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Jacqueline Novogratz Biography

Jacqueline Novogratz is the founder and CEO of Acumen, a nonprofit global venture capital fund turned global organization dedicated to fighting poverty and building dignity through patient investment in companies and leaders. Under her leadership, Acumen has impacted over 650 million individuals worldwide and trained over 1,800 social enterprise builders through Acumen Academy. This initiative has given her a deep understanding of the power of social entrepreneurship, which is highlighted in her books, "The Blue Sweater: Bridging the Gap Between Rich and Poor in an Interconnected World" and "Manifesto for a Moral Revolution: Practices to Build a Better World".

Novogratz has been involved in significant initiatives like a $250 million solar plan for Africa’s poorest nations in partnership with the world’s biggest climate fund. Acumen has committed $300 million to climate adaptation for smallholder farmers in developing countries. Her insight has been shared through various memberships in prestigious councils and boards, including the Harvard Business School Social Enterprise Initiative, UNICEF, the Aspen Institute, and the Council on Foreign Relations. Additionally, she has also appeared in interviews and articles in prominent publications such as Fortune Magazine, The New York Times, and Financial Times. She discusses topics like moral imagination in entrepreneurship, the role of impact investors and moral leadership, emphasizing the importance of storytelling in investing to achieve better business outcomes.

Novogratz's work has not gone unnoticed. She was recognized by Foreign Policy as one of the Top 100 Global Thinkers and by Forbes as one of the world’s 100 Greatest Living Business Minds. Forbes also honored her with the Forbes 400 Lifetime Achievement Award for Social Entrepreneurship. In 2023, she delivered the valedictory address at the University of Virginia, adding to her list of academic accomplishments which include honorary degrees from several institutions such as the University of Toronto, Bard College, Fordham University, the University of Notre Dame. She advocates for integrating social responsibility into business school curricula, as highlighted in her op-ed in the Financial Times. Her insights and activities are frequently featured in major media outlets like Bloomberg and Stanford Business.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 11/10/2025.

Jacqueline Novogratz Speaking Topics

  • Entrepreneurial Approaches to the Challenges of Poverty

    What does it mean to be a "patient capitalist"? For Jacqueline Novogratz, it means using an entrepreneurial approach in the fight against global poverty. While traditional development aid can meet immediate needs, Novogratz believes that long-term change requires empowering local communities to solve their own problems. Charitable dollars eventually run out, but market-based approaches can continue to create jobs and economic growth over the long term. As founder and CEO of the Acumen Fund, Novogratz has invested over $62 million in 60 companies that have provided 45 million low-income individuals with critical goods and services in the developing world. Acumen Fund's portfolio companies include everything from an operator of low-cost maternity hospitals to a manufacturer of anti-malarial bed nets.

    Acumen bills itself as a nonprofit global venture fund—but one that seeks to provide the poor with access to the critical goods and services they need so that they can make decisions and choices for themselves and unleash their full human potential. The fund starts with donations from philanthropists. But instead of making charitable grants, it uses that capital to make disciplined, patient investments in companies that offer vital services at affordable prices to low-income customers. It also applies rigorous benchmarks to evaluate the effectiveness of its investments. It's an idea that has turned heads and sparked new debate in traditional development agencies. Acumen's success lies not only in funding life-changing services (such as clean drinking water systems in rural India) but in changing how the world addresses poverty. Jacqueline Novogratz shares with audiences how her own personal experiences inspired her to develop Acumen's innovative business model. She also shares several examples from Acumen Fund's portfolio of investments and the lessons they have learned about how markets can act as a listening device for the needs of the poor.

  • Patient Capital for an Impatient World

    Jacqueline Novogratz started her career in international banking and has since worked across Asia and Africa finding new ways to use business as a tool to create a world beyond poverty. In 2001 she founded the Acumen Fund, a nonprofit global venture capital fund that invests patient capital—loans or equity instead of grants—in social enterprises that provide critical goods and services to low-income people. Rather than treat the poor as passive recipients of charity, Novogratz sees them as active participants with the dignity to make choices for themselves. Acumen has since grown to invest $73 million in 65 enterprises that have delivered affordable healthcare, safe housing, clean water, sustainable energy, and agricultural inputs to more than 86 million low-income individuals. Novogratz shares with audiences several examples from Acumen Fund's portfolio of investments and the lessons they have learned about how markets can act as a listening device for the needs of the poor.

Read More +

Jacqueline Novogratz Videos

How should we reimagine society post-COVID-19? | Jacqueline Novogratz

How should we reimagine society post-COVID-19? | Jacqueline Novogratz

There have been many lessons learned from the coronavirus crisis. According to Acumen founder and CEO, Jacqueline Novogratz, one of the primary...

Moral Leadership In A Time Of Crisis: Jacqueline Novogratz

Moral Leadership In A Time Of Crisis: Jacqueline Novogratz

Just as Jacqueline Novogratz’s groundbreaking new book Manifesto for a Moral Revolution: Practices to Build a Better World makes its way to...

Power Talks - Jacqueline Novogratz

Power Talks - Jacqueline Novogratz

Under Jacqueline Novogratz’s leadership, Acumen invests in companies and leaders creating new solutions to the problems of poverty, bringing...

See All Videos »

Manifesto For A Moral Revolution: Practices To Build A Better World
Manifesto For A Moral Revolution: Practices To Build A Better World
The Blue Sweater: Bridging the Gap between Rich and Poor in an Interconnected World
The Blue Sweater: Bridging the Gap between Rich and Poor in an Interconnected World

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  • What topics does Jacqueline Novogratz speak about?

    Jacqueline Novogratz is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Author, Business, Business Leadership, College, Corporate Strategy, Culture, Disruptive Thinking, Economy, Education, Entrepreneurship, Environment, ESG, Ethics & Integrity, Executive Leadership, Female Leadership, Finance, Futurism, Influential Women, Innovation, Inspirational, Leadership, Motivational, Non-Profit, Poetry, Storytelling, Strategic Leadership, Sustainability, Technology, Women, Women in Business, Women in Tech, Women's History Month, World Affairs

  • Where does Jacqueline Novogratz travel from?

    Jacqueline Novogratz generally travels from New York, NY, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.

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Jacqueline Novogratz is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Entrepreneurial Approaches to the Challenges of Poverty, Patient Capital for an Impatient World, The Blue Sweater: Bridging the Gap Between Rich & Poor in an Interconnected World and Remarks by Jacqueline Novogratz. The estimated speaking fee range to book Jacqueline Novogratz for your event is $50,000 - $100,000. Jacqueline Novogratz generally travels from New York, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Sallie Krawcheck, Peter Diamandis, Randi Zuckerberg, Carla Harris and Jennifer Hyman. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Jacqueline Novogratz for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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