A Wealth of Knowledge
Acumen Fund’s investments support some of the world’s most innovative businesses. Yet, even if we reach our goal—$100 million in investments, touching 50 million lives—98% of the world’s poor will be unaffected by our work. We believe sharing what we learn with others will extend our impact beyond our portfolio. The Knowledge Center, an ever-growing library of stories, tools and lessons, allows others to leverage insights from our work to change how people and institutions fight poverty.
Acumen Spotlight
- Video
- Dorah: Quality Healthcare and Loyal Customers
- Photo Essay
- Affordable Irrigation for Subsistence Farmers
- Story
- When to Put Your Camera Away
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- Jacqueline's Letter - Fall 2011
- Author: Jacqueline Novogratz | November 2011
- Overview: A quarterly update letter from Jacqueline recaps Acumen Fund's annual Investor Gathering and 10-Year Celebration, and offers a glimpse of what lies ahead in the next 10 years. Publication Preview: ...
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- 10 Things We've Learned About Fighting Global Poverty
- Author: Acumen Fund | September 2011
- Acumen Fund is working to create a world beyond poverty by investing in companies, leaders, and the spread of ideas. We invest patient capital in business models that deliver critical, affordable goods ...
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- Mission, Margin, Mandate
- Author: Brian Trelstad and Robert Katz | September 2011
- This paper argues that there are three paths to scale for a social enterprise - mission, margin, and mandate. The strategies needed, the time frames required, the management skills, and ...
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- Jacqueline's Letter - Summer 2011
- Author: Jacqueline Novogratz | August 2011
- Overview: A quarterly update letter from Jacqueline recaps recent news, including her recent visits to the regions where Acumen Fund operates. Publication Preview: "Summertime greetings. I’ve been reflecting on how to ...
- Fighting Blindness in Andra Pradesh
In India, there are 15 million blind people and another 52 million who are visually impaired. The majority of these cases are either preventable or treatable.
- Cotton Ginning at the BoP
Gulu Agricultural Development Company is providing market access to thousands of smallholder cotton farmers in a war-torn region of Northern Uganda.
- What Happens Next: Story of an Acumen Fund Investment
In 2007, Acumen Fund invested in Jamii Bora to create a housing development that will enable slum dwellers to own homes for the first time. Trace the path of this ...
- Jacqueline's Journal - Pakistan
Jacqueline Novogratz, CEO of Acumen Fund, documents her June 2011 trip to Pakistan, visiting Acumen Fund's investees, and the customers whose lives have been touched by the critical goods and ...
- Jacqueline's Journal - Kenya and Uganda
Jacqueline documents her trip to Uganda and Kenya, visiting several of Acumen Fund's investees, and the customers whose lives have been changed by access to critical agricultural inputs and services.
- On the Ground: Annual Report 2009/2010
Learn about our investments – in businesses that change lives, in ideas that change the world, and in leaders that show the way – in Acumen Fund's first-ever Annual Report.