THE CHALLENGE: EXPENSIVE DIESEL GENERATORS Due to limited and unreliable grid electricity, two thirds of electricity in Nigeria is provided by expensive diesel and petrol generator sets. Relying on petrol generators costs off-grid microbusiness owners—such as vendors in rural marketplaces—up to 50 percent of their revenue. In between breakdowns, these generators only provide an average … Continued
In November, Acumen hosted TEDxAcumen in connection with TED Countdown, a global initiative to champion and accelerate solutions to the climate crisis. The goal of TEDxAcumen was to amplify the intersection of poverty and climate change and to highlight the need for investment in adaptation and resilience–along with mitigation. The event brought together more than … Continued
Acumen has invested in Reema whose platform helps support patients in accessing care and other resources that impact social determinants of health. THE CHALLENGE: LACK OF ACCESS TO SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH Medicaid provides health care to low-income Americans, but many Medicaid members struggle with health care access and other social and environmental challenges that … Continued
Acumen India has invested in S4S Technologies, a company whose solar-powered drying machines are increasing smallholder farmers’ incomes while reducing food waste. THE CHALLENGE: WASTED CROPS In India, smallholder farmers’ incomes depend not only on the amount of crops they have to sell but also their “grade”: a quality rating determined by aesthetic criteria like … Continued
Acumen has invested in Kheyti, a company whose greenhouses help farmers in India adapt to the effects of climate change. THE CHALLENGE: CLIMATE CHANGE DESTROYING FARMER CROPS About 70 percent of families in rural India—most of whom own less than five acres of land and earn less than $3 per day—depend on farming for their … Continued
Acumen has invested in Bridge, a fintech company paving the way to financial stability for Americans with its unique fee-free banking services. THE CHALLENGE: EXPENSIVE AND EXCLUSIONARY BANKING More than 63 million Americans do not have access to affordable banking services. Big traditional banks often exclude low-income Americans by requiring account balance minimums or credit … Continued
With 80 percent of the world’s poor working mainly in farming, fighting poverty is inextricably intertwined with changing the status quo of agriculture. As climate change presents farmers with challenges from severe drought to locust infestations, the urgency of these efforts is only increasing. Acumen began investing in agriculture in 2008, and has since invested … Continued
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