Model and Strategy
This project will scale companies that innovatively address poverty. This will help eliminate extreme poverty by 2030 in 3 ways: i) provide access to high quality agricultural, education, energy, healthcare, housing, and water resources to people living in poverty; ii) allow companies addressing poverty to access the talent and technical expertise required to scale and iii) share industry best practices globally.
Over the past 14 years, Acumen has considered over 5,000 companies and only invested in 82. Twenty of Acumen's portfolio companies each serve a 100,000 people, 9 companies engage 1 million people and 7 companies support over 1,000 jobs. Achieving scale is possible and Acumen has only just begun. This project will define the interventions required to scale; and directly impact Acumen's investees like Miliki Afya, a primary healthcare provider delivering high quality low cost medical access to the poorest people in Kenya.
Over the past 14 years, Acumen has considered over 5,000 companies and only invested in 82. Twenty of Acumen's portfolio companies each serve a 100,000 people, 9 companies engage 1 million people and 7 companies support over 1,000 jobs. Achieving scale is possible and Acumen has only just begun. This project will define the interventions required to scale; and directly impact Acumen's investees like Miliki Afya, a primary healthcare provider delivering high quality low cost medical access to the poorest people in Kenya.
Impact
First Identifying proven high-growth poverty alleviation companies with validated unit economics including Labournet that improves livelihoods through job training, Sanergy that addresses sanitation in slums and Miliki Afya for comprehensive healthcare. Each company has the potential to impact over 1 million people in extreme urban poverty.
Then mobilize resources for sustainable growth and provide technical expertise to address key challenges.
Leadership
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Jacqueline Novogratz
Founder and CEO
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Justus Kilian
Post Investment Manager