Serena Williams cooperates with Reckitt to support the founders

Last week, the legend of tennis and investor was chosen as the first businessman ever in Ricette, the British consumer giant behind trademarks such as Lysol, Durex and Enfamil. In this new role, Williams will help the guide of startups that focus on cleaning, mother care, health equality, and healthy equality that are still chronicly wavy despite the high demand. The startups led by women are receiving women Less than 3 % of the global project financing Despite the research that is constantly outperforming male -led companies.

“Bold and innovative ideas can solve some of the most urgent challenges in the world if the correct support is provided for prosperity,” Williams told me at the Cannes Festival. “This includes guidance, financing and strong faith.”

Her appointment coincides with the release of Reckitt Catalyst, an initiative of 10 million pounds aimed at supporting up to 200 founders of representative, an incomplete representative by 2030. The goal is to improve health and hygiene access to five million people through developed solutions locally across Africa, Asia and Latin America.

For Williams, the partnership is tactical and deeply aligned. She said: “We realized that we have the same thesis, (which is) that when you invest in women, when you invest in the markets that have been overlooked, the returns are there.” “It is not a charity. It is a smart work.”

Since he was away from tennis, Williams has built one of the most successful investment paths in the project between sports players. In 2014, Serena launched a focus on a variety of founders, raising an opening fund worth $ 111 million. At that time, she entered an environmental system in adventure as it was only 5 % of black VCS, and a smaller share of black women. Prior to the official launch of the fund, Williams said it had already supported about six unit. Today, its portfolio includes more than 14 billion dollars and many Decacorn.

“I wanted to prove to myself that I could find companies and that I have links to investment,” she said. “Now we are expanding.”

Serena Vetshers has primarily invested in early stage healthcare companies, technology and consumer technology. Through its new partnership with Reckitt, Williams is now multiplying the sectors that tend to overlook it by the Silicon Valley. She said: “Cleanliness is routinely overlooked in the project.” “It is not amazing. But it is essential, especially for women, mothers and children. These are essential markets that drive real impact and real returns.”

Its role will be combined between guidance with access to the network. Williams will advise owners of projects that stimulate with their help to expand their access and credibility through strategic introductions. “At the end of the day, the adventure revolves around relationships,” she said. “A 30 -minute conversation can open new partnerships or investment opportunities. I want to reach the founders who are not part of the usual energy circuits.”

I have already started linking the founders of the catalyst to companies in their current wallet. “When women give an opportunity, we often work twice as much as we have been underestimated before the beginning,” she said, adding: “This is not about taking anything away from male founders. It is about expanding the pie.”

Ruth Omoh
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