News
Article
Author(s):
Williams will serve as entrepreneur-in-chief and will help groups in the program with mentorship.
Reckitt Catalyst will serve women-led health and hygiene start-ups across the world.
Stock.adobe.com
Reckitt announced that it is partnering with Serena Williams on a project to help bring funding to up to 200 health and hygiene start-ups that represent the needs of women across the world.1 The project is named Reckitt Catalyst and will run for 5 years.Yunus Social Innovation, Acumen America, and Health Innovation Exchange are also partnering with Reckitt on this project.
Williams is entrepreneur-in-residence and is will help mentor and support women leading ventures supported by the program. Reckitt announced Reckitt Catalyst at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, where it also held an open call for appropriate entrepreneurs to apply to be a part of the program.
In a press release, Williams said, “Some of the world’s most pressing healthcare challenges can be solved by bold, innovative ideas––if they are given the right support to thrive and scale. This includes mentorship, funding, and unwavering belief. I’m honored to offer that as Reckitt’s Entrepreneur-in-Residence and excited to share what I’ve learned in both business and sport to help visionary ventures grow.”
Reckitt CEO Kris Licht added, “Reckitt believes that health begins at home, in our communities. Local entrepreneurs are best placed to understand local challenges and have much-needed familiarity and understand the unique needs of their communities.”
This is Reckitt’s latest initiative aimed at helping underserved or underrepresented communities.
In early June, the company announced a program to find solutions for climate related health risks impacting populations across the globe.2 According to Reckitt, 22 cities across 15 countries are involved in The Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI). These cities will share tools and technical support to drive care and find solutions for common climate-related health issues.
In a press release issued at the time, Licht said, “As climate change intensifies public health challenges, adding pressure to health systems, with vulnerable and low-income communities being most affected, we need to rethink our approach to health, moving from a top-down, treatment-based model, to a more holistic one that emphasizes keeping people well.Cities are on the front line of both climate change and public health. By aligning innovation and investment, this initiative is a critical step in building stronger, more equitable health systems and cities. It exemplifies the type of collaborative, cross-sectoral effort we need to create lasting impact at scale.”
The cities involved in the program are:
Dr. Folayinka Dania, chief resilience officer for Lagos, Nigeria, said in the same press release, “This Community of Practice represents a major step forward for city-led preventative interventions that also support climate resilience—centering health, equity, and the lived realities of city residents.By empowering cities to lead with practical solutions and shared learning, we’re helping to meet today’s challenges while building a more just, healthier, and sustainable future.”
In the same press release, Marcus Belchior, CEO of Rio de Janeiro’s Operations and Resilience Center, added, “Rio de Janeiro, building on its strong history of climate engagement since the 1992 Earth Summit, reaffirms its commitment by co-leading this crucial R-Cities initiative alongside Mexico City, Greater Manchester and Lagos. Discussing the impacts of climate change on human health and collaborating with other major cities will allow us to find effective solutions together and implement concrete actions to tackle this global challenge.”
Lead with insight with the Pharmaceutical Executive newsletter, featuring strategic analysis, leadership trends, and market intelligence for biopharma decision-makers.
