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Acumen

Impact investorActively deployingoperating company · company profile

New York · Seed–Growth · 8 people tracked

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Investment thesis

Acumen invests with a long-term 'Patient Capital' approach to tackle poverty, an idea it says has contributed to impacting over 700 million lives. It backs entrepreneurs who combine the practical skills of building companies with moral leadership, believing this combination transforms livelihoods, industries, and markets. Grounding its theory of change in people, Acumen partners with founders to scale impact against the toughest problems of poverty. Its regional teams guide the organization's work, shape strategies, and invest in solutions to poverty-related challenges around the world.

Source: firm website, verified Sep 27, 2026.

Stage
Seed–Growth
HQ
New York, US
Instruments
Equity · Grants
Founded
2001
Last 12 months
1 investment
AUM
$35M
Tracked investments
21
Unicorns
1

Team · 8 people

from the firm's website & curated & public directories
Lynn Roland· General Partnerin
Virgilio Barco· Executive Officer
Brinda Doshi· Associatein

20 people who came through Acumen went on to found or lead other companies.

+ 8 more →

What they invest in

from 17 of 21 portfolio companies

Impact & Social Good ×6Fintech ×5Healthtech ×5AgTech ×4Energy ×4AI & Machine Learning ×3Cleantech ×3EdTech ×3

HQs:United States×10India×4Kenya×2Nigeria×1South Africa×1

Investments · 21 tracked

founders shown can be your intro path

By year:2026 · 12024 · 12023 · 12022 · 32020 · 12019 · 42017 · 112 dated

KawiSafi Ventureskawisafi.com✓ verified

KawiSafi Ventures is an impact investment fund that finances renewable off-grid energy companies in East Africa to provide clean, affordable power to energy-poor communities.

CleantechClimate TechEnergyImpact & Social GoodNew York, US

Patrick Lee Mo Lin(Director)Poonam Gopaul(Alternate Director)Dominique Tang Hon Yue(Alternate Director)Amar Inamdar(Director)Pinpin Kweton(Director)

BoardJacqueline Novogratz(Director)in

Akili Networkakilinetwork.comin𝕏

Akili Network develops educational content and programming for children, with a focus on early childhood learning in East Africa.

ConsumerEdTechMedia & EntertainmentNairobi, KE

Jeff Schon(CEO and Co-Founder)inJesse Soleil(President and Co-Founder)in

Co-investorsAngaza CapitalFuture AfricaFuture of Learning Fund

Climb Creditclimbcredit.comin𝕏Jun 2019

Climb Credit provides financing and loans for students enrolling in skills-based training programs such as tech bootcamps, healthcare, education, and truck driving.

EdTechFintechImpact & Social GoodNew York, US

Vishal Garg(Director)Alexander Rafael(Executive Officer, Director)Raza Munir(Cofounder)inCasey Powers(CEO)inAmit Sinha(Executive Officer, Director)Nicholas Calamari(Executive Officer, Director)

Co-investorsChaos VenturesCorazon CapitalNewfund CapitalSprint VcThird PrimeTwo Culture Capital+6 more

Clinifymyclinify.comin𝕏Jun 2022

Clinify is an AI-powered claims processing platform for health insurance in Africa that automates end-to-end claims handling, fraud detection, and payouts using agentic AI agents.

AI & Machine LearningHealthtechInsurTech

Co-investorsHaloHealthScaleGood Fund LP (powered by TELUS)Thin Air LabsAcumen AmericaBetter Ventures Central LlcImpact Engine+1 more

Clinify Healthclinifyhealth.comin𝕏Jun 2022

The page presents Mostbet, an online platform offering sports betting alongside casino entertainment such as slots and live dealer games, aimed at users in Poland.

ConsumerGamingHealthtechChicago, US

Nate Pelzer(Founder)in

Co-investorsBetter Ventures Central LlcSeae VenturesTechstarsAcumen AmericaAvesta FundImpact Engine

Crehanacrehana.comin𝕏

Crehana offers an HR platform for companies in Latin America that connects recruitment, people management, training, performance, and workplace climate management in a single tool, with real-time analytics and AI-generated insights.

EdTechHR TechSaaS

Diego Olcese(Founder)inRodolfo Dañino(Founder)in

Co-investorsBridge LatamDila CapitalHOWZAT PartnersNazcaEmerge EducationEndeavor Catalyst+4 more

Dlightdlight.comin

Sam Goldman(Founder)

Co-investorsE3 CapitalEndeavor Catalyst

Earn Upearnup.comin

EarnUp is a financial technology platform that automates loan debt repayment management for consumers managing mortgages, auto loans, student loans, and personal loans.

AI & Machine LearningFintechSaaSSan Francisco, US

Matthew Cooper(Founder)inNadim Homsany(Founder)

Co-investorsBain Capital VenturesBase Venture Management, Inc.Blumberg CapitalKapor CapitalFenway Summer VenturesFlourish Ventures

Esusuesusurent.comin

Esusu is an economic mobility platform that helps working families build credit and strengthen financial stability through rent payment reporting.

EnergyFintechImpact & Social GoodPropTechNew York, US

Robert C. Henning(Executive Officer)in

BoardSamir Goel(Founder)inWemimo Abbey(Founder)in

Co-investorsAcumen AmericaImpact America FundMotley Fool VenturesNext Play VenturesOpen Opportunity FundPredictive VC+12 more

Haqdarshakhaqdarshak.comin𝕏Jul 2020

Haqdarshak operates an AI-driven social benefits platform that helps low-income individuals and micro-businesses in India and the Global South discover and access government welfare programs, insurance, credit, and financial services.

AI & Machine LearningFintechImpact & Social Good

Co-investorsBeyond CapitalImpact India Investment PartnersSupermorpheus

Healthcubedhealthcubed.comin𝕏Apr 2019

HealthCube manufactures portable point-of-care diagnostic devices that can screen for 55+ health parameters including vitals, biochemical, cardiac, and infectious disease markers.

Digital HealthHealthtechMedical DevicesDelhi, IN

BoardDr. Ramanan Laxminarayan(Executive Officer, Director)inVivek Wadhwa(Director)James Doty(Director)

Co-investorsInventus Capital PartnersPerot Jain

Koolbokskoolboks.comin𝕏Aug 2022 · $2.5M

Koolboks manufactures solar-powered ice makers and freezers designed for businesses in Africa, offering financing options and integrated battery storage technology to reduce electricity costs.

CleantechEnergyHardwareIoTLagos, NG

Co-investorsAruwa CapitalCascadorThird DerivativeAll OnBlue Earth Capital AGBpifrance+2 more

Malama Healthheymalama.coin𝕏Seed · Feb 2026

Malama develops a digital health platform for managing gestational diabetes in pregnancy, providing data tracking, pattern analysis, and clinical support to reduce adverse maternal outcomes and progression to Type 2 diabetes.

Digital HealthFemTechHealthtechSan Francisco, US

Mika Eddy(Founder)inOrlando Li(Founder)inDaniela Bahamon ArangoinShalmali Banein

BoardVeenu Aulakh(Director)in

Co-investorsCoyote VenturesSamsung NextThe 23 FundY CombinatorAcumen AmericaAgrolimen Ventures+4 more

Promethean Power Systemspromethean-power.comin𝕏Oct 2019

Promethean Power develops patented energy storage technology for agricultural and off-grid applications in emerging markets.

AgTechCleantechEnergyFoodTechHardwareOsmanabad, IN

Sorin Grama(Co-founder & Director)inSam White(Co-founder & Director)in

Co-investorsAster Capital

S4S Technologiess4stechnologies.comin

S4S Technologies produces dehydrated food ingredients such as onion powder, tomato bits, potato flakes, and plant proteins for use in seasonings, soups, ready-to-cook/ready-to-eat foods, snacking, and other food processing applications.

AgTechFoodTechImpact & Social GoodAurangabad, IN

Ashwin Pawade(Founder)inDr. Vaibhav Tidke(Founder)in

Co-investorsAccelAutodesk FoundationChiratae VenturesAgFunderFactor[e] Ventures

Uncommon Cacaoin

Berkeley, US

EMILY STONE(President and Director)inWILLET ALEX WHITMORE(Secretary and Director)

BoardSANTIAGO ALVAREZ(Director)JEFFREY PZENA(Director)MORGAN SIMON(Director)

Co-investorsCeniarth

Victory Farmsvictoryfarmskenya.cominApr 2023 · $35M

Victory Farms Kenya sells tilapia fillets sourced from Lake Victoria through partnerships with local fishermen, with zero-plastic packaging and online ordering via M-Pesa payment.

AgTechE-commerceFoodTechImpact & Social GoodKaksingri, KE

Co-investorsAgDevCoCeniarthTimon CapitalVestedWorldCreadevDOB Equity+2 more

Winich Farmswinichfarms.cominOct 2024 · $3M

Winichfarms operates a digital platform that provides storage facilities, fair-price marketplace access, and low-interest credit services for farmers.

AgTechB2B MarketplacesFintech

Riches Attai(Founder)in

Co-investorsAcasia VenturesCairo Angels Syndicate FundExpert DOJOFounders Factory AfricaSahel CapitalDisrupTech Ventures+1 more

Other

Tracked investments with no reachable website or further public details — typically companies that wound down, renamed, or were absorbed.

ConsejoSanoMyVillageTugboat Solutions

Portfolio news

latest coverage across their companies

Frequently asked questions

How many investments has Acumen made?
Acumen has 21 tracked investments, including 1 dated in the last 24 months.
What stage does Acumen invest at?
Acumen invests at the Seed, Series A, Series B, Series C, Growth stages.
What sectors does Acumen focus on?
Acumen focuses on AgTech, Cleantech, Climate Tech, EdTech, Energy, Healthtech, Impact & Social Good.
Where is Acumen located?
Acumen is headquartered in New York, US.

Media · Podcasts & interviews

featuring the team

Jacqueline Novogratz - Building Acumen & How to (Actually) Change the World | The Tim Ferriss Show

Tim Ferriss · Jacqueline Novogratz

Investing in Climate Resilience and Poverty Alleviation: Acumen Founder & CEO Jacqueline Novogratz

Harvard Business School · Jacqueline Novogratz

Jacqueline Novogratz, Acumen CEO: Building a better world together | The Positive Leadership Podcast

Microsoft · Jacqueline Novogratz

Jacqueline Novogratz, Founder & CEO of Acumen on Moral Imagination in the face of the climate crisis

Acumen Academy · Jacqueline Novogratz

Jacqueline Novogratz, Founder and CEO of Acumen: Balancing Humility with Audacity

Stanford Graduate School of Business · Jacqueline Novogratz

Introduction from Acumen's Founder \\ Jacqueline Novogratz \\ Acumen European Partner Gathering

Acumen · Jacqueline Novogratz

Images

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