Field notes from Colombia: Commonality, optimism, and the power of human capital

Katherine attended as a guest on the Acumen Partner trip and works in public policy. 

When I set off with Acumen for Colombia, I expected to get an up close education in impact investing and social entrepreneurship. Growing up, I heard about Acumen’s work from a distance. This trip was an opportunity to see it firsthand and better understand the impact behind the initiatives my family has supported. What I didn’t anticipate was how deeply I would connect with the people I met, how much of myself I would see in them, and how dramatically my perspective would shift in just a few days.

We landed in Bogotá and joined the Acumen Latin America team for a tour of Bogotá’s beautiful historic center and the local Acumen office. Along the way, we learned about the violence, conflict, and economic upheaval in Colombia’s recent past and about Acumen’s strategy to help overcome these challenges. The team here, under the leadership of our inspiring co-hosts Elvia Gómez, Jorge de Angulo, and Laura Ruiz, is taking a dual-pronged approach of investing in local businesses that are tackling Colombia’s most pressing social and environmental challenges and building a community of like-minded entrepreneurs through the Acumen Fellowship and Foundry. 

Over the following four days, by way of car, taxi, bus, and prop plane, we traveled from Bogotá to Florencia to Medellín to see what this impact looks like in person. I was struck by the unshakable optimism and hope that define the people I met. Despite Colombia’s difficult history, the country’s human capital is extraordinary. Jorge put it best: Colombia is rich in talent, energy, and determination. The kindness and hospitality extended to us, the passion of the social entrepreneurs, and the relentless drive to create positive change all painted a picture of a country determined to rise above the middle-income trap.

This was especially evident in the Acumen Fellows and investees we met. Their work is not just about business, it’s about transforming lives. In Bogotà we visited Selva Nevada, a high-end artisanal ice cream and frozen fruit company that sources indigenous fruits from smallholder farmers in post-conflict regions of the country. In Florencia, we lunched with the inspiring team of Amazonia Emprende, who are producing seedlings of endangered native species at their Native Seed Center and developing protocols for ecosystem restoration and sustainable economic growth for local communities. In Medellín, we toured a farm piloted by SiembraViva, which uses innovative technology and an e-commerce platform to support regenerative agriculture and connect rural farmers with urban customers. Back in Bogotà, we stopped by Coschool, which creates experiential learning programs for educators to promote safe learning spaces to combat challenges facing the education system.

It was a whirlwind tour. Throughout, whether by creating employment opportunities, advancing education, or providing essential resources, the innovation and resilience of these enterprises was inspiring — proof that impact-first investing can drive meaningful, systemic change.

It was also a lesson in how much commonality exists between people, regardless of the borders that separate us. Before arriving, I assumed that life in Colombia would be vastly different from life in the United States. But after spending time with students, entrepreneurs, and farmers, I saw how much we share in common. They go to school and work, pursue their passions, and build their futures in ways that feel so familiar. Whether it was discussing shared hobbies, career aspirations, or simply the rhythms of daily life, I found a sense of connection that broke through the preconceived notions I had about cultural distance.

Perhaps the most impactful takeaway from this trip was witnessing a collective vision for Colombia’s future. It’s a vision fueled not by what the country has endured, but by the potential of what it can become. The spirit of progress, ambition, and shared purpose is palpable.

Leaving Colombia, I feel invigorated and hopeful — not just for the work being done by Acumen and the inspiring entrepreneurs it supports, but for the broader potential of human connection and collective action. More than ever, I believe that borders are arbitrary in the face of our shared aspirations and that investing in people, no matter where they are, is one of the most powerful forces for change.