Acumen Fund Inc

ACUMEN'S MISSION IS TO CHANGE THE WAY THE WORLD TACKLES POVERTY BY INVESTING IN COMPANIES, LEADERS AND IDEAS.ACUMEN IS A GLOBAL FORCE OF ENTREPRENEURS, INVESTORS, PHILANTHROPISTS, AND SOCIAL INNOVATORS WORKING TOGETHER TO BUILD A WORLD BASED ON DIGNITY. WE WERE FOUNDED BY JACQUELINE NOVOGRATZ ON THE RADICAL IDEA THAT BUSINESS, WHEN CULTIVATED WITH MORAL IMAGINATION, CAN BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY. WE INVEST IN TRANSFORMATIONAL COMPANIES, BUILD SUSTAINABLE MARKETS, AND PREPARE LEADERS WITH THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO CREATE A MORE JUST AND INCLUSIVE FUTURE. SINCE 2001, WE HAVE SCALED COMPANIES AND SHAPED MARKETS IN SOME OF THE HARDEST-TO-REACH COMMUNITIES ON THE PLANET, IMPACTING OVER HALF-A-BILLION LIVES.

INVESTING AND PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT:WE INVEST ACROSS THE CAPITAL CONTINUUM TO HELP TRANSFORMATIONAL COMPANIES GROW FROM SEED TO SCALE. ACUMEN INVESTS PATIENT CAPITAL IN BUSINESS MODELS THAT DELIVER CRITICAL, AFFORDABLE GOODS AND SERVICES TO THE WORLD'S POOR, IMPROVING THE LIVES OF MILLIONS. SINCE 2001, ACUMEN HAS INVESTED IN BUSINESSES THAT PROVIDE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, ENERGY, EDUCATION, WATER & SANITATION, HOUSING, FINANCIAL SERVICES, AND AGRICULTURAL SERVICES TO LOW-INCOME CUSTOMERS. OUR INVESTMENTS ARE ADDRESSING THE PROBLEMS OF POVERTY IN EAST AND WEST AFRICA, SOUTH ASIA, LATIN AMERICA, AND THE UNITED STATES. [SEE CONTINUATION ON SCHEDULE O]ACUMEN MADE 26 NEW AND FOLLOW-ON INVESTMENTS IN 2023, REACHING A CUMULATIVE $168 MILLION INVESTED IN 183 BUSINESSES SERVING THE PEOPLE LIVING IN POVERTY. WE ALSO POOL CAPITAL TO SCALE STRATEGIC SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS OF POVERTY IN SPECIFIC SECTORS AND GEOGRAPHIES, USING BLENDED FINANCE. OUR THREE SPONSORED FOR-PROFIS, CURRENTLY MANAGED UNDER ACUMEN CAPITAL PARTNERS INCLUDE: KAWISAFI ($67M AUM), FOCUSES ON CLEAN ENERGY AND CLIMATE MITIGATION IN EAST AFRICA; ACUMEN RESILIENT AGRICULTURE FUND ($58M AUM), FOCUSES ON CLIMATE RESILIENCE FOR SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN EAST AND WEST AFRICA; AND ACUMEN LATIN AMERICA EARLY GROWTH FUNDS I AND II ($73M AUM), MANAGED BY ACUMEN LATAM IMPACT VENTURES, A TEAM OWNED MANAGER, FOCUSED ON ENERGY ACCESS, WORKFORCE AND AGRICULTURE.IN 2023, WE LAUNCHED THE HARDEST-TO REACH INITIATIVE FOR ENERGY ACCESS SOLUTIONS IN COUNTRIES IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA.

FELLOWS & LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS:WE PROVIDE PATHS FOR THOSE CURIOUS ABOUT SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND FOR THOSE WHO ARE ACTIVELY BUILDING THEIR BUSINESSES. OUR CURRICULUM IS GROUNDED IN TWO DECADES OF EXPERIENCE, ACCOMPANYING SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS ON THE JOURNEY FROM SEED TO SCALE. OUR ONLINE COURSES ARE FOR ANYONE, ANYWHERE LOOKING TO USE THE TOOLS OF BUSINESS TO SOLVE REAL PROBLEMS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE REGIONAL, COHORT-BASED LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS ARE FOR ENTREPRENEURS SOLVING PROBLEMS OF POVERTY. WE PROVIDE OUR GLOBAL COMMUNITY OF 1,600+ ALUMNI WITH THE TOOLS, CAPITAL, AND COMMUNITY TO SCALE THEIR IMPACT.

IMPACT & COMMUNICATIONS:THE GOAL OF THE INSIGHTS AND IMPACT TEAMS AT ACUMEN IS TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF SOLVING PROBLEMS POVERTY THROUGH DATA-DRIVEN STRATEGIES. WE DO THIS BY BUILDING MODELS, SHARING THE INSIGHTS FROM OUR WORK AND HOLDING OURSELVES AND OUR PEERS ACCOUNTABLE. OUR IMPACT MEASUREMENT AND MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK HELPS US DEFINE AND MEASURE OUR IMPACT, INCLUDING BREADTH AND DEPTH OF IMPACT. THROUGH 2023, ACUMEN HAS REACHED OVER 648 MILLION LIVES IMPACTED THROUGH OUR PATIENT CAPITAL AND FOR-PROFIT INVESTMENTS.