East Africa

Based in Nairobi since 2008, we invest in local enterprises in education, climate-resilient agriculture, and clean energy.

Agriculture
Education
Energy

Our impact in East Africa

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deployed for breakthrough innovations

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companies supported on their journey

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lives reached through market-based solutions

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Academy alumni dedicated to social change

With some of the fastest-growing economies in the world, East Africa is poised for possibility.

Across East Africa, 200 million people live in poverty as the region faces rapid urbanization and climate challenges. We’re investing in cutting-edge solutions that solve these urgent problems.

Eighty percent of the population relies on agriculture for income, and smallholder farmers face low productivity and income instability. We focus on helping smallholder farmers increase yields and incomes with climate-resilient practices and access to markets.

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Man tends to a large crop field in East Africa

Family sits around table helping children with their homework under solar-powered lighting

Technician inspects and cleans solar panel in East Africa field

Repairing broken systems, from the ground up

The solutions exist and they’re within our reach. See how we’re solving problems of poverty in East Africa.

Trellis

We invest in scalable agribusinesses that improve the lives of smallholder farmers through market access and climate adaptation support.

Farmer's hands hold ripe red peppers in a greenhouse enclosure

Pioneer Energy Investment Initiative PLUS

We invest in sustainable energy-powered appliances that help increase incomes and enhance climate resilience for rural livelihoods.

Two men pour milk from one container to a larger container in a Indian processing facility

East Africa Education Facility

We invest in education startups in East Africa that have the greatest impact on education quality and access for low-income students.

Two children read books at a library in East Africa

East Africa Fellowship

Leaders learn skills and get support to solve problems of poverty as part of a community of 234 Fellows.

Four ambulette workers standby ready to respond to emergency calls in East Africa

KawiSafi Ventures

KawiSafi invests in companies scaling decarbonized, distributed solar energy solutions for underserved populations in East Africa.

Worker operates a forklift in a warehouse

Acumen Resilient Agriculture Fund

ARAF is the world’s first equity fund designed to build the climate resilience of smallholder farmers.

Women carries crops in a East African farm

Our investees

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Akili Network

Kenya's first and only dedicated free-to-air children’s learning TV channel

BURN Manufacturing

Providing clean cooking solutions through production and distribution of affordable cookstoves

Ed Partners

Providing loans to low-fee private schools to improve infrastructure and services

Zeraki Analytics

Using technology to help schools grade, analyze performance, and generate reports

SokoFresh

Reducing post-harvest losses for farmers

Kentaste

Sourcing premium coconut products from smallholder farmers

Aquarech

An AgTech venture dedicated to enhancing livelihoods of fish farmers

Ampersand

E-mobility company that assembles bikes and operates battery swapping stations

Case Study

d.light

Energy East Africa

Acumen fuels d.light’s rise as a top solar firm, bridging the global energy gap

97%

of customers reported improved quality of life

38M

tons of CO2 offset

Read case study

Woman writes in notebook using d.light pay-as-you-go solar powered lantern as a light source

Case Study

Juhudi Kilimo

Agriculture East Africa 2011

Investing in trust to unlock smallholder potential

70%

of company revenue from agricultural loans

70%

of customers are women

Read case study

Case Study

Ed Partners

Education East Africa 2021

Financing the future of education in East Africa

41%

of school owners had never accessed financing

120K

students attended Ed Partners client schools

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A group of school children gleefully lookout the window from a building in Kenya

Case Study

EthioChicken

Agriculture East Africa 2014

Increasing food security and incomes with a chicken in every house

35M

chicks distributed every year

83%

more eggs consumed by customers

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Meet the leaders of the future.

The Foundry is our global community of more than 1,600 alumni. Accompanied with the tools, connections, and capital required to scale their impact, theseleaders draw on shared wisdom and experience as they navigate the often difficult path of social entrepreneurship.

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