Swiss Re Foundation Entrepreneurs for Resilience Award 2022 for entrepreneurial initiatives ($700,000 Prize)

Application Deadline:13 January 2022

The Entrepreneurs for Resilience Award 2022 is an invitation to (social) entrepreneurs working in low and middle-income countries to make healthcare financially more accessible in low-income communities.

The Swiss Re Foundation Entrepreneurs for Resilience Award recognises entrepreneurial initiatives that take innovative approaches to build resilient societies in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Demand for affordable healthcare has increased along with the global population, and COVID-19 has only intensified the challenges of providing it.

In the 2022 award cycle, the Swiss Re Foundation is looking to support innovative solutions that increase financial access to healthcare in low-income communities. To be eligible for the award, an enterprise must take a business-minded approach that increase the resources available to households to pay for healthcare or that reduces the risk of lasting economic vulnerability or poverty following an illness or accident.

The three finalists will be awarded with funding up to USD 700 000 and non-financial support from experts across Swiss Re and beyond.

Eligibility criteria

Mission and purpose
Applicants must have a strong social purpose and use commercial mechanisms to achieve sustainability and scale.

Target group
At least 30% of the people served by applicants must come from poor to very poor communities. Applicants should have a deep understanding of the specific circumstances of the people they serve (eg barriers to using financial instruments to better manage their healthcare).

Geography
Applicants must operate in countries that are defined as low-income and/or lower-middle-income by the World Bank.

Maturity
Applicants must be formally established, serve at least 20 000 people and have the potential to reach at least 200 000 people in the coming three years. They should also be on a clear path to financial sustainability yet still require grants (or other support) to improve their business model, reach low-income households and/or attain full financial sustainability.

Innovation focus
Applicants must display high levels of innovation in their product, service and/or delivery and use digital technology to deliver value to underserved populations at scale.

Award components

– A total grant of USD 700 000 for the three finalists. This amount is divided among the winner (which may receive up to USD 350 000) and the two runners-up and paid in installments over two to three years.

– Non-financial support such as coaching and technical advice from Swiss Re employees and experts, tailored to each finalist’s needs
– The People’s Choice Award. Members of the general public are invited to vote for their favourite finalist. The recipient of the most votes receives a special prize

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the Swiss Re Foundation Entrepreneurs for Resilience Award 2022