India Acumen Fellowship 2026 – Empowering Social Innovators

Acumen Academy, the world’s school for social change, was founded by Acumen to go beyond the limits of capital investment in solving poverty. Acumen recognized early on that funding alone is not enough to tackle systemic challenges. Through the Academy, it nurtures social innovators and leaders who combine entrepreneurial drive with moral leadership. The Fellowship program is one of its flagship initiatives, bringing together changemakers committed to creating scalable solutions that improve lives and strengthen communities. With a focus on capacity-building, values-driven leadership, and global networking, Acumen Academy equips leaders to confront poverty with humility, courage, and resilience. Fellows gain access to lifelong support, mentorship, and the Acumen Foundry—a powerful global community of alumni—enabling them to scale impact and reimagine systems for meaningful, long-term change.

The India Acumen Fellowship 2025 is a six-month hybrid leadership program designed to strengthen the capacity of social innovators dedicated to solving poverty in India. The program combines in-person immersives, online sessions, and self-paced learning to build skills in moral leadership, storytelling, negotiation, and systems thinking. Fellows remain in their current jobs while participating in the program, ensuring they continue creating impact while developing their leadership potential. The curriculum is structured around virtual orientation, two intensive in-person immersives, and learning labs. Graduates of the Fellowship join the Foundry—Acumen Academy’s global network of 1,600+ leaders—where they access mentorship, tailored capacity-building, and opportunities for catalytic funding. The Fellowship empowers participants to negotiate across differences, challenge traditional methods, and reshape organizations and communities. It positions Fellows to amplify their impact with practical tools, coaching, and global recognition.