Serena Williams has joined Reckitt Catalyst as an “entrepreneur-in-residence,” mentoring U.S.-based founders through the British hygiene company’s social impact investment program.
Why it matters: Williams’ involvement aligns with Reckitt’s mission to provide health and hygiene solutions to 5 million people worldwide by 2030 and matches her passion for helping early-stage VC founders receive the guidance she wishes she had when she started as an investor.
The details:
- Williams has a $111 million VC fund that has backed 16 unicorns.
- She advises founders to address a real need in the market and show genuine passion for their product.
- Connection is crucial for attracting investors and mentors in a startup.
- Williams emphasizes building meaningful relationships with potential investors, rather than relying solely on the strength of their idea.
“When I think about what mentorship means and what I’ve learned, it’s really just about connections and unlocking how to get people to know about your product,” Williams said.
Williams wishes she had a mentor when she started her VC career and shares three tips for founders:
1. Find the Story, Not the ‘White Space’:
- Emphasizes the importance of a compelling story when investing in a company.
- Cites companies supported by Catalyst, such as the Tayaba Organisation and Nazava, which are led by female founders addressing issues like water purification.
- “The businesses with a true connection to their products tend to do better,” she said, as opposed to those just trying to fill a market gap.
2. Prioritize Relationships as Much as the Idea:
- Stresses the importance of the person behind the company.
- Founders should meaningfully connect with their audience and investors rather than relying purely on the strength of their idea.
- “Access is key in VC,” she added.
3. Build Up Your Resilience:
- Draws from her storied tennis career, where she won 23 Grand Slam titles, to underline the necessity of resilience.
- Over half of the founders backed by Williams’ firm are women, a group historically underrepresented in the VC world.
- “As a woman, when you start a business, you have to succeed because you have to work so much harder,” she said.
What’s next: Williams’ venture, Serena Ventures, has backed notable brands and launched initiatives such as the topical pain-relief brand Will Perform, her clothing line S by Serena, Serena Williams Jewelry, and her production company Nine Two Six.
