Last month, Acumen held a celebration ceremony for the Pakistan Fellows Class of 2016 to commemorate the completion of the cohort’s first year as Acumen Fellows. Keynoted by Acumen President, Carlyle Singer, the event brought together Acumen community members from across Pakistan and showcased the leadership journeys of these 21 dynamic social change-makers. This year’s … Continued
An assertion crucial to the increasing popularity of impact investing was challenged at a debate in central London on Monday evening. Acumen, the charitably funded investor that offers loans or equity, hosted a debate together with Business Fights Poverty at the headquarters of professional services firm EY. The motion put forward was: “This house believes impact … Continued
It is estimated that one billion people will be without the necessary skills to find a job. Many young children across sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia are living without any kind of formal education. Even with access to schools, students are discriminated due to their gender, class and caste. Additionally, classes are taught by absent, … Continued
Over the last decade, Acumen has invested roughly $20 million in 18 social enterprises in East Africa, India and Pakistan to build the largest portfolio of off-grid energy companies serving the poor. Working across every step of the energy ladder, these social enterprises have provided tens of millions with access to energy and helped them … Continued
Despite massive gains in global access to electricity, nearly 1.2 million people, mostly across developing countries in Asia and Africa, live with limited or no access to electricity. Historically, the government has been responsible for providing power through the grid. This is not only a slow process plagued by corruption and bureaucratic delays but also … Continued
On May 26, six renowned Bay Area chefs and more than 100 guests came together for a night of food and social impact in honor of Acumen and our investee, BURN, a producer and distributor of highly-efficient, affordable cookstoves in East Africa. The event took place at The Battery, a private club located in San … Continued
There is article after article about why businesses and investors should seek new ways to be more inclusive of women in their business models. But what we’ve learned at Acumen, where we invest in business that solve problems of poverty, is that leaders of social-purpose businesses are already doing this, and perhaps there’s something we … Continued