- Those working towards ensuring sustainable energy solutions for small businesses and farmers in India can apply for the programme that begins in September
- We are excited to partner with Apple to continue building an ecosystem of scalable social businesses in India committed to improving livelihoods using sustainable energy-Acumen’s director of India.
Apple has made efforts to lessen the carbon footprint of its supply chain a top priority. These efforts range from converting to renewable energy sources to recycling materials, metals, and rare earth elements, among other things. In order to help social entrepreneurs in India enhance their livelihoods through renewable energy innovation, Apple has also created community programmes. Apple will collaborate with Acumen for the Energy for Livelihoods Accelerator, a 12-week initiative aimed at assisting social entrepreneurs to scale and improve their businesses to impact people’s lives while safeguarding the environment to achieve this goal.
Sarah Chandler, Apple’s vice president of Environment and Supply Chain Innovation, said, “Apple is committed to helping ensure [that] everyone can share in the benefits of a greener economy. We’re demonstrating the transformative potential of clean energy in everything we do, and excited to support social innovators who share that goal.”
Participants will assist social entrepreneurs in connecting with a network of peers, facilitators, and mentors who will support them. They will then be welcomed into The Foundry, the global community of Acumen Academy, and be qualified to receive technical support and early-stage funding from Acumen’s Pioneer Energy Investment Initiative (PEII+).
Mahesh Yagnaraman, director of Acumen India, said, “For more than 20 years, Acumen has invested in early-stage social entrepreneurs addressing issues of poverty in India. Some of our most inventive recent investments have been at the intersection of energy access and livelihoods. We are thrilled to work with Apple to develop an ecosystem of successful social businesses in India dedicated to enhancing livelihoods via sustainable energy.