NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Position: Senior Portfolio Fellow

Location: New York

Organization: Acumen Fund is a global non-profit venture capital fund, focused on supporting the delivery of critical services – water, health, housing, energy – at affordable prices to the four billion people earning less than four dollars a day in India, Pakistan, and East Africa. Acumen Fund seeks to prove that small amounts of philanthropic capital, combined with large doses of business acumen, can build thriving enterprises that serve vast numbers of the poor. Acumen Fund has successfully impacted over 10 million lives so far, through over $30 million invested in South Asia and Africa. Its country offices in India, Pakistan and Kenya work closely with the New York team to identify and support local social enterprises. Through our investments we address problems of poverty using market based approaches, demonstrating that there is a role for patient capital, intensive management assistance, and knowledge sharing at the base of the pyramid. Since 2001, Acumen Fund has functioned under a philanthropic capital model, raising donations to fund investments in enterprises that deliver health, water, housing or energy to the poor. In 2008, we launched an invested capital fund that will operate side by side with our philanthropic fund, making investments in enterprises that support the poor.

Description: The Senior Portfolio Fellow will report to the Chief Investment Officer and will focus his or her attention assessing investment opportunities, transaction execution, management assistance/investment management and coaching/mentoring. Strong candidates will have a distinguished career in private equity investing, with at least 20+ years of private equity, venture capital or investment banking experience. Candidates will be individuals who bring passion for international development, either through academic study or personal field experience. Emerging market investment experience is a strong plus, but not a requirement.

For more information on this position, including how to apply, see the job description.