Applications open for Shine Program 2024 (South Africa)

They are looking to support early-stage entrepreneurs, who are trying to address challenges in the areas of Natural hazard and climate risk management (Climate smart agriculture, Disaster risk reduction, Transformation to net zero – e.g. renewable energy, afforestation, recycling,) and Access to health (including healthy nutrition).

The selected social entrepreneur will go through a five-month immersive nurture program during which they will be partnered with corporate experts and leadership & business coaches to develop a financially feasible and scalable business plan that can have tangible social impact.

Focus Area

• The impact areas of the applicant must be aligned with Swiss Re Foundation ʼ s strategic areas.
  • Transformation to net-zero (renewable energy, afforestation, recycling etc.)
  • Healthy nutrition
  • Access to health
  • Climate-smart agriculture
  • Disaster risk reduction
  • Coastal resilience

What Shine offers to Social Entrepreneurs?

• Skills & expertise of Swiss Re talent for five months
• Sharpened focus& approach to scale business
• Personalized leadership coaching in alignment to international standards
• Visibility in the social entrepreneurial ecosystem
• Long-term association with Swiss Re Foundation
• Grant amount up to R 400K to realize their vision

Programme Structure

• Phase 1: Social Innovator Award
  • The submitted applications will be evaluated and shortlisted entrepreneurs will be interviewed to select a winner who will move to the next phase of action learning programme along with the cohort of corporate employees forming Shine team. To mark this achievement, the winner will also receive Swiss Reʼs Social Innovator Award with a grant of R 50 000.
• Phase 2: Action Learning Programme
  • The Shine team will go through an accredited Action Learning Programme facilitated in collaboration with the partner BOOKBRIDGE. During this immersive five-month journey, they will together define problem areas for the business, engage with target communities, design&test solution prototypes and develop a viable business plan. They will then pitch this plan to the Shine Panel of Experts with the aim to earn an additional grant of R 350 000. During this process, they will be guided throughout by professional business and leadership coaches in an open workshop setting.
• Phase 3: Impact monitoring
  • Swiss Re Foundation will monitor the progress, impact and sustainability of the social enterprise for a period of two years to ensure stability and growth.

Who should Apply?

• Innovation
  • Applicants must display high levels of innovation in their product, service and/or delivery. The solution must be focused and should address critical social/ecological challenge.
• Maturity
  • Applicant should be an early-stage enterprise that has an established proof of Concept for its offering and is looking to accelerate its growth.
• Mission and purpose
  • Applicants must have a strong social purpose & commitment with an outcome focused approach to the impact area.

For more information, visit Swiss Re Foundation.