Swiss Re Foundation Grant for Early-Stage Climate Innovators (India)

The focus of this initiative includes nature‑positive businesses around sustainable harvesting, aquaculture, innovative protection and patrolling, nature‑based solutions in urban areas, and net‑zero transformations in urban areas.

Applicants to Shine India must be founders of early‑stage enterprises based in and working for India in the space of climate solutions with a nuanced understanding of the environmental challenge and a clear theory of change. Eligible enterprises should be in existence for up to four years, have established an MVP with a pilot or commercial launch underway, and demonstrate financial viability through non‑grant revenue streams and customer pipelines. They must also display a strong sense of purpose and a willingness to participate in the four‑month immersive learning programme.

The programme comprises three phases. Phase 1 is the application process, where submitted applications are evaluated and shortlisted entrepreneurs are interviewed to select a winner who enters the learning programme and receives an initial grant of INR 500,000.

Phase 2 involves the Shine learning modules, where the social entrepreneur teams up with Swiss Re experts to define business challenges, engage with target communities, design and test solution prototypes, and develop a viable business plan, which they then pitch to the Shine India Investment Committee with the aim of earning an additional grant of up to INR 1,500,000. After completing Shine, the selected entrepreneur stands a chance to win a financial award of up to INR 2,000,000 to fuel their enterprise’s growth.

Phase 3 is impact monitoring, during which the Swiss Re Foundation tracks the progress, impact, and sustainability of the social enterprise for up to two years after the learning programme to support stability and growth.

For more information, visit Swiss Re Foundation.