Active volunteering, teaching tactical medicine courses in 2014, participation in war in 2015, a successful start of her own business and war again – this is the story of Victoria Tkach, a veteran entrepreneur who won the #VARTO competition organized by the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine.
Victoria says, “The history of my own business began in 2018 when, as a volunteer, I began to study at the Kyiv School of Economics in order to return to civilian life and be able to work for myself. After receiving a grant in the amount of 25 thousand hryvnias, we purchased equipment and, having knowledge, how to develop a startup, got on the difficult road of business…”
At the front, Victoria did not eat meat, so her mother sent her dried vegetables and fruits, made with her own hands. That’s how the idea appeared to make nutritious dry goods, which would be useful for those who fight, go to the mountains, and for everyone who needs to take something not so heavy but with high energy value on the road. Initially, the business was to be called “Kus’”, but it was launched as Slice&dry’s.
Currently, her manufacturing deals with the drying fruits, vegetables, mushrooms and meat.
“Our products are popular among people who spend most of their time outside their personal comfort zone, their home, namely athletes, rescuers, military, doctors, police, tourists, climbers, and all of them are united by love for healthy food and respect to their health,” says the veteran.
With the beginning of a full-scale invasion, requests from the military increased 5 times. And therefore the capacity could no longer cope with the requests from customers, so the received money will be used to increase the capacity and expand the staff.
Victoria shares: “For me, this business is an opportunity to have something of my own and give the family another segment that will unite it. I see how my relatives are working on this project, and I am happy. I can see they like it. They talk about our case and joke about it all the time.”
