Project background
In 2023, the Swiss Re Foundation aimed to improve the value proposition of its programme, Entrepreneurs for Resilience. Identifying potential synergies through the Digital Connected Care Coalition (DCCC), the Swiss Re Foundation joined its Brick & Click working group, which included partners such as Philips, AXA, and PharmAccess. Together, they sought to better support social enterprises using the Brick & Click approach. As a result, the Swiss Re Foundation adjusted the focus of its Entrepreneurs for Resilience programme from financial access to healthcare towards a comprehensive approach that incorporates both physical and digital solutions to address health inequities.
Project goal
The Entrepreneurs for Resilience programme is designed to support social enterprises by providing them with funding to expand effective solutions. Additionally, it offers strategic guidance, mentorship, and access to a network of industry experts. This comprehensive support system aims to empower social entrepreneurs to maximize their impact.
Ecosystem Players Involved
This project succeeds through collaboration among ecosystem participants, each contributing unique strengths. The Swiss Re Foundation funds the entrepreneurs and covers program costs. DCCC-participating organizations (e.g. Philips, AXA, and PharmAccess) and Swiss Re provide non-financial support such as expertise and networking opportunities, essential for the social enterprises’ growth. Furthermore, the UBS Optimus Foundation may offer follow-on investments.
Anticipated outcomes and impact
The 2026 edition of the Entrepreneurs for Resilience programme will focus on making healthcare more accessible through Brick & Click approaches. By supporting up to four social enterprises, the aim is to improve health resilience for 450 000 individuals, such as reducing out-of-pocket expenses or improving health conditions.
Project Progress
The DCCC assisted the Swiss Re Foundation in the sourcing and selection process by contributing their sector knowledge, offering technical support to the top three ventures (ZimbosAbantu, Cliniva, and Intelehealth), and organizing a 1.5-day workshop alongside the ceremony in September 2024. This event had over 45 participants at our Center for Global Dialogue, providing a platform to discuss scalable collaborative models, digital health integration in health systems, and the use of blended finance to enhance both digital and traditional healthcare access in LMICs. The winners of the 2024 edition were chosen from over 350 applications and are currently in the early stages of development. Our support package is expected to assist in their further growth and maturation.
Next steps
The 2026 edition is scheduled to launch in May 2025. This edition will feature format adjustments based on feedback and learnings from the previous round. Specifically, the duration of the program cycle will be extended from 12 to 18 months. The program will adopt a staggered approach, including two rounds of support to assist a larger number of entrepreneurs progressively and cost-effectively. The first round will provide technical assistance to the top 6-8 entrepreneurs over approximately five months, overlapping with the due diligence process. The second round will offer further support to the top 3-4 entrepreneurs for about 2 years. The objective is to continuously improve the program to better meet the needs of social entrepreneurs and maximize the impact of collective efforts. The initiative aims to foster an environment of innovation, collaboration, and growth and anticipates welcoming new participants and partners in the upcoming edition.
Collaboration opportunities
We believe that collaboration is key to driving meaningful change. If you are interested in collaborating or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Swiss Re Foundation: patricia_duetsch@swissre.com.
