Coming from an intensive business background with both parents having extensive business knowledge, I was always pushed to my limits for solutions from childhood and started working at 14 years initially with my parents and founded my first business at 18. As I grew up being surrounded by farmers, I saw firsthand their challenges and needs. Having seen my parents create one of the biggest milk cooperatives for farmers to sell milk to big factories at a bargained price. Watching how this cooperative empowered entire communities and transformed lives, I knew I wanted to take this concept further—on a global scale
This passion gave birth to TropiConnect, a platform designed to bridge the gap between tropical farmers and international markets. Our mission is to uplift farming communities by providing them with direct access to buyers, fair trade opportunities, and sustainable agricultural practices
...Today, TropiConnect is making a tangible difference—working directly with thousands of farmers, increasing their market access, and ensuring they receive fair compensation for their products.Our efforts have not gone unnoticed. TropiConnect has been recognized on an international level, winning prestigious awards such as the Venture Further Award (VFA), the UK’s largest university startup competition. We’ve also partnered with some of the biggest names in the agricultural industry, and continue to expand our network of buyers and supporters globally.
At TropiConnect, we are committed to building stronger, more sustainable farming communities, one farmer at a time. With every step, we strive to increase transparency, empower farmers, and connect the world to the richness of tropical agriculture.
John Darbyshire - EXECUTIVE ADVISOR, European Markets
John Darbyshire is Founder and Managing Director of The Beneficial Beverage Company, LLC., a top consultancy firm that provides technical advice on financial matters within the field of food and beverages.
...With over 20 years of working with Nestle since 1988 he was one of the most effective global directors of Nestle in Switzerland, bringing a more technical approach to the company. His extensive experience includes leading R&D operations at Nestlé's Product Technology Centre in Switzerland, where he contributed to the company’s innovation in beverages.
Richard Cooper - EXECUTIVE ADVISOR, UK Markets
Richard Cooper is an experienced executive with a proven track record of driving growth, turnarounds, and strategic M&A initiatives. Over his extensive career, he has led complex transactions and
...and operational restructurings in major companies such as Bama Inc, Maple Leaf Inc, McCambridge Group, and Premier
Foods plc, as well as multiple SMEs. Richard is also the founder of Rowans Consultancy Ltd and Foot Works Charity, which provides care for the homeless. With leadership experience across diverse business sectors, Richard is a values-driven leader known for partnering with organizations to unlock growth potential and deliver stakeholder value
With over 13 years of experience, Kwame is a notable and award winning alumna of University of Manchester with accomplished leadership in the cocoa-chocolate sector, higher education
...and social impact ventures. As the Co-Founder and CEO of PolicyCON, he provides strategic direction for initiatives aimed at driving social change through policy analysis and innovation. His expertise spans project management, partnership development, and strategic leadership, having successfully led a £40m cocoa processing project and established partnerships with Microsoft, Barclays, and Masood Entrepreneurship Centre. Additionally, he has chaired a multi-million-pound charity, served on the University of Manchester’s Board of Governors, and is passionate about creating transformative change across sectors.
Mushabe Cassius MartinChief Operating Officer
Mushabe brings 12 years of operational leadership, with a passion rooted in their early experiences growing up in a farming family. Witnessing farmers' struggles in accessing global markets,
...Mushabe has spent their career developing efficient, sustainable solutions to bridge this gap.
Prior to TropiConnect, Mushabe held leadership roles in optimizing supply chains and driving sustainability initiatives. Now, as COO of TropiConnect, he oversees the entire supply chain, from sourcing products to delivering them internationally, ensuring that farmers benefit from fair trade practices while meeting high-quality standards for global buyers. Committed to empowering farming communities, he works directly with smallholder farmers to improve operations, implement sustainable practices, and foster long-term partnerships, driving TropiConnect’s mission of sustainability, fairness, and transparency.
Omar Hydara Balajo Financial analyst
Omar is the Financial Analyst of TropiConnect, bringing fresh insights and a rigorous approach to financial management, having recently completed a degree in Business Accounting from University of Manchester.
... Before joining TropiConnect, Omar gained invaluable experience as an Auditor at PwC, where they worked with a diverse portfolio of clients, honing their expertise in financial reporting, risk assessment, and regulatory compliance.
At TropiConnect, Omar analyses all aspects of financial strategy, budgeting, and compliance, ensuring the company’s continued growth and sustainability as it connects tropical farmers with global markets. With a passion for both finance and sustainable business practices, Omar is committed to driving TropiConnect’s mission of creating economic opportunities for farmers while maintaining strong financial performance.
Hercio MabjiaSupply Chain Strategist
With a forward-thinking perspective and a nuanced approach to global supply chain and operations management, he completed a Master's degree in Operations, Project and Supply Chain management.
...Before joining TropiConnect, he gained valuable experience as an Operations Analyst and Marketing Associate in South Africa. Furthermore, he led initiatives to enhance cross-border logistics, optimize supplier management, and streamline operational workflows.
His expertise spans data-driven strategies, advanced technological solutions, and building global networks, positioning him to drive transformative process improvements, foster transparency, and advocate for sustainable practices. His proficiency in strategic sourcing, global regulatory compliance, and project management makes him a key player in scaling TropiConnect's global supply chain and integrating tropical farmers into international markets.