Global healthcare company Bupa will provide support to 18 start-ups that are developing innovative solutions that are advocating sustainability and advancing healthcare at the same time.
Bupa’s eco-Disruptive program will offer a mix of financial support, marketing expertise from its own people and further networking opportunities to the selected start-ups. Special squads of Bupa colleagues will join forces with the start-ups to brainstorm development ideas and further opportunities.
The selected start-ups will each receive over $47,000 to develop a minimum viable product and the winner receives over $380,000 to help develop their product further. They will have the opportunity to showcase their novel approaches to reducing emissions to potential investors and Bupa colleagues, as well as collaborate with like-minded entrepreneurs.
The 18 participants will be selected by Bupa employees across the world based on their positive impact on both healthcare and the environment.
Iñaki Ereño, Bupa’s Group CEO, said, “As a provider of healthcare services to millions of people across the world, we recognise the link between the environment and human health. We know that we cannot solve these global challenges on our own, so we are joining forces with others to make a difference.”
Alongside Bupa’s ongoing drive to achieve its net-zero target by 2040, Ereño said the initiative showed that by working with disruptive and promising start-ups, larger companies can accelerate the transition that we urgently need.
“At Bupa, we are working together with these promising new businesses to help them realise their potential in reducing carbon emissions,” said Ereño. “This goes beyond financial support and involves our own people joining forces with their development team in order to help co-create.”
Roger Sharp, Bupa APAC Chief Sustainability & Corporate Affairs Officer said the eco-Disruptive program had created a genuine sustainability movement within the organisation.
“Since the program launched in 2021, I’ve seen first-hand a newfound passion and pride in our sustainability commitments and an eagerness for people to roll-up their sleeves to make a difference. The challenge for us is the need for pace because our planet cannot afford more years of complacency, action must be taken now. In the years we have been on this eco-Disruptive journey, I’ve been so thrilled at the speed and scale of what we have been able to achieve with our partners and our people as we work towards delivering on our Net-Zero ambitions,” Sharp said.
Applications for the upcoming 2023 eco-Disruptive programme will open on 11 July.
