Belarusian Immigrant Founders Research

Thank you for participating in this survey, which aims to understand the experiences and challenges of Belarusian entrepreneurs abroad.

Your responses will remain fully confidential and contribute to shaping a supportive community for Belarusian founders worldwide.

The survey is conducted by f27.club and supported by USAID and Pyxera Global. The survey consists of 40 questions and takes approximately 15 minutes to complete.

It is intended for entrepreneurs/founders who own a business/startups and are originally from Belarus.

Demographics

1. What is your age?

2. What is your gender?

3. What is your highest level of education?

4.What triggered your decision to leave Belarus?
(Select all that apply)

4.What triggered your decision to leave Belarus?(Select all that apply)

5. Which country are you currently based in?

6.Which city are you currently based in?

7. How long have you lived in your current country of residence?

8.What was the main reason to choose your current country of residence?

9.Do you plan to stay in your current country of residence in the coming 3 years?

Business Profiles

10. For how many years have you been engaged in entrepreneurship?

11. How many projects or startups do you currently run?

12.What stage is your startup currently in (in case of several projects, please describe the main one for questions 13-18)?

13. What industry is your startup in?

14. How many employees does your startup have?

15. How many co-founders do you have?

16. Do you have Belarusian co-founders?

17. What is your business model?

18. Is your startup registered in your current country of residence?

19. What are the markets where your startup currently operates?
(Select all that apply)

19. What are the markets where your startup currently operates?(Select all that apply)

20. What are your primary business goals for the next 12 months?
(Select up to 3)

20. What are your primary business goals for the next 12 months?(Select up to 3)

21. What is your funding strategy?

Challenges

22. What challenges have you faced as a Belarusian founder in immigration?(Select all that apply)

23. To which extent these challenges are connected to your current location?

24. To which extent these challenges are connected to your Belarusian passport?

25. On a scale of 1 to 5, how difficult has it been to access funding for your business after immigration?

26. What have been your biggest challenges in building a professional network in your current location?(Select all that apply)

27. On a scale of 1 to 5, how do you assess your current integration into the professional network (number of meaningful connections, participation in relevant events)?

28. On a scale of 1 to 5, how significant have cultural and language barriers been to your business after immigration?

29. On a scale of 1 to 5, how significant have been legal or regulatory issues in your current country?

30. What are the most significant obstacles preventing Belarusian founders like yourself from succeeding in your current location? List up to 3

31. On a scale of 1 to 5, how much have you struggled with maintaining your personal well-being and emotional state?

32. On a scale of 1 to 5, how much identity-related challenges (Belarusian identity, sense of belonging) have affected you?

33. To what extent is your identity and sense of self defined by your Belarusian origin?

34. What unique challenges or advantages do Belarusian immigrant entrepreneurs face compared to other immigrant entrepreneurs?

35. When you reflect upon your experience as an immigrant Belarusian entrepreneur, what metaphor (association, image) comes to mind?

Support Needs

36. What resources do you lack to develop your startup?
(Select all that apply)

36. What resources do you lack to develop your startup?(Select all that apply)

37. Which of the following would be most valuable to your startup growth?

38. Which competencies do you lack that would be most valuable to your startup growth?

39. What type of support would you most value from a community of immigrant Belarusian entrepreneurs such as f27.club? (Select all that apply)

40. Do you have any additional comments or suggestions on how the peer-to-peer community can best support you?

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