The 2024 Entrepreneurs for Resilience Award - Swiss Re Foundation

Enriched family-office · Found: 2026-03-11 08:11

Our 2024 Entrepreneurs for Resilience Award will support three social enterprises that use hybrid delivery models to improve low-income people's access to ...

Source: https://www.swissrefoundation.org/e4ra24

Funding Details

Funder

Swiss Re Foundation

Funding Goal

Support social enterprises that build resilience in vulnerable communities facing health, climate, and livelihood threats, with a focus on improving access to essential services for low-income populations in developing countries.

Funding Amount

Initial stage: CHF 300,000 split among 6-8 candidates (~CHF 37,500-50,000 each). Advanced stage: CHF 800,000 split among 3-4 finalists (~CHF 200,000-267,000 each, paid over two years). 2024 winners received USD 150,000-350,000. (37.500 € – 200.000 €)

How to Apply

The programme operates on an annual cycle with changing thematic focus. Organizations apply through the Swiss Re Foundation. Selected candidates (6-8) receive initial-stage grants and technical assistance. From these, 3-4 finalists advance to the advanced stage, culminating in a public pitch event where winners are selected and final grant amounts determined.

Target Region

Low/middle-income countries (World Bank classification), global scope

Contact

Swiss Re Foundation, Zurich, Switzerland. Website: swissrefoundation.org

Last Checked

2026-03-11 19:29

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Organization must operate in World Bank-defined low/middle-income countries
• Must serve at least 20,000 people with capacity to reach 100,000 within two years
• At least 30% of customer base must be low-income
• Must have market-based revenue models with growth potential (social enterprise)
• Organization must have been established by 2022 with a strong management team

Project Scope

• Must demonstrate measurable social impact aligned with UN SDGs

Constraints

• Theme changes per cycle — check current year's focus area before applying

Summary

The Entrepreneurs for Resilience Award is a flagship programme of the Swiss Re Foundation, now in its eighth iteration (2024). It supports social enterprises working toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals by building resilience in vulnerable communities. The 2024 edition specifically focused on healthcare access, seeking social enterprises using hybrid "brick-and-click" delivery models to improve primary care for low-income populations in developing nations. The programme operates in two stages: an initial stage providing CHF 300,000 in grants split among 6-8 candidates, and an advanced stage offering CHF 800,000 in grants, recoverable grants, and/or forgivable loans split among 3-4 finalists over two years. Beyond financial support, selected organizations receive technical assistance in impact measurement and financial management, networking opportunities, and potential follow-on funding from partners including UBS Optimus Foundation, Philips Foundation, and Sanofi Impact Fund. The 2024 award culminated in a pitch event on September 4, 2024, with three winners: ZimbosAbantu (USD 350,000), Cliniva (USD 200,000), and Intelehealth (USD 150,000), sharing a total of USD 700,000. Eligible organizations must operate in World Bank-defined low/middle-income countries, serve at least 20,000 people, demonstrate market-based revenue models, and have at least 30% low-income customers. Collaborating partners include LeFil Consulting, the Digital Connected Care Coalition (DCCC), and UBS Optimus Foundation. The programme's theme changes each cycle, so future rounds may address different resilience challenges beyond healthcare.

Historical Context

The 2024 edition was the eighth iteration of this awards programme. The programme theme changes each cycle — 2024 focused on healthcare access via hybrid delivery models. Partners have included LeFil Consulting, Digital Connected Care Coalition, UBS Optimus Foundation, Philips Foundation, and Sanofi Impact Fund.

Sources

• https://www.swissrefoundation.org/e4ra24
• https://www.swissrefoundation.org/what-we-do/entrepreneurship/entrepreneurs-for-resilience-award.html
• https://www.swissrefoundation.org/who-we-partner-with/Entrepreneurial-solutions/Entrepreneurs-for-Resilience.html

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