Apply for The 2024 Entrepreneurs for Resilience Award by Swiss Re Foundation

The Entrepreneurs for Resilience Award is a collaborative effort between Swiss Re Foundation, the Digital Connected Care Coalition, and the UBS Optimus Foundation. Together, we are committed to supporting social entrepreneurs in the healthcare sector. We are pooling our experience, network, solutions, and funding to make a positive impact. If you are a social entrepreneur with a vision to enhance access to quality primary healthcare for low-income individuals in LMICs, we invite you to apply. We are particularly interested in innovative models that combine physical care with digital tools for better outcomes.

Program benefits

The three finalists will receive a total grant of USD 700,000. This grant will be divided among them, with the winning initiative potentially receiving up to USD 350,000. The remaining amount will be shared between the two runners-up. The grant will be paid in installments over a period of two years.

In addition to the financial support, the finalist that wins the People’s Choice Award, determined by a public online vote, will have the opportunity to connect with potential investors at an event hosted by Sankalp Forum. Sankalp Forum is renowned as one of the world’s largest platforms for impact enterprises.

All three finalists will also receive tailored non-financial support. This includes technical advice from Swiss Re employees and staff from participating organizations such as AXA, PharmAccess, and Philips. They will also receive training, advisory services, data-gathering, and/or analysis to enhance their business operations and strategy from representatives of LeFil Consulting and others.

Furthermore, the finalists may be eligible for follow-up funding from the UBS Optimus Foundation. They will also gain access to a network of like-minded peers, providing them with the opportunity to share knowledge, experiences, and learn from others on topics relevant to their initiatives.

Eligibility

Open to social entrepreneurs who are dedicated to enhancing the accessibility of quality primary healthcare for low-income individuals in LMICs. Ventures that utilize a hybrid delivery model, combining physical points of care with digital tools to achieve this objective.

If your social enterprise aligns with the aforementioned scope and meets the following criteria, we strongly encourage you to apply:

1. Mission and purpose: Showcase a significant social impact and preferably have the ability to measure it reliably. This can be demonstrated through improved health indicators and reduced out-of-pocket expenses.
2. Target group: At least 30% of your customer base should consist of low-income populations. It is essential that you possess a deep understanding of the unique circumstances faced by the individuals you serve, including both women and men. Priority will be given to enterprises that actively strive to reduce gender inequalities.
3. Geography: Your operations must be based in countries classified as low-income or lower-middle-income by the World Bank.
4. Operating model: While your venture may rely on grant funding, it should also demonstrate the potential for growth and scalability through earned revenue. Operating on a market basis is crucial.
5. Size: Your enterprise must have been formally established by 2021 and currently serve a minimum of 20,000 people. Additionally, it should have the potential to reach at least 100,000 people within the next two years.
6. Organization: A solid management team with well-defined and distributed responsibilities is essential. It is also important to have a diverse and well-structured workforce. Preference will be given to ventures with at least one female founder or a management team consisting of at least 30% women.
7. Legal compliance: Your enterprise must comply with the legal framework of the country or countries in which it operates. Additionally, it should be eligible to receive grant funding from Swiss nongovernmental organizations such as the Swiss Re Foundation.

If your social enterprise meets these criteria, we encourage you to apply and be a part of our mission to improve access to quality primary healthcare for low-income individuals.

Apply now!

The application period is from 12 December 2023 to 23 January 2024. Applications must be submitted in English and before the deadline to be considered. To apply, click here or visit the program website for details and eligibility