Entries open for Changemakers Africa Incubation Program

Themes

• If your business or initiative aligns with one or more of their key themes, you could be a great fit for their program.
  • Climate Solutions
    • The business contributes to sustainability, conservation, or climate resilience.
    • Demonstrates use of nature-based solutions or circular economy principles.
    • Helps communities adapt to climate change (e.g., flood-resistant infrastructure, net-zero transformation).
    • Supports biodiversity or healthy ecosystems (e.g., urban gardening, soil regeneration, climate-smart agriculture).
    • Incorporates renewable energy or promotes waste reduction.
  • Access to Health
    • Enhances healthcare accessibility (e.g., brick-and-click models improving telemedicine, public health efficiencies).
    • Addresses preventable lifestyle diseases (e.g., diabetes, cardiovascular disease, malnutrition, obesity).
    • Provides climate-resilient health solutions (e.g., mitigating health impacts of heatwaves or pollution).
    • Supports nutritional security (e.g., food banks, zero hunger initiatives, access to quality nutrition).
    • Encourages healthy habits and preventative health measures.
• Their goal is to support projects that drive meaningful, lasting change. Whether you’re improving health outcomes or advancing climate action, your project can make a significant, sustainable impact.

Benefits

• Dynamic Community
  • Build friendships and a professional network of entrepreneurs, mentors and Swiss Re experts. Here, you’ll learn, share, and grow together.
• Mentorship
  • Receive personalized mentorship from a team of Swiss Re professionals that will offer feedback and guidance during the programme. Their expertise will be great to validate ideas, structure processes and keep your progress accountable.
• Seed Funding
  • Refine your pitching skills and prepare for their end-of-programme Demo Day. Present in front of your teammates and Swiss Re experts to win one of their 3 prizes: 1st place = $15.000; 2nd place = $10.000; 3rd place = $5.000
• Expand Your Network
  • Connect and collaborate with like-minded social entrepreneurs’, as well as their global network of professionals. They promise these valuable connections will extend beyond the programme, serving as support for your growth. ​

What will you learn during the incubation program?

• Discover how to make your business unique, and how to attract more customers.
• Learn how to calculate your costs and price points, to drive your profits and growth.​
• Master the best way to communicate and promote your business.
• Aquire skills to calculate your business finances for the next 3 years, so you can can make more informed decisions.​​
• Uncover how your business can positively impact your community, and attract collaborators and investors.
• Strategize to to expand your business, scale your operations and attract new customers.

Eligibility Criteria

• Take a look at the criteria below to see if you are a fit:
  • You have a socially innovative business in health or climate in its early stages (eg. launched within the last 2 years, or Minimum Viable Product).
  • You are seeking a program to incubate and validate your business plan. You want guidance on developing your business model, marketing, fundraising, or impact measurement.
  • You’re based in an African country and can dedicate to working in a program fully in English.
  • You’re passionate about making a positive impact and are open to dedicating 6–8 hours per week for 5 months.
  • You have a reliable internet connection and access to a computer/laptop that you can use regularly.

For more information, visit Swiss Re Foundation.