Credit: Ievgenii Karanov, Chronicle.lu

On Monday 16 June 2025, the Luxembourg-Ukraine Chamber of Commerce (LUCC) held an event entitled "Starting Up in Luxembourg: Real Stories, Real Lessons”, as part of its Empower to Employ project at the Coworking LBP in Luxembourg-Hamm.

Around 100 people attended the event, which featured six Ukrainian entrepreneurs who have successfully launched businesses in Luxembourg, representing sectors such as event management, the restaurant business, cosmetology, floristry, winemaking and gastronomy. They shared their first steps, the challenges of adapting to a new country, legal and administrative hurdles, and the key lessons learned along the way.

"The event generated significant interest among Ukrainians. Both registered and unregistered participants attended. People are keen to learn how to start a business, especially by hearing from Ukrainians who have already gone through the process. They want to understand the hidden challenges and hear real success stories. The goal is to support those who have not been able to find employment in Luxembourg in starting their own business," stated LUCC President Evgenia Paliy in an interview with Chronicle.lu.

The first to speak was Svitlana Mykoliuk, Export and Marketing Manager at Dr Pauly-Bergweiler Winery, a family-owned estate in Germany’s renowned Mosel region, known for its thirteen-generation legacy of premium Riesling production, LUCC noted. She shared insights from her professional journey, highlighting the importance of understanding the target market when launching a production-based business. “I had certain expectations when I arrived in Germany. I thought the population would have greater purchasing power,” she said. “But it turned out that Ukrainians spend more on groceries, including wine, than Germans.” This, she emphasised, underscores the importance of “really understanding the customer” when entering a new market.

The next speaker was Anastasiia Voinalovych, co-founder of a creative, family-run event agency launched with her husband Hussam Al-Shiriti, who noted that they officially started operating in March 2025. She shared how they began by organising high-quality events for the Ukrainian community and gradually attracted European clients. “Many of them saw our work when they brought their children to those celebrations,” she explained.

Olga Vaseiko, Co-Owner and Managing Director of Etna Gourmet, a boutique Sicilian grocery and gastronomy shop in Luxembourg-Belair operating since 2022, spoke about her experience running a business in the Grand Duchy. She highlighted Luxembourg as a country that provides opportunities and support for entrepreneurs. She also advised future business owners to establish contact early on with a lawyer or someone familiar with local legislation, noting that “unexpected situations can always arise.”

Anna Ivanova, who relocated from Kyiv to Luxembourg with her two daughters during the war, launched FACE IT, a beauty cabinet and online platform specialising in systemic cosmetology, in February 2023. She emphasised the importance of networking in the Grand Duchy, particularly when searching for business opportunities. “I was looking for a new location for my cabinet, but people in Luxembourg aren’t always open to speaking with Ukrainians, due to temporary protection status and other factors,” she noted. “You really have to talk to everyone and explain what you’re looking for. In my case, one of my clients gave a recommendation, and that’s how I found a space.” 

Olena Zalizna, co-founder of Letz Bouquet, a flower shop in Luxembourg City opened in November 2024, shared practical advice on setting up a business bank account. She also explained her decision to open the shop in the city centre despite high rental costs. “Luxembourg is a small country with a limited population, so it’s difficult to define a clear target audience,” she said. “But everyone passes through the centre, so we focused on finding a location there. It’s not ideal, just 20 square metres, but we were given the opportunity, and I was grateful for that.”

Valerii and Valeriia Komlyk also shared their experience as entrepreneurs. In February 2025, they opened the first Ukrainian restaurant in Luxembourg, located in Nospelt.

The event concluded with an informal networking session where participants could meet new people, exchange ideas and build connections.

(Photo credit: LUCC)