Applications are open for Swiss Re Foundation’s Entrepreneurs for Resilience (E4R) 2027. Are you ready to scale your impact? If your social enterprise is expanding access to affordable, quality healthcare for underserved communities, Swiss Re Foundation wants to hear from you.
The Swiss Re Foundation’s Entrepreneurs for Resilience (E4R) 2027 programme is seeking innovative social enterprises working to expand affordable, high-quality primary healthcare for underserved communities in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The 10th edition particularly focuses on innovative “brick-and-click” healthcare models that combine physical healthcare services with digital technologies.
The 10th edition of the Entrepreneurs for Resilience programme marks a decade of supporting entrepreneurial solutions that strengthen the resilience of vulnerable communities. Drawing on this experience, the programme continues to identify high-impact healthcare social enterprises with the potential to transform access to affordable, quality primary healthcare in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
Through catalytic funding, tailored technical assistance and access to corporate expertise, the programme helps social enterprises strengthen their capabilities, demonstrate the effectiveness of their models and scale their impact.
Swiss Re Foundation’s Entrepreneurs for Resilience (E4R) Focus Areas
They invite applications from for-profit and hybrid healthcare social enterprises serving low-income populations in LMICs. They are particularly interested in models that:
- Combine brick & click to expand access to quality primary healthcare.
- Improve affordability through approaches such as savings, payment solutions or microinsurance.
- Integrate with public health systems, including government strategies and national digital health infrastructure.
- Together with our partners, we aim to help proven models overcome barriers to scale and contribute to more accessible and resilient health systems.
Benefits
Benefits Benefits of participating in the Entrepreneurs for Resilience programme include:
- Funding:
- Pilot funding of up to USD 45 000 for the 6‒8 shortlisted social enterprises during the due diligence phase to test initiatives aimed at increasing impact or validating new approaches.
- Up to USD 1 million in blended funding, combining conditional and unconditional financing, will be shared among the selected finalists over a two-year implementation period.
- Access to additional funding opportunities through programme partners and the broader impact investment ecosystem.
- Technical assistance:
- For the 6‒8 shortlisted social enterprises: 3 days of tailored technical assistance in impact measurement and management during the due diligence phase to strengthen their impact capabilities.
- The due diligence process will also generate practical recommendations and materials that the shortlisted social enterprises can use to strengthen their organisations and share with prospective investors, donors and partners.
- For the 3‒4 finalists: up to 20 days of tailored technical assistance over two years, covering advanced impact measurement and management, financial management and fundraising, scaling, last-mile marketing and sales, and gender inclusion.
- Access to corporate expertise from Swiss Re employees and programme partners 8 Swiss Re Foundation Entrepreneurs for Resilience Benefits continued
- Networks and exposure:
- The People’s Choice Award, determined through a public online vote, will provide the winning social enterprise with an additional opportunity to support its growth and impact.
- Increased visibility across healthcare, philanthropy, and impact investing sectors.
- Access to a network of like-minded healthcare social enterprises to exchange knowledge and best practices.
- Opportunities to connect with investors, corporate experts and strategic partners.
- Participation in the Entrepreneurs for Resilience gathering, planned to take place in Zurich, Switzerland, in early November 2027 (TBC).
Eligibility Criteria for Swiss Re Foundation’s Entrepreneurs for Resilience (E4R)
We invite for-profit and hybrid social enterprises that fall within the scope outlined above and meet the following eligibility criteria to apply.
- Mission and purpose
- Applicants must improve access to healthcare in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and demonstrate measurable social impact (e.g., improved health indicators, lower out-of-pocket expenses).
- Healthcare delivery model
- Applicants must combine physical and digital healthcare delivery.
- Target group
- Low-income and underserved populations1 must constitute at least 30% of the applicants’ customer base. Applicants should have a deep understanding of the specific circumstances of the people they serve. Priority will be given to enterprises that are gender-inclusive, that is, that strive to reduce gender inequalities.
- Geography
- Applicants must operate in countries that are defined by the World Bank as LMICs.
- Legal structure
- Applicants must be formally registered for-profit or operate through a formally established hybrid structure and must have been established no later than December 2023.
- Revenue model
- Applicants must generate at least 50% of their income through earned revenue and demonstrate the potential to grow and scale through a market-based business model. •
- Size
- Applicants must already serve at least 50 000 people and demonstrate the potential for substantial acceleration over the next two to three years.
- Organisation
- Applicants must have a strong management team, with clearly defined and distributed responsibilities and a diverse, well-structured workforce. Preference will be given to enterprises with at least one female founder or at least 30% women in the management team.
- Legal compliance
- Applicants must comply with the legal framework of the country or countries in which they operate and be allowed to receive funding from a Swiss non-governmental organisation such as the Swiss Re Foundation.
Selection Process
Applicants must complete the online application by 4 October 2026, 23:59 CET. Only applications submitted in English before the deadline will be considered.
The selection process is as follows:
- First selection round:
- All applications will be screened based on key eligibility, impact, traction and strategic fit criteria. Up to 25 social enterprises will be invited to submit a more detailed second-round application by 8 November 2026 at 23:59 CET.
- Second selection round:
- The second-round application will allow for a deeper assessment of each enterprise’s business model, growth trajectory and potential, operations, team and approach to impact measurement. Based on this assessment, 6‒8 social enterprises will be shortlisted for the due diligence phase.
- Due diligence and finalist selection:
- Between November 2026 and March 2027, the 6‒8 shortlisted social enterprises will undergo comprehensive due diligence, including on-site visits of up to four days and tailored technical assistance. During this phase, pilot funding of up to USD 45 000 may be provided to test initiatives aimed at increasing impact in targeted ways or validating new approaches.
- Pitch preparation and finalist selection:
- Following the due diligence phase, the shortlisted social enterprises will receive support to prepare for their final presentation during virtual sessions with the programme jury in May 2027. Based on the due diligence findings and final presentations, the jury will select 3–4 finalists and determine the allocation of up to USD 600 000 in unconditional funding across all finalists.
- Final funding allocation:
- The 3‒4 finalists will continue to receive tailored technical assistance and work towards agreed milestones. At the Entrepreneurs for Resilience gathering in Zurich, Switzerland, planned for November 2027, they will present their progress and achievements to the programme jury. Based on these presentations, the jury will determine the allocation of up to USD 400 000 in conditional funding across all finalists. The remaining social enterprises from the top 6–8 may also be invited to Zurich to participate in the gathering and selected programme activities.
- Funding will be provided through separate agreements with the Swiss Re Foundation. Social enterprises receiving pilot funding will enter into a one-year agreement covering the pilot objectives and reporting requirements. Finalists will enter into a two-year agreement setting out key milestones, expected deliverables and impact measurement requirements. Funding will be paid over the two-year period based on progress against the agreed milestones and deliverables. Tailored technical assistance will be provided throughout this period.
How To Apply for Swiss Re Foundation’s Entrepreneurs for Resilience (E4R)
Application Deadline: 4 October 2026, 23:59 CEST.
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