Support Projects
WESTART FUND
Foundation for the Development
of Innovative Entrepreneurship
Support Projects Propose an Initiative
About the Foundation
WESTART FUND is a non-profit foundation that supports the development of innovative entrepreneurship through financial, organizational, and expert assistance for ecosystem projects.
Dr. Dzmitry Kalinin
Founder & President WESTART FUND
Over the past few years, I have watched thousands of Belarusian founders, innovators, and professionals forced to leave their homes and start over in unfamiliar countries. We had to rebuild our companies, our careers, our networks - and often our belief in the future.

Many people see this as a loss.

I see it differently.

This is not a collapse. It is a test.

It is an opportunity to rethink, reinvent, and build something stronger than before.

This moment is creating a new generation of entrepreneurs and innovators - more resilient, more global, and more ambitious than ever before. It is this generation that WESTART FUND exists to help succeed.

Our mission is to help form and unite a new elite of innovators, entrepreneurs, and visionaries over the next 5 to 10 years - the leaders who will become the foundation of a new Belarus: open, innovative, tech-driven, and free.
From Vision to Nation
The great goal for the entire ecosystem over the next 5–10 years is to create a new elite of innovators and tech visionaries for the new Belarus.
New Innovation
New Elite
New Belarus
What We Focus On
  • Building of the Belarusian Startup Ecosystem Abroad
    We connect founders, experts, investors, and partners across borders, facilitate access to mentorship, funding, and visibility, and promote collaborative initiatives that strengthen the long-term presence of Belaroots tech globally.
  • Mentorship &
    Knowledge transfer
    We support Belarusian innovators through mentorship programs and expert guidance — facilitating knowledge transfer and helping founders grow, adapt, and raise resources more effectively in a global environment.
  • Research &
    Strategic visionary
    We research the challenges and potential of Belarusian-founded startups abroad, identify strategic gaps in support systems, and design bold, future-oriented responses to strengthen innovation leadership and impact.
Our Impact in Numbers
  • 1 000+
    founders, experts & investors united
  • 1 500+
    mentorship sessions provided
  • € 2 300 000+
    grants & investments attracted
  • 125+
    weekly overviews of growth opportunities for startups
Our Ecosystem
We're building the Belaroots startup
support ecosystem
  • WESTART FUND
    Foundation for the Development of Innovative Entrepreneurship
  • WESTART COMMUNITY
    Fundraising Community of Belaroots Startups in Poland and EU
  • XMENTOR PRO
    Mentorship Matching Platform for Startups
  • KALININ AGENCY
    Fundraising-as-a-Service: Boutique consulting for Startup funding & growth
  • XMENTOR DAY
    Series of live Expert-led Panel Discussions
  • STARTUP BOX
    Venture readiness Program helping Startups prepare for Fundraising
Our Flagship Initiatives
WESTART | Startup Fundraising Community
A vibrant community of Belarusian startup founders, investors, and experts
It connects founders to grants, investors, mentors, and expert support — building a trusted network across Belarus, Poland, Lithuania, Portugal, Germany, and other EU countries.

✅ 2022-2025 Key Highlights :
  • 1000+ verified members: founders, investors, mentors
  • 125+ editions of weekly digests of grants & VC calls
  • Community-voted Startup of the Year Award
  • 10+ events with 1,000+ participants
  • 1500+ mentoring sessions for 250+ startups
  • €2M+ raised with WeStart support
  • Expert consulting via Kalinin.Agency & xmentor.pro
WeStart is a backbone for the Belarusian startup diaspora — offering tools, visibility, and access to funding.

XMENTOR PRO | EBRD

A Program of Accessible Mentorship Support for Belarusian Startups Abroad
We launched the online mentorship platform xmentor.pro and successfully implemented a joint WeStart & EBRD program to provide accessible, high-quality mentorship for Belarusian-founded startups abroad.

✅ 2024–2025 Key Highlights:
  • 2 successful program batches delivered
  • 45+ mentors from across the EU and beyond joined the platform
  • 100+ Belarusian startups participated in mentorship activities
  • 200 mentorship sessions conducted — both free and subsidized — led by top investors, founders, and domain experts
❇️ The third mentorship program (2026) is currently underway:
  • 60+ mentors
  • 300 mentorship sessions
This initiative became a practical support tool for early-stage founders navigating growth, adaptation, and fundraising in new environments.
XMENTOR DAY '26
A series of live expert-led panel discussions exploring the real decisions behind building startups, raising capital, and scaling businesses.
We connect tech entrepreneurs with experienced founders, investors, operators, and ecosystem leaders who openly share how critical decisions are made in real life - beyond theory and success stories.

✅ 2026 Highlights :
  • 4 expert events organized in 2026
  • ~200 offline participants
  • 13 leading experts shared their expertise on stage, making practical knowledge accessible to the wider startup community.
XMENTOR DAY #1 — Startup Reality Check (23 April 2026 · Warsaw)
XMENTOR DAY #2 — Inside the Investor Mind (27 May 2026 · Warsaw)
XMENTOR DAY #3 — Scaling Tech Companies (1 July 2026 · Warsaw + Global Online Livestream)
XMENTOR DAY #4 — Inside the VC Investor Mind (19 Agust 2026 · Warsaw+ Global Online Livestream)

XMENTOR DAY is becoming one of the key meeting points for the Belarusian startup ecosystem in Poland/Europe.
Other Programs and Projects
Growing a Culture of Philanthropy

At WESTART FUND, we believe that building an innovation-driven future also means supporting those in need. That’s why a portion of the revenue we generate through our projects and consulting activities is regularly allocated to charitable causes.

Over the past year, we have organized two fundraising campaigns and provided direct support to two children in their fight for health.

We are now preparing our third charity initiative — together with mentors from our program. Join us and be part of the impact.
Make an impact!
Donate or volunteer with us.
Support our projects that help build
the Belarusian startup ecosystem
Support Projects!
Our Partners
If you are interested in becoming a partner, investor or sponsor, please feel free to contact us.
From Idea to Impact
If you have a project idea that could strengthen the innovation ecosystem, submit it for review — we’re open to collaboration.
1 - Project Concept
We require a clear and original concept that contributes to the development or promotion of the innovation ecosystem.
2 - Project Structuring
We help shape the project structure, documentation, resource plan, timeline, and roadmap — turning the idea into an actionable format.
3 - Funding Strategy
We build a realistic budget and assist in identifying suitable funding opportunities and financial partners.
4 - Organizational Support
We provide operational and organizational support to ensure the smooth implementation of the project.
5 - Impact Measurement
We monitor key outcomes and help assess the social, economic, and ecosystem impact of the project.
6 - Scaling & Replication
We assist in identifying opportunities for scaling the project or replicating its model in other regions or contexts.
Let’s build it together
Strategic Projects Pipeline
If you would like to support or take part in one of our projects, feel free to contact us.
XMENTOR PRO 3.0
[in progress]
A mentorship support program for Belarusian startups abroad
Startup Box: 100-Day Smart Fundraising Flow
[in progress]
An accelerator program designed to prepare startups for attracting venture capital and grant funding
Belarusian Startups Abroad: Insights and Challenges. Report 2026
A study of the challenges and needs of Belarusian startups abroad
XMENTOR DAY
[in progress]
A series of expert events based on the most pressing needs of Belarusian startups
Belarus Startup Ecosystem Leaders Award
Annual Awards Ceremony Celebrating the Key Figures of the Belarusian Innovation Scene
Belarusian Brains, European Impact.
A campaign highlighting the impact of Belarusian migrant founders on local innovation and economic growth
Belarus Inovation Plan
A public initiative aimed at shaping the next generation of innovation leaders
Belarusian Startup Ecosystem Map
[in progress]
A study and systematization of the entire landscape available for launching and supporting Belarusian startups
Belarus Startup Fund
A civic fund for grant-based support

Support projects that help build
the Belarusian startup ecosystem

Make an impact — donate or volunteer with us.
Reports and Documents
Transparency and responsibility are our priorities. We keep detailed records and are fully open to sharing all reports and documents related to the Fund’s activities.
2024 Annual Report
Learn More ↓
2025 Annual Report
Learn More ↓
Contacts
POLAND, WARSAW
ul. ALEJA "SOLIDARNOŚCI", nr 117

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