Apply Now: Incubating Resilience with Shine Slovakia

Shine supports social innovators in translating their ideas and solutions into scalable business models to maximise social impact.

Focus Areas

• Applicants’ impact areas must be aligned with one of the Swiss Re Foundation’s strategic focus areas:
  • Nature based solutions in Coastal & Urban areas
  • Disaster risk reduction
  • Transformation to Net-Zero (circular economy solutions)
  • Access to Health
  • Healthy Nutrition

Program Structure

• Phase 1: Application process for selecting the social innovator
  • The submitted applications will be evaluated, and shortlisted entrepreneurs will be interviewed to select a winner who will enter the Action Learning Program along with a cohort of Swiss Re employees.
  • The winner will also receive the Shine Social Innovator Award including a grant of EUR 5000.
• Phase 2: Action Learning Program
  • The social innovator will team up with Swiss Re employees and go through an accredited Action Learning Program facilitated in collaboration with thier partner BOOKBRIDGE. During this immersive four-month journey, the innovator along with Swiss Re employees will together define problem areas for the business, engage with target communities, design and 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 EUR 35000.
• Phase 3: Impact monitoring
  • The Swiss Re Foundation will monitor the progress, impact and sustainability of the social enterprise for a period of two years after the Action Learning Program phase to ensure stability and growth.

Benefits

• Hands-on support in developing a focused strategy and viable financial and execution plan
• Access to diverse experts from Swiss Re to co-create solutions and business roadmap
• Business mentoring and leadership coaching to accelerate the professional and personal development of the enterprise founder(s)
• Connections and visibility in the social entrepreneurial ecosystem

Funding Information

• The winning applicant will undergo a six-month immersive learning program in which they will be partnered with Swiss Re experts and leadership and business coaches to develop a strategic, financially viable business.
• After completing Shine, the selected entrepreneur stands a chance to win financial award of up to EUR 40 000 to fuel their enterprise’s growth.

Eligibility Criteria

• Of the more than 15 entrepreneurs who have completed Shine to date, all say that they would recommend the program to other social enterprise founders. They look for changemakers who have:
  • A strong sense of purpose combined with an impact-focused mindset
  • Nuanced understanding of the social or environmental challenge and an innovative solution to addressing it
  • A proof of concept for their solution
  • Openness to collaborating with Swiss Re employees through a six month learning program.

For more information, visit Swiss Re Foundation.