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Based in Kyiv, Ukraine, Diligent Capital Partners is an independent mid-market private equity firm focused on agribusiness infrastructure and food security investments. The firm targets established, export-oriented privately owned enterprises across the Black Sea region, typically deploying between $5 million and $20 million per transaction to support near-term regional economic recovery. Operating with fewer than 25 employees and generating under $5 million in annual revenue, the investment team has collectively led and overseen more than $1 billion in regional financial deals. The firm executes its core strategy through managed investment vehicles such as the DCP Direct Investment Fund I, which successfully closed its initial capital commitments in October 2018 under the leadership of key executives including Dan Pasko, Dan Yakub, and Mykola Klymchuk. The private equity organization was originally founded by Co-Managing Partner Mark Iwashko.
Key people at Diligent Capital Partners.
Diligent Capital Partners was founded in 2016 by Dan Pasko (Co-Founder & Co-Managing Partner) and Mark Iwashko (Co-Founder and Co-Managing Partner).
Key people at Diligent Capital Partners.
Diligent Capital Partners was founded in 2016 by Dan Pasko (Co-Founder & Co-Managing Partner) and Mark Iwashko (Co-Founder and Co-Managing Partner).
Diligent Capital Partners (DCP) is an independent mid-market private equity firm focused on Ukraine and the Black Sea region, uniting a team with over two decades of private equity experience.[1][2][3] Its mission centers on mobilizing private and public capital to strengthen mid-sized, cash-flow-positive companies in export-oriented agribusiness, infrastructure, and technology, contributing to Ukraine's economic recovery and rebuild amid war challenges.[2][3][4] The investment philosophy emphasizes geographic focus on Ukraine's high-potential resources—like $140 billion in annual food and agricultural exports—combined with sector bets on recovery drivers, pre-deal governance improvements, and catalyzing foreign co-investments.[2][4] DCP impacts the startup and mid-market ecosystem by backing visionary founders, staging follow-on funding, and launching initiatives like the EUR 150 million Food4Impact fund with 2ndAries to revitalize agribusiness.[1][5]
Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Kyiv, Ukraine, DCP emerged to capitalize on transformative events creating capital needs and investment opportunities in the region.[2][4] Key figures include Founding Partner and Chief Operating Officer Danylo Yakubovskyy, alongside recent promotions like Oleg Sirenko to Partner for deal sourcing and portfolio management, and expansions such as Cristina Harea as Country Manager for Moldova and Romania.[1][5] The firm's evolution has shifted from core Ukrainian agribusiness and infrastructure to broader Black Sea activities, including tech and export-oriented businesses, while joining networks like EMPEA and ROPEA to enhance credibility and reach.[4][5] Pivotal moments include co-investments like the 2022 Series C in edtech firm Preply and partnerships with impact investors like FMO for stakes in agribusiness leaders such as Edinstvo Group.[1]
DCP rides the wave of Ukraine's postwar reconstruction, estimated at $500 billion, where agribusiness (global export powerhouse) and tech innovation persist despite conflict, aligning with trends in resilient emerging markets and impact investing.[2][5] Timing is critical: war has amplified capital gaps in food security and infrastructure, favoring DCP's model amid global supply chain shifts toward Black Sea alternatives to traditional producers.[1][3] Market forces like EU proximity, Dutch development banks' focus on agribusiness/food/water, and Ukraine's human capital in tech (e.g., Preply) bolster its position.[1][2] The firm influences the ecosystem by de-risking investments for foreigners, fostering governance in portfolio firms, and pioneering funds like Food4Impact to restore finance access, ultimately accelerating private sector-led recovery.[4][5]
DCP is poised to scale via Black Sea expansions (e.g., Moldova, Romania) and funds like Food4Impact, targeting agribusiness revival and tech amid reconstruction funding surges from public-private blends.[5] Trends like sustainable food systems, derisked emerging market PE, and Ukraine's EU integration will shape its path, potentially amplifying influence through more co-investments and ROPEA synergies.[5] As a bridge for global capital into high-yield, undervalued assets, DCP could evolve from regional player to key rebuild architect—uniting experience with Ukraine's resource-rich prospects for outsized returns and impact.[2]
