Dental Studio.
Photo Report
Special thanks for supporting SUP FAMILY PICNIC KYIV to our partners: strategic partner Nova Poshta, which provides fast and reliable logistics and delivery even amid ongoing challenges; general partner ProCredit Bank, which supports Ukrainian businesses and helps entrepreneurs grow even in difficult times; and official partner Biopharma, which works to protect the health of Ukrainians and supports important initiatives.
Especially for participants of SUP FAMILY PICNIC KYIV 2026, ProCredit Bank offers the “Pershyi” (“First”) tariff package, designed to make getting started easy: six months of service for UAH 1 per month, UAH 1 for UAH transfers, and UAH 1 for a SWIFT transfer. Minimum barriers at the start — so you can put the bank to the test in your day-to-day operations.
Our sincere thanks to all the speakers, moderators, partners and guests of SUP FAMILY PICNIC KYIV 2026 for the meaningful conversations, openness and atmosphere we created together!
See you at the next SUP events!