Are you an entrepreneur improving access to healthcare, water, sanitation, or hygiene in Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Mexico, or Brazil? Applications are now open for the 2026 Reckitt Catalyst Global Accelerator. Through 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)
ELIGIBILITY:
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;
Focus on FemTech to address women’s and girls’ health and hygiene needs across their life stages;
Advance access to medicines and hygiene products, particularly for remote or last-mile populations, leveraging tech to address affordability, traceability, or delivery gaps;
Enable access to health and WASH solutions for the prevention and reduction of waterborne diseases such as diarrhea and cholera;
Developed technological, innovative, and/or educational solutions for urgent topics such as germ protection and antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Innovators based in the select markets, either for-profit or not-for-profit (“Participant”), may apply, which:
Has a partner and/or founder who is a person, eighteen (18) years or older;
Is a social business or wishes to become one;
Is a Business/Entity in the form of a company limited by shares (public or private), company limited by guarantee (public or private), unlimited company (public or private), limited liability partnership, limited partnership, or an incorporated trustee, that is legally registered in one or more of the select markets;
Has a mission to solve challenges for access to health and/or WASH in one or more of the select markets;
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 abovementioned;
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
BENEFIT:
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.
