After decades of government aid programs, philanthropy, massive development projects and more, poverty and hunger are still rampant worldwide; water, sanitation and health are all scarce.

The Acumen Fund is one of the bright stars of a new model that blends venture capital with a longer-term approach to returns: so-called "patient capital." Here's a recent video of theirs.

With Sasha Dichter, Acumen's director of business development, let's discuss: 

• What returns do philanthropic investors expect? others?
• How does patient capital foster innovative approaches?
• What's the "best available charitable option" anyhow?
• What will it take to end poverty in our lifetimes?

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