Submission deadline 15 Aug 2020
Social innovators and early-stage social entrepreneurs keen to contribute an innovative solution to address social-economic challenges will be supported by Swiss Re under the 3rd edition of social entrepreneurship program Shine in India (Shine 3).
Swiss Re is calling for entries from social enterprises from across the country which also have a presence in Karnataka for Shine 3. The last date to submit applications is 15 August 2020. One can visit the Swiss Re Foundation website to learn more and apply.
Pure Paani (2018) and Bee Basket (2019) had scaled up under the first two edition of Shine.
The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has deeply impacted societies and economies. It is staggering to see how the spread of a disease has exacerbated various inequalities and gaps in the system. This unprecedented situation calls for social change and transformation that can create lasting benefits for society.
“We need to make our societies more resilient, and ironically, the global pandemic has given us an opportunity to do that,” said Swiss Re Bangalore on 29 July 2020.
“Shine enables and enriches the social entrepreneur on the one hand, and offers our employees a hands-on experience in designing, implementing and evaluating a tangible social enterprise, on the other,” said Amit Kalra, MD and Head – Swiss Re Global Business Solutions Centre Bangalore on announcing Shine 3.
Participants will have to develop a viable business plan and present it to the Shine jury in a bid to earn funding in the next six months.
“Shine binds us together as socially conscious corporate citizens to build resilient societies and stronger teams. I encourage all aspiring social entrepreneurs to seize this opportunity and partner with us to help boost socio-economic development in our communities,” said Kalra.
Stefan Huber, Head – Swiss Re Foundation, said, “At Swiss Re, we reflect on our collective responsibility towards the communities in which we operate, and we believe innovative and entrepreneurial thinking is the key to finding lasting solutions to some of our most pressing social challenges.
“Swiss Re’s Shine helps a social entrepreneur to collaborate with experts, business coaches, and leaders in Swiss Re to develop a financially viable and scalable business model.
“We are positive that this experience will not only enable the winning enterprise to operationalize its vision but also help its members to develop professionally and personally. The skills learned during the process are highly relevant in fostering resilience,” said Huber.
#Pure Paani, the winner of the first edition of the programme is a social enterprise that is dedicated to making drinking water available to all by providing access to affordable filtration and treatment solutions.
In its second edition, Swiss Re took on board Bee Basket, which focuses on delivering pure honey without destroying the beehive. They intend to promote a healthy lifestyle and a sustainable ecosystem, along with a focus on bee conservation and upliftment of indigenous communities engaged in honey harvesting.
Amit Godse, Founder of Bee Basket, said: “When the pandemic hit in March 2020, the Swiss Re team and the business coach helped us with the survival plan and mid-term growth strategy, bringing in their financial and business expertise which have proved invaluable for us. The team is fantastic, they treat our start-up as their own start-up. We have become like a family.”
The Swiss Re Group is one of the world’s leading providers of reinsurance, insurance and other forms of insurance-based risk transfer, working to make the world more resilient. It anticipates and manages risk – from natural catastrophes to climate change, from ageing populations to cybercrime.
The aim of the Swiss Re Group is to enable society to thrive and progress, creating new opportunities and solutions for its clients.
Headquartered in Zurich, the Swiss Re Group operates through a network of around 80 offices globally. It is organised into three Business Units, each with a distinct strategy and set of objectives contributing to the Group’s overall mission.
About Swiss Re Bangalore: Swiss Re Global Business Solutions Centre Bangalore is an analytical and innovation hub of Swiss Re and comprises 1200+ employees.
It plays a key role in accelerating the company’s competitiveness across markets through R&D-focused initiatives, innovation and analytics, which is especially relevant in today’s dynamic business environment with technology-spurred disruptions.
The Shine program, under the aegis of Swiss Re Foundation, supports next-generation social innovators in translating their ideas into scalable business models to maximize social impact.
Swiss Re Foundation in association with #BOOKBRIDGE, a social enterprise, and #Ashoka, a leading NGO nurturing social entrepreneurs, supports ideas and initiatives that address challenges in the areas of: #Climate Risk Management, #Smart #Agriculture, Access to #Healthcare, or #Renewable Energy.
These areas are in addition to the on-going focus area of education from Swiss Re Bangalore. #startups @fintech #technologies /fiinews.com
