KNESS at the 2nd Ukrainian Forum: Development of Ukraine's Intellectual Capital

The 2nd Ukrainian Forum: Development of Ukraine’s Intellectual Capital was held in Vinnytsia, where one of the key events was a panel discussion entitled “The New Person: Investing in Senses.” Ivan Vekirchyk, co-founder of KNESS, shared his thoughts on the role of business in shaping the future.

His speech was an appeal to entrepreneurs to think not only in terms of profit, but also to seek deeper meanings that unite and inspire teams to make socially significant changes. The main thesis is that in today’s world, it is not enough to be simply effective; one must be a sense maker.

“Why does my company exist? If your answer to this question is ‘money’, then something is wrong here. Profit is very important, but it is a tool that allows you to achieve big goals. For a sustainable and dignified future, we need to build a futurology of action and think generations ahead” — mentioned Ivan Vekirchyk.

He emphasized that companies with a clearly defined mission and global vision attract more committed employees. This is the key to sustainability and loyalty. In a highly competitive environment, it is not the product itself that gives a company an advantage, but the history and idea behind it. Therefore, the question that comes to the fore is not only “What do we do?”, but also “Why do we do it?”

KNESS’s activities are based on a vision of transforming the energy system towards reliability, carbon neutrality, and decentralization. It is this long-term approach that enables the company to be sustainable and anticipate market needs.

“Ten years ago, we realized that with the development of renewable energy sources, there might be a need for extra tools to balance the power grid. That is why we began researching and testing various energy storage solutions. As a result, we have accumulated unique expertise in this area and are currently investing in energy storage projects in Ukraine. We understand the importance of such solutions for the stability and flexibility of the energy system,” said Ivan Vekirchyk on strategic thinking.

The co-founder of KNESS paid particular attention to the role of business in the life of the community and the country. In the current war situation, it is important to be active, take responsibility, invest in education, develop our cities, and work with young people as partners. After all, this is how we create an environment in which we want to live and to which we want to come back.

“Business is no longer about numbers. It is about people and for people. It is your unique goal, your “why” that will form the core of stability. And thousands of such cores will become an unbreakable foundation for Ukraine’s development,” summed up Ivan Vekirchyk.

In fact, when every entrepreneur realizes their role not only in the economy but also in the life of the community and the country, thousands of individual “centers of sustainability” unite for positive change and to build the future we are all fighting for.