We invest in companies that provide essential products and services, impacting key drivers of income for MSMEs. Together with 60 Decibels, we conducted a research project to understand the impact of these interventions. Our newly released report highlights the potential of these efforts, offering key insights for companies and investors dedicated to improving livelihoods. This report was made possible with the support of our PEII+ and Trellis Partners: IKEA Foundation , Autodesk Foundation , UK aid through the Transforming Energy Access platform, and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Acumen
Investment Management
New York, New York 104,309 followers
Solving the problems of poverty and building a world based on dignity.
About us
Acumen is solving the problems of poverty and building a world based on dignity.
- Website
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https://go.acumen.org/linkedin
External link for Acumen
- Industry
- Investment Management
- Company size
- 51-200 employees
- Headquarters
- New York, New York
- Type
- Nonprofit
- Founded
- 2001
- Specialties
- non-profit, poverty, social enterprise, impact investing, development, leadership, venture capital, private equity, base of the pyramid, bottom of the pyramid, social entrepreneurship, international development, climate change, Climate Adaptation, clean energy, agriculture, and education
Locations
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Primary
40 Worth Street
Suite 303
New York, New York 10013, US
Employees at Acumen
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Jacqueline Novogratz
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Yasmina Zaidman
Chief Development and Partnerships Officer at Acumen
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Naeem Zamindar
Sufi-Yogi, Entrepreneur, Investor & Technological Humanitarian
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Lauri Robbins Ericson
Speaker, Advisor & Founder, CEO @ Lauri.co | Social Innovations & Impact | Gender Equality | Leadership
Updates
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Rural artisans in India have long crafted vibrant handmade fabrics, but fast fashion threatens their livelihoods. Enter Anuprerna , an Acumen accelerator investee, that is transforming the textile industry by creating a sustainable business model that empowers artisans. Rather than relying on exploitative middlemen, Anuprerna purchases raw materials and connects artisans directly with fashion brands through an innovative e-commerce platform. Since 2019, they've partnered with around 300 artisans in West Bengal, increasing their income by approximately 30%. Amit Singha, the founder, emphasizes, “It’s about ensuring artisans are paid fairly and work in safe conditions while contributing to a sustainable future for fashion.” With Acumen’s support, Anuprerna aims to scale its impact, reaching 1,000 artisans in the next three years.
Anuprerna creates equitable green jobs for underserved artisans in India
https://acumen.org
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The participants of Acumen Academy's Energy for Livelihoods Accelerator in East Africa had a productive time learning from leading business minds in the region. Thank you KPMG East Africa for leading this discussion and accompanying these incredible founders in their entrepreneurial journey.
KPMG East Africa Deal Advisory Experts Julius Ngonga, and Stephen Ombasa conducted a high-level training on valuations for Acumen’s 2024 Energy for Livelihoods Accelerator East Africa cohort. The training covered key aspects of valuation methodologies as a strategy for fundraising for early-stage scaling businesses. The founders also had an opportunity to understand the investor dynamics during negotiation and in-house capacity to assess an appropriate valuation for their companies. This is part of KPMG's Private Enterprise capacity building programme led by Sandeep Main which is committed to growing startups and supporting investors as they accelerate innovative solutions while equally building investor-ready businesses. #capacitybuilding #impactinvesting #businessvaluations CC: Sandeep Main | Solomon Kîhang'a | Zipporah M.
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ICYMI: Acumen has joined the Women in the Sustainable Economy #WISE initiative! Our aligned commitment of $290M (2023-2031) to climate-focused, blended finance initiatives expects to impact 43 million women affected by climate change or driving solutions as entrepreneurs, farmers, and members of the green workforce. Our initiatives include: · Clean energy training · Support for women smallholder farmers · Enhanced products & services for low-income women in Africa and South Asia With support from partners like the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the Green Climate Fund , IKEA Foundation , Norad - Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation , and USAID through Power Africa , we aim to scale this commitment to $600M by 2031 by advancing innovations in clean energy, resilient agriculture, and adaptation finance. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/d8meJiJJ #GenderEquality #GreenEconomy #WomensEconomicEmpowerment #GenderLensInvesting
U.S., Partners Reach $2 Billion for Women in the Sustainable Economy. USAID, PepsiCo, Unilever, Danone, McCormick & Company, and Nespresso Aid Women Farmers | Press Release | U.S. Agency for International Development
usaid.gov
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We believe in the power of decent jobs to break the cycle of poverty. That’s why we’ve invested in ReCircle —a company transforming India’s plastic waste supply chain while empowering workers with safer, fairer working conditions. As part of our Green Jobs Initiative, we're proud to support ReCircle's efforts to build a more inclusive and sustainable economy, where environmental progress goes hand in hand with social impact. Through its innovative ClimaOne platform, ReCircle is creating decent, green jobs while diverting 169,000 metric tons of waste from landfills and oceans. Learn more:
ReCircle taps the hidden potential of waste — and waste workers — in India
https://acumen.org
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Equity in action! Two weeks ago Acumen attended the 2X Global Summit in Nairobi and hosted a side event on gender-smart TA with Value For Women Ltd. Later in the week, we hosted a Gender Inclusion Learning Day for 17 portfolio companies that are building inclusive businesses in East Africa. Both events were incredible opportunities to convene key stakeholders and examine and celebrate what’s working in gender lens investing. Our top takeaways from the week: 🔸 Gender-lens investors are innovating at the edge! We heard about new impact-linked finance for gender outcomes instruments, experimentation with monetizing gender impact on financial accounts, and pricing GBV risks into investment analysis. 🔸 At the business level, you don’t have to start big. Start with little things that can make a difference. Similarly, upfront investment is not always needed. Commitment and intentionality are more important. 🔸 Inclusion work is a marathon. There are quick wins, but other actions require a continuous process of improvement. Time, patience, and flexibility are needed from values-aligned investors and donors. 🔸 Meet women where they are, both in the physical (and digital) spaces, and focus on their strengths. Design solutions with women around these strengths. 🔸 Investors and donors can support SMEs through creative financing (ILF, TA facilities), by supporting internal capacity building at the company level (training, measurement, storytelling), and by convening companies to share learning. Huge thanks to our incredible thought partners at Value for Women and our donor Global Affairs Canada | Affaires mondiales Canada for supporting this work. Watch this space! Our forthcoming report with Value for Women highlights the gender-smart strategies that can gain traction and factors for success that funders, investors, and enterprises can consider when designing for gender equity outcomes.
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Last week at Acumen Up Close 2024, our community came together to spark change and share innovative ideas. From groundbreaking climate solutions to transforming industries like cocoa farming, the discussions were inspiring and impactful. Thank you to everyone who joined us and made the day so meaningful. Celebrating 23 years of impact, there’s a renewed sense of what can be achieved together. #NYClimateWeek
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As part of #NYClimateWeek, Acumen's Mercedes de la Vega spoke at Beyond Capital Ventures x AfricaTech Panel. She was joined by Jemimah Orevaoghene Director, Morgan Stanley , Patricia Chin-Sweeney Venture Partner, Beyond Capital Ventures, and Josh Whale, CEO, Ampersand Energy. Mercedes highlighted Acumen's approach to venture investing in Africa’s e-mobility & agriculture sectors, including how we seek to optimize financial, social, and environmental impact.
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Acumen’s Sarah Bieber shares her most important takeaways from The New York Times Climate Forward summit.
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ImpactAlpha's front page features insights from a breakfast conversation hosted by Acumen in New York as part of #NYClimateWeek. Check out the full story and find out what leading voices in energy had to say about the role of carbon financing. https://lnkd.in/d_7xHvzu Amrita Bhandari, Nicholas Jones, Daniel Sadik, Jonathan Cedar, James C. Amy Cortese