Swiss Re launches the 3rd edition of Shine in India & calls for entries from social entrepreneurs at the early stage

Swiss Re launches the 3rd edition of Shine in India & calls for entries from social entrepreneurs at the early stage

Swiss Re launches the 3rd edition of Shine in India & calls for entries from social entrepreneurs at the early stage

The deadline for submission is 15 August for this innovative social entrepreneurship project aimed at empowering social entrepreneurs to scale up Bengaluru, India, 29 July 2020: Swiss Re Bangalore, Swiss Re's regional Business Solution Center, launched the third edition of its Shine social entrepreneurship programme, in India. Shine is open to all social innovators and early social entrepreneurs who are committed to contributing to an creative solution to the social and economic challenges. For Shine 3, Swiss Re calls for entries from social enterprises around the country that also have a presence in Karnataka state. The last filing date for applications is 15 August 2020.

Shine's past two editions have helped to scale up two social entrepreneurs-Pure Paani (2018) and Bee Basket (2019). The COVID-19 pandemic epidemic has significantly affected cultures and economies. Understanding how the introduction of a disease has worsened various network disparities and differences is shocking. This extraordinary situation demands social reform and transformation that will generate sustainable social benefits. It is needed  to make society more resilient and the global pandemic inevitably gave us the opportunity to do that.

Amit Kalra, MD and Head – Swiss Re Global Business Solutions Center Bangalore said, "Shine, on the one hand, encourages and enriches the social entrepreneur, and on the other, offers our employees practical experience in the design, execution and assessment of a tangible social enterprise. Together with social entrepreneurs, they must identify consumer needs in the six-month part-time 'Action Learning Program,' create a viable business plan, submit to the Shine jury in a bid to gain funding. As socially responsible corporate citizens, Shine brings us together to create sustainable communities and stronger teams. I invite all aspiring social entrepreneurs to take this opportunity and partner with us to help improve socio-economic growth in our communities, "said Stefan Huber, Head of the Swiss Re Foundation," At Swiss Re, we are focusing on our mutual obligation to the communities in which we work, and we believe that creative and entrepreneurial thinking is the key to seeking sustainable solutions. Swiss Re's Shine helps a social entrepreneur collaborate with experts, business mentors and leaders in Swiss Re to build a business model that is financially sustainable and scalable. We are confident that this experience will not only allow the winning organization to operationalize its vision but will also help its members improve professionally and personally. The skills gained during the process are highly important in fostering resilience. "Pure Paani, the winner of the first edition of the program, is a social enterprise committed to providing access to affordable filtration and treatment options for all. Swiss Re took on board Bee Basket in its second edition, which focuses on providing pure honey without damaging the beehive. They strive to promote a healthy lifestyle and a balanced environment, as well as bee conservation and the upliftment of indigenous communities involved in honey harvesting.

Amit Godse, Bee Basket Founder, said: 'When the pandemic struck in March 2020, we were supported by the Swiss Re team and the business coach with the survival plan and mid-term growth strategy, bringing in their financial and company experience that proved invaluable. The team is awesome, they view our company as a start-up of their own. The Swiss Re Group is one of the world's largest suppliers of reinsurance, insurance and other forms of insurance-based risk transfer, working to make the world more resilient. It anticipates and handles threats – from natural disasters to climate change, from aging to cybercrime. The Swiss Re Group 's mission is to allow society to prosper and move forward, providing new opportunities and solutions for its customers. The Swiss Re Group is headquartered in Zurich , Switzerland, where it was founded in 1863, and operates internationally across a network of about 80 offices. This is divided into three business groups, each with a different strategy and set of objectives that relate to the overall purpose of the Group. Swiss Re Global Business Solutions Center Bangalore is Swiss Re's analytical and innovation center and employs over 1200 employees. It plays a key role in improving the company 's competitiveness across markets through R&D-focused programs, innovation and analytics, which is especially important with technology-spurred disruptions in today's dynamic business climate. Established in 2001, Swiss Re Bangalore has embarked on a remarkable growth path, accumulating deep capacity to become a Business Solutions Centre, Swiss Re's third-largest office today, and set to develop itself as a Center of Excellence.