Grow your business

We support intrepid entrepreneurs on their journey to impact.

Business models that build markets

We invest across key sectors where we know our capital can have the greatest impact solving problems of poverty.

We invest in productive use of energy companies, including energy technologies, such as irrigation, agricultural processing, cold storage; appliances for micro-enterprises; e-mobility; and business enablers, including distribution and financing solutions.

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Man carries a solar panel through an East African yard

Woman sprays water from a hose onto trees and crops in East Africa

Girl at a desk smiles as her classmates settle down for class

Man sorts plantains into crates on a banana farm in Colombia

America

We invest in companies overlooked by traditional venture capital, and give special attention to female founders and founders of color.

Everytable chef who smiles cheerfully in colorful California alleyway

East Africa

We primarily invest in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, but we also consider enterprises in Rwanda and Ethiopia. Our investment strategy prioritizes localfounders.

India

We invest across rural, peri-urban, and urban populations, but primarily focus on urban communities in our workforce investments, and rural communities inour energy and agriculture investments.

Latin America

We invest in Colombia, Peru, and Guatemala. Our investment strategy prioritizes solutions that improve the lives of people impacted by conflict in Colombia,including indigenous communities and forcibly displaced populations.

Two indegenous farmers relax in the breeze while riding a small boat through a rural Colombia river

West Africa

We primarily invest in Nigeria, Ghana, and Sierra Leone. Our investment strategy prioritizes solutions that improve the lives of women and youth.

Farmers crack open Cocoa pods and remove seed to dry; Photo Credit: Juergen Sauer, Munich

Our investment criteria

Company stage

Depending on the region, sector, and vertical, we invest in pre-seed to Series A early-stage social enterprises, and deploy equity, quasi-equity, and debtcapital.

Potential for social impact

We invest in companies that address the needs of people living in poverty, with a special focus on vulnerable populations or communities.

Potential for financial sustainability

We invest in businesses with models that demonstrate the potential to finance themselves beyond Acumen’s investment, either through follow-on capital orinternal cash flows.

We partner for the long-haul.

When we invest in an enterprise, we lend not just our capital, but also our expertise and our community.

Governance

Good governance enables good decision-making and strong companies. One of the best ways we support good governance is by serving as a Board Memberor Observer for our portfolio companies.

Impact

We support our investees to measure, deepen, and scale their impact while optimizing business performance for long-term viability.

Finance

We provide support for short-term financial planning, including cash flow management and forecasting, and long-term financial planning for sustainablegrowth and development.

Connect with us

If your company meets our criteria, and you are dedicated to using entrepreneurship to solve problems of poverty, we’d love to hear from you.

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Women stands on lake side fish farm in Kenya

Haqdarshak team members Preeti Singh (C) and Beenu Kumari (R) walk around in the slum area of Dilshad garden in New Delhi, India, March 6, 2020. Photo by Saumya Khandelwal

Investing with purpose

Eight investment principles guide our ability to make capital work for us, rather than the other way around.