Pioneer Energy Investment Initiative PLUS
We invest in sustainable energy-powered appliances that help increase incomes and enhance climate resilience for livelihoods.
- Program
- Energy
- East Africa
- India
- West Africa
Over five years, our goal is to transform rural livelihoods with clean energy.
Fueling the next generation of clean energy enterprises
Through Patient Capital and technical assistance we support companies looking to improve livelihoods through productive use of energy (PUE).
Improving farm incomes and productivity, reducing costs for smallholder farmers through irrigation, processing, and cold storage powered with clean energy
Enabling sustainable energy solutions for small businesses and micro-nano entrepreneurs through innovations such as e-mobility, cooling, and automation
Enabling clean energy access for smallholder farmers and businesses through distribution and financing, skills development, data tools, and market building
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Sun-powered progress
A new wave of companies are powering livelihoods using solar by providing income-generating appliances and driving economic development for people living in poverty.
S4S Technologies
Leveraging technology and innovation for economic and gender empowerment
Promethean Power Systems
Powering dairy farmers in rural India
Pioneer Energy Investment Intiative (PEII)
Partnering for energy access
Bridging the Gap: PEII Impact Report
Launched in 2017, Acumen’s first Pioneer Energy Investment Initiative (PEII) supported energy access entrepreneurs serving low-income communities. By 2021, Acumen had invested early-stage equity into 12 energy access companies that went on to attract an additional $128 million from other investors and reach 1.25 million people with energy – 40% of whom lived under the $3.20 per day poverty line.
Energy for Livelihoods Accelerator – East Africa
The Energy for Livelihoods Accelerator aims to build an ecosystem of locally-led scalable social enterprises across East Africa committed to improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, small businesses, and micro-entrepreneurs.
Energy for Livelihoods Accelerator – India
The Energy for Livelihoods Accelerator in India helped 15 social entrepreneurs develop and refine scalable business models that maximize energy’s potential to improve livelihoods.
The latest from our blog
Acumen India featured in Impact Investors Council climate bulletin
Mahesh Yagnaraman, Director of Acumen India, shares insights on Acumen’s Energy for Livelihoods initiatives.
