Acumen Fund - Investments

Investments

Acumen Fund uses patient capital to build businesses. The fund makes disciplined investments – loans or equity, not grants – that yield both financial and social returns. As of December 12th, 2012, Acumen Fund had approved $83 million in investments in the following countries: Ghana, India, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, the United States and the United Kingdom. It has invested in 46 enterprises since inception, helping over 100 million people and created 58,000 jobs. Investments are separated into five portfolios: Water, Health, Housing, Energy and Agriculture. Acumen Fund commitments range from $300,000 to $2,000,000 in equity or debt with a payback or exit in roughly five to seven years.

In Pakistan, Acumen Fund started its work in 2006 with a $1 million initial investment. They used the fund to provide capital to enterprises providing critical goods and services to the poor, with a focus on high-risk social enterprises. In the aftermath of the 2010 flooding, the Pakistan chapter increased its capacity to $11 million.