About the opportunity
What this programme is offering
hrough Reckitt Catalyst, Reckitt in partnership with Yunus Social Innovation and Health Innovation Exchange, supports women and underrepresented founders with innovative
and bold solutions that expand access to health and WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) in the following markets: Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Brazil, Mexico, India, Indonesia, and Pakistan.
Reckitt are looking for social innovations that create access to health and hygiene through B2B and/or B2G models with strong financial sustainability, potential for system-level transformation, and are willing to develop partnerships with Reckitt and/or government entities to scale up their impact.
Requirements
The program is especially excited about enterprises that:
Are women-led enterprises with either 51% female ownership and/or over 50% of women in leadership positions;
Are led by underrepresented founders, or individuals who come from demographic groups that have historically faced systemic barriers to accessing resources, opportunities, or recognition in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. These groups include, but are not limited to, women, non-binary and LGBTQIA+ individuals, Black, Indigenous, and other people of colour (BIPOC), people with disabilities, immigrants and refugees, and individuals from low-income communities
Embed ethical AI into their solutions to improve accuracy, personalisation, or efficiency;
Are pushing the boundaries of science and engineering through deep tech;
Explore B2C models that radically lower the cost of care and improve accessibility for underserved populations, especially when combined with creative go-to-market or financing strategies;
Generates revenue with a business model that underlines long-term financial sustainability;
Has a solution or service that relates, directly or indirectly to the purpose of the call and addresses the gap in health and WASH access in the countries above mentioned;
Has at least one member or founder dedicated full-time to the business; and
Has at least two (2) persons – one (1) founder/partner and another professional, founder or employee – who undertake to participate in all program sessions described
Benefits
The Acceleration program is specifically designed to meet the scale-up challenges of innovative businesses that seek to address challenges of access to health and WASH.
The program will offer:
Masterclasses & Workshops: Tailored training in key business topics such a impact measurement and management, impact finance, business development and go-to-market strategy delivered by expert partners, including YSI and HIEx.
Mentorship & Coaching: Dedicated support and skills-based mentorship, including access to experienced Reckitt mentors and personalised coaching to help refine your strategy and unlock growth.
Peer Learning & Global Ecosystem Access: Connection to a global community of practice and the global ecosystem of actors in the health and hygiene space. This will also include access to health and/or hygiene experts, and partners for
learning, collaboration, and visibility within the broader health and/or hygiene innovation space.Funding & Investor Network Access: Opportunities to showcase your solution and engage with our investor community, and build credibility with funding partners.
Post-Program Implementation Support: Continued guidance and connections to help implement your refined solution and sustain momentum beyond the accelerator.
Flexible financing of up to $30,000 USD per social enterprise at the end of the program: Final amounts will vary based on completion of the full program, demonstrated impact, investment readiness, and alignment with implementation goals. This funding is not guaranteed and is subject to review and approval by the investment committee.
How to apply