Ivan Kroshnyi, a self-made entrepreneur from Lviv, Ukraine, realized his dream of becoming self-sufficient by starting his own business at the age of 16. Growing up in an ordinary family, Kroshnyi was inspired by his parents to create a different life for himself. Determined to be free and independent, he began his entrepreneurial journey by selling computers and office equipment.
“I always wanted to succeed and make my family proud. I started with selling computers, then ventured into international currency trading in 2005. Subsequently, I actively traded US stocks and, after a few years, accumulated the capital needed to launch more ventures,” Kroshnyi said. 
Over the next nine years, Kroshnyi co-founded 30 companies across 19 countries, managing them remotely in partnership with business associates. His diverse portfolio includes an online investment brokerage, a payment system, a key aparthotel in Prague, a UAE-based coffee shop franchise, and a consulting company.
One of his notable successes in the UAE was the Roasters Specialty Coffee House chain. “I opened this coffee shop chain in partnership with others, and we currently have five outlets with plans to open more in 2024,” Kroshnyi added.
In 2021, the 33-year-old entrepreneur moved to Dubai and, in 2023, launched his latest venture, ‘Eco Way,’ a last-mile e-delivery start-up aiming to replace petrol-run delivery bikes with electric ones. Eco Way operates 45 electric bikes in Dubai and has partnered with prominent companies like Talabat, Pizza Hut, Amazon, Deliveroo, KFC, Hardees, and Emirates Post.
Despite being in a trial phase, Eco Way offers its services for free during this period. Kroshnyi disclosed that his personal investments total $20 million, generating annual earnings of nearly $2 million from all his businesses.
“At the moment, Eco Way is at the stage of a pilot project, and we are financing it at our own expense. With 45 eco-bikes currently in operation, we plan to introduce 30,000 electric bikes over the next three years,” Kroshnyi explained.
His foray into the electric delivery space was motivated by a personal niche analysis, recognizing the untapped potential in eco-friendly transport for delivery services. Kroshnyi identified the environmental impact of petrol-run bikes and aimed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by transitioning to eco-bikes.
When asked about his approach to starting a business, Kroshnyi highlighted three crucial steps. First, he emphasized the importance of market analytics to understand the product, market, competitors, and differentiation strategies. Second, he stressed pre-planning by creating a business roadmap and contingency plans for various scenarios. Lastly, he underscored the significance of choosing the right business partner with aligned principles and vision.
Reflecting on lessons learned, Kroshnyi shared two mistakes he encountered in his entrepreneurial journey. The first was not setting up a contract for business partnerships early on, leading to a challenging experience with co-investors. The second mistake was investing in an unlaunched project with poor technology, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and overcoming obstacles for ultimate success.
Ivan Kroshnyi’s entrepreneurial journey is marked by early ambition, strategic ventures, and a commitment to sustainability with his latest eco-friendly delivery initiative, Eco Way.