GRO, an AI-powered personal finance platform founded by Mariia Shevchenko with a team of Ukrainian and German co-founders, has chosen Doha as its headquarters. The company’s pre-seed investment was unveiled alongside the launch of GrowthX Capital, a new QAR 500 million venture fund established by Snoonu Founder & CEO Hamad Al-Hajri to support high-growth startups over the next five years.

The dual announcement was hosted at the Qatar Chamber represented by Board Member Mr. Mohammed bin Ahmed Al-Obaidly, in the presence of Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) CEO Mansoor Rashid Al-Khater; Ukraine’s Ambassador to the State of Qatar, H.E. Andrii Kuzmenko; and Dr. Olga Revina, Founder and Chairperson of the Qatar–Ukraine Business Forum (QUBF).

GRO’s journey in Doha began with the Qatar FinTech Hub (QFTH) incubator program, developed by Qatar Development Bank (QDB), where the startup graduated from the Wave 7 cohort and won the "Best Pitch" award on stage last December. This strong local foundation paved the way for early discussions with Qatari investors, culminating in this milestone partnership with the newly launched GrowthX Capital and anchoring GRO’s strategic move to the region.

Making Financial Literacy a Right, Not a Privilege

At its core, GRO is an AI-driven personal finance assistant that helps users understand their spending, make confident decisions, and build sustainable money habits.

“Financial literacy has always been a privilege - something you inherited or paid for,” said Miss Shevchenko, founder and CEO of GRO Solutions. “The way we earn, spend, and save is changing faster than ever, and the next generation deserves the skills and tools to keep up. We built GRO to be an AI that teaches you and works for you, so that managing money well becomes a given, not a privilege.”

Accelerating Qatar–Ukraine Innovation Ties

GRO’s relocation comes amid rapidly accelerating ties between Doha and Kyiv. Following President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s working visit to Doha in March 2026, bilateral cooperation across technology, investment, and innovation has transitioned robustly into the private sector. Guided by the QUBF and its Tech & Innovation Committee, an increasing number of Ukrainian founders are choosing Qatar as a launchpad to serve the MENA region while actively contributing to the Qatar National Vision 2030.

"As founder and chairperson of the Qatar–Ukraine Business Forum, I am honored to celebrate GrowthX Capital’s investment in GRO," commented Dr. Olga Revina. "Ukraine is a nation of intense innovation with a dynamic startup ecosystem, while Qatar continues to strengthen its position as a global tech hub. This shared commitment to progress creates a powerful foundation for collaboration that will deliver meaningful impact on a global scale."

H.E. Andrii Kuzmenko, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Qatar, welcomed the investment as a shining milestone of international cooperation, demonstrating how shared innovation can bridge economies and foster deep cross-border partnerships.

Backing GRO’s Next Chapter

“GRO Solutions has the team and the product to become a regional success story, with real potential to grow into a unicorn. GrowthX Capital exists to help visionary founders like this scale directly from Doha,” said Hamad Al-Hajri, Founder and CEO of GrowthX Capital.

GRO has officially opened early access, allowing users across the region to register for the upcoming beta phase at joingro.com. The company is actively expanding its corporate team in Doha and is open to strategic partnerships across the financial, educational, and technology sectors.