In Search of Opportunity

[ecocks]

Anyone with capital, let's get together and chat.

I am sick of watching all the opportunities slide slowly downstream.

No scams and forget the time-wasting marriage agencies or tour companies, I want to track down some serious business situations.  Ukraine has potential far beyond the, "Hey, let's buy an apartment, fix it up and sell it!" stage.

[rjm]

Ive got 112gr, a monthly metro pass and a few bottles of Slavutich in the fridge, if that qualifies as the sort of capital you need feel free to pm 

[ecocks]

  - LOL

That sounds great!  There's this short-term, medium risk project at this little stolovaya down by the railyards.....

Nah, seriously.  As we look around us, we all think, "Wow, even I know that you can make more money if..." OR "How come nobody has...."  I am merely suggesting occasional get-togethers and chit-chat about business plans.  At the least it can let you vent a bit and enjoy a diversion from normalna.  At the most - Who knows what might happen?

Anyway, my original post is serious and remains open.  Always willing to listen.

                                               

[Moving]

Ecocks, and what amont of capital would you require? are you talking about big stuff or even 10/15.000euros would make a good start? well, thats all i have in my bank account!!!

PS. my post is serious

[ecocks]

Look at the investment question someone else asked this morning.  There are options for people who want to invest ANY amount of money.  At that level, form an invest club of people you can trust (or risk trusting) and pool up your money.  Form your own little mutual fund.  You can establish a club and have a little fund at your quarterly meeting making small scale investment decisions which will give you the experience and confidence to do more later.  Some of the organized funds (not necessarily in Ukraine) allow you to make an intial purchase the additional small contributions monthly.

And, to be straight, I don't require anyone's money.  I'm not soliciting partners (too many disappointments down that road), just trying to be a bit more diligent in looking around for ideas and concrete projects.

[Florian]

I'm interested. Let's meet up with like-minded people some time next week or so.
By the way. Congratulations with your 1000-post milestone Ed!

[ecocks]

Thanks Florian, I really enjoy this site.

We're all making things a little easier with the wealth of information available here.

[Florian]

By the way, when it comes to grabbing opportunity I think coming up with a good idea and creating opportunity is much more important than the pot of cash required to fund it. Good ideas can always find financial backing from people that understand business.

[ninozah]

I am looking for a good business in Ukraine preferably Dnepropetrovsk. I will establish residence probably next year but want to have a business started beforehand. Have some capital and solid business in USA that I can still operate and maybe integrate with my Ukranian operations. www.interbyte.com
Ideally 2 active partners working together and making $100,000 + a year to start.

[mattsh]

Hey Ed, and others,

Any movement on this?  After this last weekend, I'm definitely thinking the same.  There IS a lot of opportunity here, and yeah, I don't think you need a fortune to get started either.  My wife's family knows of a few people that started with a lot less than I have. 

[ecocks]

OK, sounds like we should crook our elbows and lift some beers or coffees.  PH over the weekend anyone?  How about PH - Podil on Sunday morning?  I know, very un-Ukrainian to have a morning meeting.  Then again, part of the point is to NOT do it the Ukrainian way.

[mattsh]

There seemed to be some interest early on, but it seems to have taken a vacation.   

Sundays are generally not the best day for me, but I can be flexible if need be.  Would certainly prefer it if we could get 3, 4, 5 or more together.  Strength in numbers, maybe, or possibly just confusion.   

It is possible to do it here, I've seen it done. 

[SilverBullet]

Anyone with capital, let's get together and chat.

I am sick of watching all the opportunities slide slowly downstream.

No scams and forget the time-wasting marriage agencies or tour companies, I want to track down some serious business situations.  Ukraine has potential far beyond the, "Hey, let's buy an apartment, fix it up and sell it!" stage.

ED, NOW YOU ARE TALKING! Why not start importing used cars from the US? The USD exchange rate is favorable and there is an endless demand for cars? Instead of hard driven and rusty cars from Poland and Germany, cars from California would be like gems. They are hardly driven faster than 65 miles/h due to enless CHP on the roads and have never seen snow or rain!!!.  For those engaged in fixing up some apartments, I would call that serious business after all, at least it pays off well to do so. As for marriage agencies, one just has to admit.... like it or not.... that there is a lot of money and demand for that area. Someone could do a serious job in that field, do like some of the upscale agencies in the US who is matching US men and US women with each other. Using highly educated staff like pshychologists, etc. Or perhaps, start farming in Ukraine? A lot of money to be made in farming. The beauty in the Ukrainian economy is that you can afford to hire a large staff of skilled workers for relative little overhead compared to in other countries.  Or, start another language school that is twice as good as the competition and affordable for more Ukrainians. They all want to learn English but few ordinary people can actually afford to pay the "hefty" private school fees of $300 - $400 per set of courses. Or start another expat site, that can be a money maker too. 

[Carlushika]

Far cheaper to import Japanese cars of which there is already a thriving business. Further, Japanese cars are likely to last 4 or 5 times longer than a US manufactured automobile.

I doubt whether you are familiar with the unbelievably high rate of duties or customs charges imposed by the Ukrainian government on imports, especially automobiles.

[SilverBullet]

Far cheaper to import Japanese cars of which there is already a thriving business. Further, Japanese cars are likely to last 4 or 5 times longer than a US manufactured automobile.

I doubt whether you are familiar with the unbelievably high rate of duties or customs charges imposed by the Ukrainian government on imports, especially automobiles.

American used cars only require low grade fuel while Japanese normally require premium fuel. I would argue that US cars last just as long and that Japanese cars eed more service and fine tuning. Also with the bad roads and snow in the winter, allwheel drive is someting many are looking for in Ukraine. Plenty of those toypes of cars on the used market in the US. I was not aware of the high import duty and taxes, I got the impression form someone else on this board that it was failry simple to put on Ukrainian plates at a modest fee if done in a certain way. Stat driving it as an expat car, then sell it. And keep doing so, let's say once every month switching between Odesa and Kyiv. In Odesa many are able to "smuggle" in questionable cars from Transnistra, a female friend there gave me all the insights in that business and as she said, everyone in Odessa knows about this and takes advantage of it. No wonder there are so many flashy cars to be seen on Deribaskoya.  Perhaps importing used farm equpment from the US would be a better idea, John Deer and AGCO tractors and harvesters. Give Masey Ferguson (UK) some competition  .     

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