People are searching for better uses of their charity. After nine years, I feel most strongly than ever that patient capital is a powerful way to build sustainable enterprises that can bring critical services like clean water, health care, housing and energy to low-income people in ways that they can afford and value. Better, investing patient capital (high-risk, long-term investments that can take 10-12 years in order to give entrepreneurs time to experiment and build systems for under served markets) enables enterprises to grow (to reach millions) and sustain themselves for years and years to break the trap of always needing more donor money.
In the past nine years, we've invested $50 million in about 50 companies. This year alone, those companies will bring services to more than 40 million people. Now we're talking....
People often ask us how patient capital works. Our newest video explains in just a few minutes. It highlights one of our recent energy investments in India, Husk Power, which uses discarded rice husks to provide electricity to rural villages in the state of Bihar.
I hope you'll take a moment to watch and pass on to friends -- there is much more to do in changing the way the world fights poverty.
http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2010/12/the_300_house_the_marketing_ch.html
Godin discusses the great work being done by Acumen!
I would love to help the world in any way possible.
For me...I guess it has to do with wanting to leave this planet knowing that I chipped in and did my part.
Jacqueline, I'm amazed by your company and the global vision you promote.
You're a great human being.
I just moved to Bay City, Michigan from Los Angeles and I'm doing a lot to help this wonderful city out.
My wife is from here and she's an incredible woman...when we had our daughter, it shifted our paradigm---we desire the small-town, front porch communication lifestyle.
I fell instep with a company that is restoring the Victorian homes, parks, churches, community centers and providing long-term solutions to problems.
We're working on getting funding for hydro electric power technologies which will utilize the strong river current and provide a much needed alternative energy source.
I'm new at all of this.
I'm taking a full-load of classes in college, majoring in Business Management.
On the side I'm getting certified in grant writing and just doing whatever it takes to make myself more valuable.