Coffee with a mission: that’s Mokafe!

“We’ve seen first-hand what can be done when you think of someone else in front of yourself. Our father started Haitian Christian Mission in 1974. He taught us that if you do for others, your blessings in life will come at some point. So philanthropy is within us. It is who we are. But we have also always had a mind for business.

Marcus and Edwens Prophete adopted the sentiment of teaching a man to fish verses providing a handout with their Mokafe Cup of Hope initiative, a partnership with the inventor of Mokafe, Stephane Martin.

“We want to empower the Haitian people and show the beauty of Haiti. Every 25 bags of Mokafe that are sold supports a local farmer for an entire year.” [Marcus]

Since the late 1800s, Haiti’s coffee crop was considered among the best in the world, comparable to Jamaican Blue for premium, top-of-the-line coffee beans. But due to political turmoil, embargoes and devastating natural disasters, Haiti now exports only two percent of its coffee production. Edwens and Marcus are determined to change that.

“The best we could do for the country is to impact the economic condition of the people. Coffee is Haiti’s legacy. And our research tells us global demand is expected to double over the next 30 years. So we set up a coffee growers cooperative which gives our local farmers five to 10 percent over fair trade market value. With the extensive needs in Haiti, we knew that the standard fair trade rate wasn’t universally good for everyone. It differs by country.

Revitalizing Haiti’s coffee industry is critical to helping the country and its people. We now have 8,000 small-holder farmers participating and will soon add 6,000 more. Our goal is to reach 40,000 small-holder farmers in three- to four years.” [Marcus]

“What we were put here for is to add value to people’s lives. We’ve seen the impact of the economic struggle. We know we can empower Haiti by offering this crop, this fruit that people love all over the world. Each cup, one cup at a time, creates economic impact.” [Edwens]

These two brothers, raised and living in the U.S., hope to soon crack the biggest barrier of getting into retail so they can bring this taste of Haiti to grocery stores worldwide. On-location sales are already going strong in Boca Raton, FL and Charlotte, NC (Enjoy free samples at the monthly 1 Million Cups Charlotte events!). Online sales are available on Amazon and via the Mokafe website.

These Mokafe founders are confident the exquisite taste will keep customers coming back. They want everyone to experience that first sip, when you are left thinking, “This is magical.”

Because it is. Driven by a passion for people, Edwens and Marcus are making magic happen for Haiti’s farmers – and in your favorite coffee cup.

 

Want to tell your #BizBeginnings story? Contact tigPR!

It starts with a spark

What compelled your entrepreneurial leap of faith? How did you do it? To the humble entrepreneur or solopreneur, your business beginnings story may not seem much different from others getting started. And yet, it is!

True, there are common themes in all start-ups. Determination. Dedication. Passion. A little bit of crazy thrown in.

Most likely, your business started with an idea you just couldn’t let go. You may have felt compelled to launch by a deeply held passion, a unique expertise or a need you suddenly recognized in the marketplace. Or, let’s be honest, you may have felt pushed by an economic driver, like the prospect of no income on the horizon.

Whatever it was, it started with a spark. There was something that kindled your start and made you bravely face the entrepreneurial path. That’s the story your customers want to hear. Talking about your true beginning offers the familiarity and motivation and inspiration that solidifies your “right” to earn their business. Your story becomes the spark that turns prospects into customers.

That spark moment – that common denominator among start-up founders –  just happens to be the same spark I experienced that pushed me to start this Biz Beginnings blog. I’ll share more of my story as we go along but my story is not the focus here. This blog is for business start-ups, solopreneurs, entrepreneurs and all those with just enough crazy to believe they can beat the odds and meet a need while feeding their passion.

Think of this as a “Humans of” type of space, where humans who start businesses showcase their compelling stories. Hearing and writing about your biz beginning kindles my own spark moment! So reach out. Tell me your story.  And watch this space for the inspiration of others, just like us. Oh, what a spark that will be!

Lorraine Russell, founder, tigPR/Biz Beginnings