International health insurance provider and healthcare group Bupa has opened its 2022 eco-Disruptive program to sustainable startups across Australian, New Zealand and Hong Kong.
Startups receive funding from Bupa to develop pilot solutions that positively impact people’s health and the environment.
Now in its second year, the program connects startups with dedicated Bupa teams while providing selected startups with around $40,000 in initial funding.
Selected startups will also be in the running for over $300,000 in funding to further develop their solutions.
Bupa Asia Pacific’s Chief Sustainability & Corporate Affairs Officer, Roger Sharp, said the program seeks to encourage innovation through a greater understanding of the link between people’s health and the health of the planet.
“Rather than a passive funding model, the eco-Disruptive program aims to energise our people to work actively with start-ups to conduct research, develop business plans and share our expertise in the health and care industry,” he said.
With a commitment to become a Net Zero business by 2040, we want to start a movement for sustainable innovation by harnessing the passion of our people and the start-up communities across Asia-Pacific. Together we can help people live longer, healthier, happier lives and make a better world.
Roger Sharp, Bupa Asia Pacific Chief Sustainability & Corporate Affairs Officer,
Last year, Australian startup Airseed Technologies was named the Asia pacific winner of the program, with funding received to develop its drone tree planting technology.
Airseed’s CEO and Founder, Andrew Walker, said the participation in the program has accelerated the startups path to commercialisation.
“The attraction for us wasn’t the prize money, it was the access to people, to resources, to skills. Getting Bupa’s insight into how we could develop our corporate approach was really attractive,” he said.
Applications are now open for startups across Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong. They close on Wednesday, 12 October.
For more information or to register your interest visit here.
