2024 Annual Report
Acumen in Action
01
Impact
* Cumulatively as of 31st December 2024, from both Acumen patient capital companies and funds.
Acumen believes that solving the toughest problems of poverty demands more from all of us — more creativity, more courage, and more resolve. Here’s how we rose to meet the challenges of 2024.
We invest in ideas, entrepreneurs, and models that prioritize impact over short-term gain. Last year we deepened our focus on two urgent and interconnected issues: Climate Resilience & Energy Access.
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Climate
Resilience
Reimagining agriculture for a more resilient, sustainable future
When climate disasters strike, people in poverty are hit hardest and recover slowest. Farmers are particularly vulnerable. That’s why we invest in companies that make farmers more economically resilient and help them access climate-smart agricultural products and services. In 2024, our support increased farmers’ incomes and productivity and strengthened their ability to withstand future climate shocks.
Meet Two of our Climate Investees and Innovators
Cacao Hunters
Cacao Hunters is the first Colombian company to locally source and produce premium chocolate. By working closely with local growers and cooperatives, it helps preserve native cacao and boost farmer income through training, innovation, and a more reliable supply chain.
- Supported 763 cocoa farmers in 2024
- Farmers saw income surge over time
“The prices have helped me pay for my son’s university and make improvements to the farm. Previously, we planted as our ancestors did. Now we do it more technically.”
Cacao Hunters farmer
Accelerator Participant Amandeep Panwar
His company BharatRohan employs drone-based imaging to help farmers in India use less pesticides, fertilizer, and water. It buys the crops from the farmers, providing stability and good prices, and sells them to bigger buyers looking for pesticide-free products.
- 50,000+ farmers reached across 7 states
- Reduces input costs by 15-20% through targeted interventions
03
Energy
Access
Scaling a clean energy transition for everyone
When people live without power, it limits their health, safety, education, and job prospects. That’s the reality for 750 million people today; 85% live in sub-Saharan Africa. That’s why in 2024 we rapidly scaled our new Hardest-to-Reach initiative, investing catalytic capital in off-grid solar for underserved markets. By year’s end, these companies had already reached 165,472 people, 83% of whom accessed electricity for the first time.
Meet Two of our Energy Investees and Fellows
Yellow
Yellow distributes solar home systems and smartphones to rural Malawians. With a pay-as-you-go model that’s as affordable as candles or kerosene, it has delivered clean energy and opportunity to more than 500,000 people, 80% of whom are accessing electricity for the first time.
- In 2024, we invested $2 million in Yellow through Hardest-to-Reach
- Our blended loan structure is helping Yellow scale to 180,000 new customers while minimizing currency risk
“When you give people access to lighting, it leads to more opportunity, especially for women and girls.”
Maya Stewart
Co-founder of Yellow
Acumen Fellow Olasimbo Sojinrin
She works at Solar Sister, where she helps women kickstart and grow clean energy businesses in Nigeria and Tanzania. Solar Sister supplies the affordable solar-powered products and clean stoves, which Solar Sister entrepreneurs sell directly to people without power.
- Has empowered 12,000+ Solar Sister entrepreneurs
"Acumen is more than one Fellow’s journey, one leader’s innovation, one community’s resilience, or one investment’s return. It’s an ecosystem of impact that spreads opportunity, equity, and dignity in unstoppable ways.”
Jaqueline Novogratz
Founder and CEO of Acumen
