Natalie Jaresko, one of four founding partners of Horizon Capital, arrived in Ukraine in 1992 to take the position of economic section chief at the newly opened U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, only months after Ukraine had achieved independence.
In 1995, she moved to U.S.-government sponsored Western NIS Enterprise Fund, where she rose to become chief executive officer in 2001.
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Western NIS Enterprise Fund went on to invest $165 million into small- and medium-sized Ukrainian companies “at a time when virtually no other institutions were doing so,” Jaresko said.
Then, not long after the 2004 democratic Orange Revolution that overturned that year’s rigged presidential election, Horizon Capital was formed.
The Chicagoan helped raise $132 million from U.S. and European investors and invested the money into 11 companies in the consumer, financial and business-to-business sectors of Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus.
“The civil society that emerged from the Orange Revolution remains vibrant, demanding, creative and the key to maintaining this democracy on an ongoing basis.” – Natalie Jaresko.
“That 2006 vintage fund has been quite impressive to date. Based on it, we raised the $390 million Emerging Europe Growth Fund, from which we are currently making investments of $15-40 million into mid-capital companies in Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus,” Jaresko said.
Jaresko considers the Orange Revolution as the turning point of her time in Ukraine.
“I will always remember that historical time fondly because of what happened to the people of Ukraine, the incredibly honorable way in which they acted towards one another, the way they came together to define themselves and their aspirations. I believe that time, that event, continues to define Ukraine and the Ukrainian nation in a very unique way,” she said.
As a result, Jaresko said, investors took notice of the nation. The freedom gained distinguish Ukraine from its neighbors.
“The civil society that emerged from the Orange Revolution remains vibrant, demanding, creative and the key to maintaining this democracy on an ongoing basis,” Jaresko said.
“Ukraine has given me a home, valuable friends and colleagues, an incredibly exciting and challenging career, and the rare opportunity to be part of a historic process of transformation.”
Jaresko has been involved in charitable activities.
She is engaged in the rebuilding of Pokrovska Church (Kyiv Patriarchate) in Chernihiv Oblast’s Baturyn, including the establishment of a community center, support of the local schools, orphanage and hospital, as well as the planning of community activities there, including donation of books to all these institutions via a program called “Z Knyhoyu do Ditey.”
“I have served and continue to serve on the board of trustees of Pechersk School International, and am engaged alongside my children in a number of charitable efforts that are organized by the school and the children, including support of the Ark (orphanage and day center in Kyiv),” she said.
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