Fellow:Acumen Fund

Overview

Acumen is a non-profit venture capital organization that raises funds from charitable organizations and invests in poverty-eradication entrepreneurial ventures across the globe.  Unlike any venture capital, Acumen capital invests in long-term debt and equity investments in early-stage companies providing reliable and affordable access to agricultural inputs, quality education, clean energy, healthcare services, formal housing, and safe drinking water to low-income customers.

https://acumen.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Acumen-Logo.png

History

Acumen was found at April 1, 2001, with capital from the Rockefeller Foundation, Cisco Systems Foundation and three other individual philanthropists. The foundation envisions an organization that seeks to promote and venture entrepreneial ideas with substantial social impact on poverty reduction.  Acumen currently operates in five regions around the world namely USA, India, Pakistan, East Africa and West Africa.

Distinct Differences From Other Offerings

By sourcing donations from charitable organizations, Acumen invests the donations in ideas that would not only provide a return, but also a tactical way to tackle poverty.

Unlike other venture capital firms, Accumen only invests in ideas that have a social impact especially in the areas of agriculture, health, water, housing and energy.

Supported by organizations such as Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Google, and the Skoll Foundation, Acumen’s investments create long lasting social impacts and help to eradicate poverty. 

Fellowship Program

LEADERSHIP PROGAMS:

Acumen currently has three leadership programs: Global Fellows, Regional Fellows and +acumen. Participants in all three programs demonstrate a combination of financial expertise, operational expertise and moral imagination for succeed.

GLOBAL PROGRAMS:

Accumen Global Fellow program is a full-time one-year fellowship for 10-12 individuals from all over the world who spend two months in New York and undergoes intensive leadership training, followed by nine months working with one of Acumen’s portfolio companies (site http://acumen.org/leaders/global-fellows/). Since its foundation, the global fellowship program have trained 63 fellows from 21 countries and placed them in numerous social impact ventures.  Fellows take up leadership positions in these ventures such as CEO, Marketing, and operations.

The training portion of the fellow starts from September to Mid-November.  Field placement starts from  November to August.

To be qualify for Accumen fellowship, a candidate must demonstrate:

1.       Strong business experience: finance, operations, sales, marketing, and/or consulting

2.       Demonstrated passion and commitment to creating positive social change

3.       Proven track record of leadership and management responsibilities

4.       Experience living and working in emerging markets

5.       Grit, courage, and perseverance

6.       A minimum of 3 years work experience

Regional Fellowship:

The regional fellowship is a year- round program that brings entrepreneurs and leaders within organizations to work on social change project that has been operating for the last 2-3 years. Fellows learn about Accumen business model,  meet every 6-8 weeks throughout the year for 4 seminars and 2 collaborative projects.  http://acumen.org/leaders/regional-fellows/

Fellows have  the opportunity to learn about financial tools for social impact projects, leadership, networking and emerging markets.

The application process  timeline for the regional fellowship this year are:

The applications for the Regional Fellows Program go online in July/August 2014.

Telephone Interviews: October 2014

In-Person Interviews: November 2014

Final Selection: December 2014

+Acumen

+Acumen  is the online leadership course created by Accumen that are organised  into chapters, and volunteer-run groups that actively support Acumen’s mission to change the way the world tackles poverty.   +Accumen chapters and volunteer groups work together to raise money to engage in meaningful projects within their communities. Currently,  20 chapters worldwide, 90+ events organised and $360000+ funds raised in support of social impact projects created +Accumen chapters.

Steps Required To Bring Resource to Campus

Universities and Colleges can take the opportunity provided by Accumen and apply directly to investments funding. Projects that are eligible for investments have to be in mid-startup stage with a focus on poverty eradication.  Acumen provides brochures, online courses and materials that teach individuals how to use financial tools to create social impact projects.

Contact Information

HEAD OFFICE

NEW YORK

76 Ninth Avenue, Suite 315
New York, NY 10011, USA

T: +1 (212) 566-8821
F: +1 (212) 566-8817

NDIA

MUMBAI

203 Dheeraj Plaza 
Hill Road, Bandra West 
Mumbai, 400050
INDIA

T: +91 (22) 6740-1500
F: +91 (22) 6740-1550

EAST AFRICA

NAIROBI, KENYA

1st Floor, Cape Office Park
Opposite Yaya Centre
Ring Road, Kilimani
P.O. Box 101883-00101 Jamia
Nairobi, KENYA

T: + 254-20-386-1559/60/61
Airtel: +254 736 073036
Safaricom: +254 716 252802

PAKISTAN

KARACHI

11-C, 4th Floor
1st Commercial Lane 
Shahbaz Commercial Area 
Phase VI, DHA Karachi 
PAKISTAN

T: +92 (21) 3584 6430-2
F: +92 (21) 3584 6490