Swiss Re launches sixth Shine Program

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  • The focus of this  year’s Shine Program is “access to health and nutrition” through technology led innovations and financial solutions for low-income communities.
  • Applications are now open for social entrepreneurs across India, with the winner working closely with Swiss Re to translate the solution to a scalable business model.

Bengaluru 09 May 2023 – Swiss Re Global Business Solutions India (Swiss Re GBS India) and the Swiss Re Foundation have launched their sixth Shine Program to support the next-generation of social innovators in India.

The focus of this year’s program is “access to health and nutrition”.

Social entrepreneurs with financially viable solutions that address this social challenge are encouraged to apply. The program supports the Swiss Re Foundation’s aim to make basic healthcare accessible to at least more than 1 million people by 2024.

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India’s healthcare sector is seeing a major transformation as we emerge from the pandemic, triggered by focused government programs and rapid large-scale digitalisation and innovation, making quality healthcare more readily accessible to underserved communities” said Amit Kalra Head of Swiss Re GBS India. “Since 2018, the Shine Program has provided social innovators with an ecosystem of Swiss Re business experts and leadership coaches to guide and support them throughout the critical growth phase, helping them to translate solutions into scalable business models. I encourage aspiring social entrepreneurs to take up this opportunity to create a sustainable impact in the areas of healthcare and nutrition”, Kalra adds.

Shortlisted contenders will be interviewed by Swiss Re experts

In Phase 1, the winner will receive the Shine Social Innovator Award, which includes an initial grant of INR 500, 000. In phase 2, the winner will team up with Swiss Re employees for an accredited Action Learning Program. The team will define problem areas for the business, engage with target communities, design and test solution prototypes and develop a viable business plan. Additionally, they will have the chance to pitch the plan to a panel of experts to earn an additional grant of INR 1,500,000

“The Shine Program is a wholesome experience for the entrepreneur and the team to develop a laser focus on the business model and its customers and an empathy-driven leadership approach. It is liberating to see how we could use simple tools for personal development and build a holistic model keeping a fine balance between people – planet – profit”, Tejas Sidnal, Founder of CarbonCraft and Shine Entrepreneur 2022 – 2023.

Applications are now open for social innovators across the country until 28 May 2023.

For more details on dates and for the link to enter, (please) visit: Swiss Re Foundation.

Read our impact story from the 2021-22 Shine Program entrepreneur, Hydrogreens Agri Solutions : From grass to glass, a greener value chain for milk (swissrefoundation.org).

About Swiss Re

The Swiss Re Group is one of the world’s leading providers of reinsurance, insurance and other forms of insurance-based risk transfer, working to make the world more resilient. It anticipates and manages risk – from natural catastrophes to climate change, from ageing populations to cyber crime. The aim of the Swiss Re Group is to enable society to thrive and progress, creating new opportunities and solutions for its clients. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, where it was founded in 1863, the Swiss Re Group operates through a network of around 80 offices globally.

Swiss Re Foundation

The Swiss Re Foundation reflects Swiss Re’s social and humanitarian values. With our external partners and Swiss Re employees, we help strengthen resilience in targeted low-income communities and in communities near Swiss Re locations. To help build resilient societies, we offer our partners tailored grant financing, access to expertise, research, and capacity-building as well as collaborative networks to create measurable, lasting impacts at scale.

About Swiss Re Global Business Solutions (GBS) India

Swiss Re Global Business Solutions India is an analytical and innovation hub of Swiss Re and comprises 1800+ employees. It plays a key role in accelerating the company’s competitiveness across markets through R&D-focused initiatives, innovation and analytics, which is especially relevant in today’s dynamic business environment with technology-spurred disruptions. Established in 2001, Swiss Re GBS India has traversed a remarkable journey of growth, acquiring deep capabilities to become a Centre of Excellence and Bangalore is Swiss Re’s third-largest office location today.

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