Ukraine’s general education system has long overlooked financial literacy and investment education. Schools and even most non-specialized universities barely touch on essential financial knowledge.
Recognizing this gap, Kyiv entrepreneur and investor Andrey Trushkovskyi set out to establish the first large-scale trading academy in Ukraine. His elder brother, Tymur Trushkovskyi, who had built a successful career as a DJ and manager in the nightclub industry, later joined the academy, bringing his analytical skills and structured approach to financial markets.
The Birth of DINKU: Ukraine’s First Trading Academy
In 2020, during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Andrey Trushkovskyi founded DINKU, an online academy for trading and financial literacy. The project rapidly gained momentum, and by 2021, it had become one of the largest trading academies in Ukraine, training over 11,000 students within just a few years. The academy’s online conferences regularly drew between 3,000 and 12,000 attendees, while offline events attracted 200 to 400 participants. DINKU’s community grew to over 30,000 members, ranging from teenagers to seasoned professionals.
The academy was founded on the principle that anyone could learn trading, much like the famous “Turtle Traders” experiment in the 1970s. The goal was to break the stereotype that financial markets were only accessible to an elite few and show that structured learning could turn anyone into a competent trader.
One of the most defining moments for DINKU came on February 23, 2022, the day before the war in Ukraine began. On that day, the academy hosted one of its largest webinars, with thousands of participants eager to gain financial knowledge. The very next day, life for millions changed forever.
Tymur Joins the Academy and Becomes an Analyst
In 2021, Tymur Trushkovskyi joined DINKU as a trader and market analyst, taking on a key role in the academy’s analytical department. Before discovering trading, Tymur had an established career as a nightclub manager and a successful DJ, earning significant fees for his performances.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic abruptly shut down the entertainment industry, leaving him without a reliable income. Seeking financial stability, he briefly explored IT and even completed Python programming courses, but soon realized it wasn’t the right fit for him. In early 2021, Andrey invited Tymur to take DINKU’s trading courses, and what started as a simple educational experience quickly became an obsession. Tymur absorbed gigabytes of information, took classes from international traders, and quickly became one of the academy’s most proficient analysts.
By the end of the year, his market analysis skills had surpassed even those of his first mentor. As an analyst and mentor at DINKU, Tymur worked closely with students, reviewing their assignments and explaining complex market concepts. His philosophy was simple: to truly master a subject, one must teach it to others. Helping students allowed him to deepen his own understanding of trading, reinforcing the knowledge he had gained through intensive study.
The War, Relocation, and a New Mission
Before the war, the Trushkovskyi brothers had ambitious plans. They were working on opening an offline trading academy for children and even launching a hedge fund. However, in 2022, the war forced them to abandon these plans and leave their home country.
Thanks to the support of American taxpayers, they relocated to California, where they continued their mission of financial education, this time focusing on Ukrainians displaced by the war. Realizing that trading offers financial independence without geographic limitations, they directed their efforts toward teaching financial literacy to refugees, children, and war veterans- individuals who had lost jobs or the ability to work due to the war. Many of their students needed an accessible and sustainable income source, and trading provided that opportunity. However, the brothers had to adjust their approach.
One of the main challenges was helping students understand that trading is not a quick-fix solution to financial problems. Instead, they emphasized patience, discipline, and a long-term mindset. As their grandmother used to say, “Knowledge is the one thing no one can take away from you,” a lesson that held deeper meaning now than ever before. To make trading more accessible, they introduced step-by-step learning modules, ensuring that anyone, including teenagers, could grasp trading fundamentals.
Expanding the Academy’s Reach
Now living in the U.S., the Trushkovskyi brothers continue to grow their community, gradually introducing trading to a wider audience, including Americans. Their philosophy remains the same: trading is simple, and anyone can learn it with the right guidance. They plan to open academies in Miami and Los Angeles, expanding their educational reach. In the meantime, they provide free, beginner-friendly content through social media to ensure that anyone, regardless of background, can start learning about trading and investing.
Why Trading Is the Most Accessible Income Source
Trading is unique because it doesn’t require a considerable starting capital, only knowledge and skill. Many traders prove their competence by passing prop firm challenges, allowing them to manage company funds without using their own money. This system makes trading one of the most accessible paths to financial independence.
Future Plans and Long-Term Investing
The brothers are expanding their curriculum to include long-term investing and wealth-building strategies, a topic that has become increasingly personal to Tymur.
Fatherhood and a Generational Investment Strategy
The birth of Tymur Trushkovskyi’s son transformed his perspective on financial education. Instead of just earning money, he began thinking about how to build generational wealth. He realized that simply giving a child material possessions wasn’t enough – what truly matters is equipping them with financial skills that will last a lifetime. Tymur created an investment portfolio in his name to ensure his son’s future. By the time his son reaches adulthood, he will have financial security and the freedom to choose a career based on passion rather than financial necessity.
Personal Challenge: The Robbins Cup
One of Tymur’s biggest goals is to compete in the Robbins Cup, an internationally recognized trading competition where traders manage real investment accounts under strict conditions. This tournament requires discipline, expertise, and strategic thinking, making it one of the most prestigious events in the trading world. His participation is not just a personal challenge but a way to prove that structured education and discipline can turn anyone into a skilled trader.
Final Thoughts
The Trushkovskyi brothers firmly believe that anyone can change their life, no matter their starting point. The key is to take responsibility, continuously learn, and persist through challenges. For those struggling, their advice is simple: start small. Take ownership of your current situation, analyze past choices, and develop a clear plan. Even the smallest steps can create momentum for long-term success.
Their journey-from building Ukraine’s largest trading academy to empowering displaced Ukrainians in the U.S.-proves that with the right mindset and education, financial freedom is within reach for anyone willing to put in the effort.
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