Reckitt Launches $13.3 Million Social Impact Investment Program in the US, Partners with Serena Williams

Reckitt, the UK-based company behind household brands Lysol and Mucinex, has unveiled a new social impact investment program called Catalyst in the United States. The initiative represents a five-year commitment to provide £10 million ($13.3 million) in funding and mentorship opportunities for early-stage companies and underrepresented founders in the health and hygiene sector.

Program Details and Objectives

Catalyst aims to support 200 founders and deliver health and hygiene solutions to 5 million people globally by 2030. The program has already selected three US startups for its inaugural cohort:

1. Ema: An AI platform focused on women's health
2. Zócalo Health: A healthcare provider serving the Latino community
3. Attane Health: A nutrition startup

Jérôme Lemaire, President of Reckitt North America, emphasized the program's focus on grassroots entrepreneurship and impact. "You have very, very different thematics that are supposed to serve very specific communities," Lemaire noted.

Serena Williams' Involvement and Mentorship

Tennis star and entrepreneur Serena Williams has been named Reckitt's first entrepreneur in residence for the Catalyst program. Williams, who founded Serena Ventures in 2017, will be involved in the venture selection process and provide mentorship to the cohort as they scale their businesses.

"At home in the States, far too many communities are facing barriers to accessing essential healthcare services for their families and loved ones and it's time we took meaningful steps to address them," Williams stated in a press release. "When we back bold ideas and founders with genuine support—funding, mentorship, and belief—we unlock powerful solutions for the communities that need them most."

Addressing Healthcare Disparities

The Catalyst program aims to tackle significant healthcare challenges both globally and in the United States. According to some estimates, more than 80% of US counties are considered healthcare deserts with limited or no access to health services. Globally, 1 in 2 people lack access to basic healthcare, and 1 in 4 lack access to clean drinking water.

Lemaire highlighted the urgency of these issues, stating, "The world is under pressure. And you look at the healthcare systems in different countries in the Western world—these health systems in general are struggling to cope. You really need to partner with the right entrepreneur who understands the local communities."

Reckitt's Catalyst program, supported by VC firm Acumen America, consultancy Yunus Social Innovation, and the UN-born Health Innovation Exchange platform, has already supported more than 60 entrepreneurs across 13 countries since 2020. As the program expands in the US, it hopes to back more than two dozen companies, focusing on impact rather than volume and potentially reinvesting in past participants.