Acumen Angels backs entrepreneurs who dare to tackle pressing problems of poverty. Since launching the program in 2018, we've awarded $4.6 million to 99 early-stage entrepreneurs globally. These awardees have gone on to impact more than 23 million lives, create over 87,000 jobs, serve over 780,000 paying customers, and raise over $42 million in follow-on capital.

For more on the strategy behind Acumen Angels and the impact of the program, read here.

From climate-smart agriculture in Ethiopia to maternal health access in Nigeria and renewable energy for refugee communities in Kenya, our 2024 awardees are building scalable, sustainable solutions that put people and communities first.

Agrosolidaria promotes sustainable agroforestry and biodiversity conservation while supporting smallholder farmers in the Amazon. They work with 350 rural families and victims of armed conflict, helping them cultivate native species and transform raw materials into value-added products marketed under the Ütaí brand. Their impact extends across 3,600 hectares of protected land.

Use of funds: To invest in marketing, sales, and branding efforts​ leading to an annual projected growth of 30%.

Adugna Haile Farm produces and distributes high-yield, climate-smart seeds to smallholder farmers in Ethiopia. With only 3.5% of Ethiopia's farmland covered by improved seeds, millions of farmers struggle with low productivity and food insecurity. The company provides certified seeds that ensure better yields and higher incomes while training farmers in sustainable practices. They've impacted over 200,000 farmers, including internally displaced persons.

Use of funds: To purchase a seed-cleaning machine and expand into vegetable seed production, such as sweet potato used by more than 500,000 smallholder farmers.

Organic Route combats food waste by providing solar-powered dryers and dehydration facilities for smallholder farmers. Their model allows farmers to preserve excess produce, reducing post-harvest losses while increasing income by 25%. The organization provides drying infrastructure, packaging, and access to urban markets to a network of over 300 farmers, ensuring more sustainable food systems. 

Use of funds: To upgrade solar dryers into dehydrators, establish a new collection center in Kampala, and expand working capital.

Hachi Vietnam provides low-cost, climate-resilient greenhouses for smallholder farmers, helping them increase yields while reducing environmental impact. Their greenhouses, priced 40% lower than market alternatives, are designed to withstand extreme weather conditions. They also offer high-yield crop varieties, fertilizers, and weather prediction tools. To date, they have installed over 2,000 greenhouses, increasing farmer incomes by up to 300%.

Use of funds: To enhance their smart farming app and expand services to 100,000 more farmers, boosting customer acquisition by 40%.

Sirio Soluciones Digitales digitizes key processes for smallholder farmers through an integrated SaaS platform for certification, payments, and quality control. Many farmers still rely on paper-based systems, leading to inefficiencies and financial losses. Sirio's technology enables farmer organizations to streamline operations and improve transparency, benefiting over 10,000 coffee farmers in Mexico. The company is now expanding into Central America.

Use of funds: To develop a WhatsApp-based feature for smallholder farmers, providing personalized real-time data to improve yields and scale Sirio's subscription service.

Producers Direct is a farmer-led cooperative that improves smallholder farmers' incomes through access to better markets, digital tools, and training. Their digital platform, FarmDirect, helps farmers collectively sell produce and negotiate fairer prices. They've worked with 1,700 smallholder farmers (72% women), increased farmer incomes by 40%, and facilitated $511,000 in produce sales that improves smallholder farmers' incomes in Uganda.

Use of funds: To scale FarmDirect to more than 65,000 Ugandan smallholder farmers and refugees dependent on agriculture for their livelihoods.

Turaco Valley Foods strengthens Uganda's agricultural supply chain by supporting refugee smallholder farmers in harvesting quality crops, then buying those crops and manufacturing them into foods distributed to local markets. Their model prevents food waste while ensuring farmers receive fair prices. The company also provides training on sustainable farming techniques, improving resilience and income for farming families. Their network of 1,500 farmers report 50-95% increases in income per acre and 70-90% increase in yields.

Use of funds: To expand and increase the efficiency of their distribution capacity to satisfy growing demand from retail customers and reach larger buyers.

SmartFarmer is a digital platform connecting smallholder farmers to financing, inputs, and market linkages in Ghana. Traditional agricultural banks often exclude smallholder farmers, limiting their ability to scale. SmartFarmer uses crowdfunding to mobilize Africans with disposable incomes to support small farms, establishing a fund to help farmers access affordable loans, purchase high-quality inputs, and sell produce at fair prices. To date, they have crowdfunded $380,000 and credited over 600 farmers with $355,000 in financing.

Use of funds: To expand outreach and enhance digital infrastructure to reach more farmers and attract more crowdfunders.

Soby Trading designs and provides affordable, high-quality farming machinery tailored for small-scale farmers in Pakistan. Many smallholder farmers struggle with expensive or inaccessible equipment, reducing efficiency and yields. Soby Trading addresses this challenge by providing locally produced, cost-effective alternatives that improve productivity and lower costs. Their work has already created 12,000 jobs and delivered 1,800 training sessions to farmers annually.

Use of funds: To expand product access, conduct field demonstrations, and localize key technologies.

Health 

Girlsaide Initiative is tackling Nigeria's high maternal mortality rates by training Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) in digital health tools and modern antenatal care. They provide medical equipment and access to a mobile health platform that improves safe deliveries for expectant mothers in underserved communities. Their work has already impacted 400 TBAs directly serving over 100,000 women.

Use of funds: To optimize their mobile app and provide medical equipment and training for TBAs.

Safe Girl Initiative Uganda provides affordable, reusable sanitary pads and menstrual health education to women and girls, especially in refugee communities. Millions of adolescent girls in Uganda lack access to menstrual products, impacting their health, education, and dignity. The organization manufactures eco-friendly sanitary kits and runs outreach programs to break taboos around menstruation. Since launching, they have grown from producing 100 kits per month to 50,000 annually.

Use of funds: To establish a new training center in Kyaka II Refugee Settlement and expand outreach efforts.

Taimaka is transforming malnutrition treatment by introducing a cost-effective digital triage tool. Their technology allows non-specialist healthcare workers to diagnose malnourished children, reducing treatment costs by 60% while maintaining a 95% recovery rate. Their solution has already reached thousands of children in northeast Nigeria.

Use of funds: To scale palm-reading technology for improved child identification, ensuring scaled access to therapeutic foods.

Workforce Development

Buzz Women empowers underserved women by bringing financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and leadership training directly to their doorsteps. In many rural areas, women lack access to education and resources for financial independence. Their mobile training hubs provide tools and knowledge to help women manage money, start businesses, and become community leaders. Buzz Women has reached 600,000 women across 18,000 villages and is expanding globally. 

Use of funds: To upgrade technology infrastructure and strengthen their communication strategy.

Instollar is addressing Nigeria's renewable energy skills gap by training a new generation of solar energy technicians. Their platform matches solar companies with trained professionals, increasing workforce efficiency and installation quality. Through their InstallHER initiative, they focus on training women in the renewable energy sector, bridging gender gaps in green jobs. They have successfully completed over 1,800 solar projects and grown their workforce database to over 1,000 professionals.

Use of funds: To expand the InstallHER training program and scale workforce development.

Education

OSCAR Foundation uses sports to encourage children to stay in school and develop life skills. Their football-based education program reaches thousands of youth, promoting discipline, gender equity, and leadership. Their train-the-trainer model has empowered community youth leaders and teachers, and  has helped over 15,000 children access life skills to make them future-ready.

Use of funds: To expand school partnerships and scale programs to six new schools.

Infrastructure

Community Design Agency transforms informal settlements into dignified, climate-resilient neighborhoods by working alongside communities to co-create safe, sustainable housing. The organization integrates participatory planning, ensuring slum communities across India shape the transformation of their own neighborhoods. Their approach has successfully revitalized urban slums into socially and environmentally sustainable spaces.

Use of funds: To develop the Equitable Communities Project Fund and scale slum development and transformation.

Energy

Eki Labs’ agrivoltaic technology enables vertical bifacial solar panels to be integrated into agricultural land enabling clean energy production while maintaining farming activities. Their solution optimizes land use, generates renewable energy, and increases farm revenue. The approach supports farmers by providing a sustainable energy source while ensuring crop cultivation. Their first rural community pilot will demonstrate the viability of agrivoltaic energy at scale.

Use of funds: To build the first rural community powered entirely by agrivoltaic energy.

Kakuma Ventures provides solar energy, digital access, and internet connectivity to refugee communities in Kenya, where reliable access is often scarce. By setting up local networks and offering affordable energy and internet services, the company empowers refugees with education, job opportunities, and entrepreneurial resources. Their model has already linked 2,900 paying customers to digital services, helping them diversify income sources.

Use of funds: To expand digital infrastructure and replicate the model in a refugee settlement in Uganda.