The Acumen Fund

The Acumen fund is very interesting and I like their idea that instead of just giving people charity we should actually help them get to a place where they don't need charity anymore. Some people are too proud to accept charity anyway so this helps those people as well. I also thought Seth Godin's speech was pretty interesting and encouraging since a lot of people tend to look at failure as the end. Its a much different take then one usually sees and seems to be more self-sustaining then the typical charity institutions, which just give people what they need to relieve them at that particular moment. It is a little idealistic to think that we can all benefit from something, but I think this project has potential. Since competition will lower prices and inventors will come up with ways to produce things more cheaply, they can be sold more cheaply and, as long as money remains stable, the poor will have an easier time purchasing the things they need. If the poor can supply their own necessities it will improve their morale and in time they will perhaps be able to save money to build a more comfortable life for themselves beyond the very basic necessities. New businesses also give new jobs, which could employ those poor people.
Furthermore, it will get more people involved in helping the poor who otherwise might not have been inclined to. Creating a business that will benefit you as well as poor is an added bonus and would make many people more eager to help. I think it is a very interesting idea and so far it seems to have a sizeable following, so it will be interesting to see how they are doing in the future.