Foundation Investors in Health & Wellness

Acumen is a venture philanthropy organization that invests in visionary entrepreneurs building transformational companies from seed to scale. They focus on funding bold entrepreneurs who are creating inclusive solutions across sectors like sustainable agriculture, quality education, renewable energy, healthy communities, dignified jobs, and gender equality. Their mission is to break the cycle of poverty through patient capital investments in high-innovation, high-impact enterprises. They operate by deploying philanthropic capital to shape markets and support entrepreneurs who are addressing the world's toughest poverty-related challenges, investing where traditional funders won't. Acumen Ventures has established itself as a significant force in the impact investing ecosystem since 2001, with an A to Z directory of portfolio companies spanning over two decades. They matter because they've reinvented the rules of return, prioritizing impact alongside financial sustainability and helping to demonstrate that venture philanthropy can drive meaningful systemic change in underserved communities globally.

The American Heart Association Social Impact Funds are investment vehicles managed by American Heart Association, focused on advancing health equity and improving cardiovascular outcomes. The funds invest in companies addressing social determinants of health, access to care, and innovations that reduce disparities in underserved communities. By combining mission-driven capital with strategic partnerships, the platform supports startups and growth-stage companies working across healthcare, digital health, and community-based solutions that improve long-term health outcomes.

Ashoka is one of the world’s leading organizations supporting social entrepreneurs. Founded in 1980, Ashoka pioneered the concept of social entrepreneurship and has built a global network of changemakers working to solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Through its flagship Ashoka Fellows program, the organization identifies and supports high-impact entrepreneurs with funding, mentorship, and a powerful global network. Ashoka’s broader mission is to create a world where everyone is a changemaker, embedding social innovation across education, business, and civil society.

Bloomberg Philanthropies is the philanthropic organization of Michael Bloomberg, focused on improving lives at scale across the globe. The foundation works across more than 150 countries, supporting initiatives in public health, climate, education, government innovation, and the arts. Its approach combines data-driven decision-making with deep partnerships across governments, nonprofits, and institutions. Bloomberg Philanthropies is known for backing large-scale, measurable programs that aim to deliver systemic change and improve outcomes for millions of people worldwide.

Hopelab is a researcher, investor, and convener that focuses on equity-centered solutions for the mental health and well-being of Black, Brown, and Queer young people. They operate through multiple modalities including research, investment in innovators, and funding youth-centered solutions to advance mental health outcomes for underserved communities. Their mission is to advance the mental health and well-being of young people through uncovering knowledge and evidence, investing in innovators, and funding youth-centered solutions. Hopelab operates as an intergenerational collaborator, believing that equitable outcomes require partnership and shifting power dynamics to center young people's perspectives and lived expertise. Hopelab serves as a critical player in the mental health ecosystem by centering equity in all facets of their work and recognizing that systems of oppression like racism, homophobia, transphobia, and wealth inequities are interconnected. They amplify young leaders' voices and create opportunities to challenge existing narratives, spark dialogue, and inspire collective growth, making them essential advocates for dismantling barriers that prevent young people from living joyful and purposeful lives.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is a leading national philanthropy dedicated to transforming health in our lifetime through bold and innovative approaches. The foundation works collaboratively with others to achieve health equity faster and create a future where health is no longer a privilege, but a fundamental right for all. RWJF focuses on taking bold leaps to address systemic health challenges and promote inclusive solutions that benefit communities across the nation. The foundation operates with a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, recognizing that achieving true health equity requires addressing the root causes of health disparities and working toward comprehensive transformation of health systems.

The Skoll Foundation catalyzes transformational social change by investing in, connecting, and championing social entrepreneurs and other social innovators who together advance bold and equitable solutions to the world's most pressing problems. They focus on supporting social entrepreneurs who offer compelling visions, creative solutions, and proven approaches to addressing global challenges. Created in 1999 by Jeff Skoll, the Foundation operates with a clear mission to build a sustainable world of peace and prosperity for all. Their approach centers on three core activities: investing in social entrepreneurs and innovators, connecting their community to drive transformational change, and championing those who advance bold and equitable solutions. The Skoll Foundation plays a significant role in the social innovation ecosystem by hosting the annual Skoll World Forum and maintaining a community of social entrepreneurs working on large-scale change. They have established themselves as a leading voice in supporting social enterprises that aim to achieve impact at scale, even during times of crisis and mass disruption.

T1D Fund is the world's first scaled venture fund dedicated exclusively to type 1 diabetes, operating as an impact investment fund that supports promising companies through equity investments and expertise. They focus specifically on accelerating treatments, prevention, and cures for the approximately 9 million people living with T1D globally. The fund operates as a powerful platform for collaboration, using catalytic capital and expertise to de-risk investments and create a flywheel effect that attracts other investors to the T1D space. As a wholly owned, not-for-profit independently run subsidiary of Breakthrough T1D, they leverage their intellectual capital and expert network to offer comprehensive support to portfolio companies, steering them through regulatory, clinical, and commercial milestones. With over $200 million in assets under management and 25+ active portfolio companies, T1D Fund creates significant impact in the diabetes ecosystem by reinvesting 100% of returns to propel continuous progress. Their unique position as subject matter experts combined with access to Breakthrough T1D's extensive network of research, clinical, and medical expertise enables them to transform the landscape of T1D investment and accelerate the development of life-changing therapies.