Swiss Re Foundation Entrepreneurs for Resilience 2027 call for healthcare social enterprises closes 4 October

Swiss Re Foundation Entrepreneurs for Resilience 2027 call for healthcare social enterprises closes 4 October

25 September 2026: The Swiss Re Foundation's call for the 2027 edition of Entrepreneurs for Resilience, the programme's 10th, closes on Sunday 4 October 2026 at 23:59 CET. Applications opened on 7 September and must be made online, in English. This edition looks for healthcare social enterprises in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) that run "brick-and-click" models: physical points of care, such as clinics, pharmacies, labs or community health workers, combined with digital services such as telemedicine, e-pharmacy or electronic records.

What the programme offers

According to the foundation's call document:

• Pilot funding of up to USD 45,000 during a due-diligence phase for the 6 to 8 shortlisted enterprises, with three days of technical assistance on impact measurement.
• For the 3 to 4 finalists, up to USD 1 million in blended funding shared over two years: up to USD 600,000 unconditional, allocated after jury pitches in May 2027, and up to USD 400,000 conditional, allocated at a gathering in Zurich planned for November 2027. Funding is paid against agreed milestones.
• Up to 20 days of technical assistance for each finalist, access to Swiss Re and partner expertise, and introductions to investors. Partners named are the Digital Connected Care Coalition (including AXA EssentiALL and Sanofi's Global Health Unit) and the Philips Foundation.

Who can apply

The foundation sets these criteria:

• A formally registered for-profit company, or a formally established hybrid structure, founded no later than December 2023.
• Operating in countries the World Bank classes as LMICs, with low-income and underserved people making up at least 30% of customers.
• At least 50% of income from earned revenue, and at least 50,000 people already served.
• Both physical and digital delivery of care, with measurable social impact.
• Able to receive funding from a Swiss non-governmental organisation. Preference goes to gender-inclusive enterprises, including those with a female founder or at least 30% women in management.

Timetable

• 4 October 2026, 23:59 CET: first-round applications close.
• 8 November 2026: up to 25 invited enterprises submit a detailed second-round application.
• November 2026 to March 2027: due diligence with site visits for the shortlist.
• May 2027: finalist pitches; November 2027: gathering in Zurich (to be confirmed).

What to do

• If you run a primary-care business in Africa, South Asia or another LMIC region that blends clinics or health workers with digital tools, check the criteria against your latest figures, particularly the 50,000-people and 50% earned-revenue thresholds.
• Apply through the foundation's application portal before the deadline; the foundation takes questions at the address given in its call document.
• Keep the 8 November second-round date free if you apply, since the detailed application follows quickly.

Sources

• Swiss Re Foundation: The 2027 Entrepreneurs for Resilience (call page, applications 7 September to 4 October 2026) - 7 September 2026
• Swiss Re Foundation: Entrepreneurs for Resilience, Call for Applications, apply by 4 October 2026 (booklet, August 2026) - 31 August 2026
• Disrupt Africa: African e-health startups invited to apply for 10th Entrepreneurs for Resilience programme - 25 September 2026