From Ukraine to Launchpad: How NeedNoMore is Turning Personal Struggle into a Resource for The Community
Every startup begins with a problem, but for Yuri and Svitlana, the co-founders of NeedNoMore, that problem was deeply personal, painful, and persistent.
NeedNoMore is a powerful platform currently being built to revolutionize how people facing food insecurity connect with food pantries and other essential resources. More than just a map, their planned mobile app is a tool for dignity and real-time accuracy.
Navigating a Broken System
Yuri and Svitlana came to the United States from Ukraine two years ago. For a year and a half, they relied heavily on food pantries to survive, moving through four states. During this time, they repeatedly encountered a widespread and tragic pattern: there was too much information about resources, but only about one-third of that information was actually true.
Svitlana vividly recalled a day when she desperately needed food for herself and her hungry, crying baby. She visited four food pantries in a row, only to be rejected at each one. Reasons included a pantry being closed without notice, not serving her zip code, or being at full capacity despite people leaving with bags of fresh food, including strawberries she hadn't seen in months. She returned to her car, overwhelmed by "desperation and hopelessness".
This experience, along with the painful realization that they were often receiving rotten, spoiled, or expired food with no voice to complain, fueled their mission. NeedNoMore is built on the belief that to be underprivileged doesn't mean to be disrespected or to stay silent. They are building a solution where users gain control over their life by having a voice and a choice.
The Solution: A Real-Time Map of Hope Under Development
Yuri and Svitlana are currently building a mobile app that aims to transform how assistance works. The team is focused on creating an updated, real-time map of food pantries in the city.
The core functionality of the platform will be driven by the community itself. Users will be able to update the data, ensuring that when someone vulnerable needs resources, they don't waste precious time arriving at a closed or moved location. Users can report, for instance, that a food pantry is closed today, and all other users will immediately see that information.
This solution is necessary now more than ever, as there is a massive gap of data and support for those who need food. NeedNoMore is developing a solution that can help people find food now.
Launchpad COLA: The Catalyst for Building and Refining
Yuri and Svitlana brought this urgent, mission-driven idea to the Boyd Innovation Center (BIC) and the Launchpad COLA Incubator, a 12-week program designed by Launchpad GVL to help founders turn tech ideas into real businesses.
Joining the program requires significant commitment. To attend the 7 AM Thursday sessions at the BIC, Yuri and Svitlana wake up well before dawn, requiring a working system with a nanny to care for their young child, since they leave when it is dark.
Despite the early start, the effort is paying off. They are highly motivated because they get so much from the program every week. Their product is changing and growing, and their vision is expanding. They rely on the Launchpad cohort, a community of builders, as an invaluable "oracle of knowledge". When they have a question, three or four people immediately brainstorm with them, providing insights that they estimate would take them "weeks or years" to come to by themselves.
The mentorship has been crucial in the development process. They appreciate their mentor's candor, noting he "doesn't hold back". By challenging them with questions they hadn't asked themselves, their mentor is helping them rapidly improve their product.
This experience underscores the program's philosophy that it's better to work in community than it is to work alone.
Get Involved: Support the Movement & Launch Your Own Vision!
Yuri and Svitlana are driving a social revolution, building a platform to bring dignity and control to those facing food insecurity. We encourage you to follow their journey and support NeedNoMore as they move toward launch. They are actively looking to connect with municipalities, health organizations, donors, and food banks to spread awareness about their coming solution.
NeedNoMore is just one of the incredible stories unfolding right here at the Boyd Innovation Center, where we are investing in Columbia's next success story. The BIC provides the programs, space, resources, and community that transform ideas into real businesses. Every contribution helps us keep these crucial programs, like Launchpad, completely free for entrepreneurs.
The Launchpad COLA Incubator provides the structure, accountability, and expert guidance needed to validate your idea, refine your plan, and get pitch-ready in 12 intensive weeks. Founders consistently report that the community aspect – sharing wins and losses, brainstorming, and receiving honest feedback – is invaluable.
If you have a tech-related business idea – whether it’s just a thought or a side hustle ready to launch – and you are serious about taking the next step, the time is now.
Applications for the Launchpad COLA Spring 2026 cohort are now open!. Invest your time, focus, and founder mindset into this free program and find the community and roadmap you need to build a solid foundation and get pitch-ready. Apply today.
