Swiss Re Foundation’s Grant and Award for Entrepreneurs in Health 2025

May 6, 2025

The Swiss Re Foundation Entrepreneurs for Resilience Award 2025 is now accepting applications from social entrepreneurs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including Nigeria and other African nations. This global initiative is designed to empower visionary founders developing market-based solutions that expand financial access to healthcare for vulnerable and underserved populations.
Facilitated by Bridge for Billions, a leading digital incubator for early-stage startups, the award goes beyond traditional grants. It offers selected entrepreneurs a six-month structured incubation program, one-on-one mentorship, tailored support, and international exposure to help scale their innovations. While the program does not provide direct financial capital, it opens doors to investors, funders, and ecosystem partners through its robust networking and coaching model.

For innovators asking how to find startup funding in Nigeria or looking for grants for African health startups, this is a golden opportunity to receive international recognition and meaningful support to build sustainable, impactful enterprises.
The Swiss Re Foundation award 2025 is a top-tier global program recognized for nurturing innovative, impactful ventures in emerging markets. If you’re building a solution to improve financial access to healthcare in Nigeria, Kenya, or any other LMIC, this award could provide the exposure and tools your business needs to succeed.

Through the Bridge for Billions incubator, selected entrepreneurs undergo a rigorous social enterprise incubation program, where they will refine their business model, define market segments, build financial projections, and receive tailored feedback from dedicated mentors. This makes the award not just a recognition of good ideas, but a platform for startup support for Nigerian entrepreneurs and other changemakers across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

For those who have been tirelessly searching online for grants for African health startups, this opportunity is tailored to meet your needs—especially if you’re working in health insurance, savings, or digital financing tools. The award emphasizes healthcare innovation in Africa and provides an international stage to share your solution with potential investors, donors, and development organizations.
A frequently asked question is: how to get startup funding in Nigeria? While this program does not offer immediate cash prizes, it unlocks pathways to funding by connecting founders to funding institutions, building investor-ready documentation, and enhancing pitching skills.

One of the key benefits of the Swiss Re Foundation program is its inclusivity. In addition to accepting applications from across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, it is actively encouraging women entrepreneurs in Africa to apply. Women-led ventures often face systemic barriers in accessing startup capital, and this program seeks to bridge that gap with mentoring and visibility.
Moreover, this initiative is a standout among international grants for Nigerian startups. Unlike one-off competitions or pitch events, the six-month journey allows entrepreneurs to deeply build their operational and strategic capacity, increase investor readiness, and learn alongside a cohort of fellow innovators tackling similar problems.

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The emphasis on creating financial access to healthcare cannot be overstated. Whether you’re working on digitizing community savings models, designing microinsurance platforms for gig workers, or enabling installment-based payments for medical services, this program aligns directly with your mission.
If you are involved in a social enterprise and want to be part of a transformative journey, consider applying now. The visibility and credibility offered by being a part of this program can open many doors in the global impact investment and donor community.

The Swiss Re Foundation Entrepreneurs for Resilience Award 2025 is more than an award—it’s a business-building experience designed to empower social entrepreneurs in Africa and beyond. With world-class mentorship, practical tools, global exposure, and potential investor connections, it is a powerful opportunity for any startup seeking to improve health outcomes through financial access.
If you’re working on healthcare innovation in Africa, especially in underfunded or underserved regions, this award can accelerate your vision. And for those wondering where to find a social enterprise incubation program that actually delivers impact and exposure—this is it.

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Requirement/Eligibility

To be eligible for the 2025 Entrepreneurs for Resilience Award, applicants must meet the following criteria:
Be a founder or co-founder of a social enterprise registered and operating in a low- or middle-income country, such as Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Bangladesh, etc.

1. The business must be early-stage, ideally with a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) or pilot solution already tested.

2. The core mission of the startup should be to increase financial access to healthcare, for example:

3. Microinsurance models

4. Digital health savings platforms

5. Community-based health financing

6. Pay-as-you-go healthcare services

7. The solution should be scalable and sustainable, with potential to expand impact.

8. The founder must be able to commit 6-8 hours per week to the incubation program over 6 months.

9. Must be fluent in English and capable of engaging in virtual collaboration.

The program strongly encourages women-led startups in Africa and entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities to apply.