How to apply to Acumen (ARAF) as an African founder

TL;DR

Acumen (ARAF) invests in Agritech and Climate companies at Pre-Seed, Seed, and Series A, writes cheques of $300K -- $4M, and takes applications through direct outreach to the team.

Who Acumen (ARAF) is

Acumen (ARAF) is a East Africa, West Africa, North Africa investor headquartered in Nairobi. Its stated focus is Agritech and Climate. The thesis, in the fund's own words: We invest in pioneering agribusinesses that enhance the climate resilience of smallholder farmers in Africa.

On the ground, Acumen (ARAF) operates as a Pre-Seed, Seed, and Series A investor with an Africa focus described as "East Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania), West Africa (Nigeria, Ghana), expanding North Africa". The fund's managing director is Tamer El-Raghy, alongside Rebecca Mincy (Investment Director) and Akwugo Onuekwusi (Associate Director).

What they invest in

Stages: Pre-Seed, Seed, and Series A
Sectors: Agritech and Climate
Cheque size: $300K -- $4M
Geography focus: East Africa, West Africa, North Africa / Yes -- East Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania), West Africa (Nigeria, Ghana), expanding North Africa

How to apply

Acumen (ARAF)'s application path is: "Warm intros preferred". This reads as direct outreach rather than a public form, which means the fund is more reachable through a warm introduction or a well-targeted cold message than through a portal. Tamer El-Raghy (Managing Director) is the name most associated with the fund publicly, and a specific, well-prepared message referencing why you fit their stated thesis is a better opener than a generic pitch blast. Check https://arafund.com/ first in case a form or dedicated email address has since gone live.

Portfolio pattern

Acumen (ARAF)'s portfolio, as listed in their Trampoline fund page, includes:

SunCulture (Kenya): Pay-as-you-go solar irrigation for smallholder farmers, Growth (total raised $53M+)
Tomato Jos (Nigeria): Commercial tomato processing with smallholder farmer partnerships, Series A ($4.28M total raised)
FarmWorks (Kenya): Agronomy training, quality inputs, machinery, and market access for farmers, Early Growth ($4M total raised)
Victory Farms (Kenya): Fast-growing aquaculture and white protein platform in East Africa, Early Growth
Complete Farmer (Ghana): Tech-enabled farming platform allowing users to own shares in farms, Early

That spread gives you a sense of what a real check from Acumen (ARAF) has funded, not just what the thesis claims it funds.

Before you apply

Have these ready before you reach out:

Deck: Check your readiness first so you know where the gaps are
Metrics dashboard: Set up your metrics dashboard so you can show real traction, not slides
Cap table
A one-line description of what your company does
A short, specific note explaining why you fit their stated thesis, ready to send cold or through a warm intro

FAQ

Does Acumen (ARAF) invest in Agritech?

Yes. Agritech is listed among Acumen (ARAF)'s stated sector focus areas.

What stage does Acumen (ARAF) typically write cheques at?

Acumen (ARAF) invests at Pre-Seed, Seed, and Series A, with cheque sizes of $300K -- $4M.

Do you need a warm intro to apply to Acumen (ARAF)?

Acumen (ARAF)'s application path is direct outreach rather than a public form, so a warm introduction generally carries more weight than a cold message, though it is not stated as a hard requirement.

Does Acumen (ARAF) invest outside East Africa, West Africa, North Africa?

Acumen (ARAF)'s Africa focus is described as "East Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania), West Africa (Nigeria, Ghana), expanding North Africa". Check the full fund profile for the exact geographic boundaries before you apply.

Is Acumen (ARAF) a remote or in-person fund?

Acumen (ARAF)'s format is listed as In-Person.