Meet the Founder

I am Ayissi Nyemba, the Founder and CEO of EMKAO FOODS INC—a woman- and minority-owned chocolate company established on the principles of ethical sourcing, sustainability, and community empowerment.

What Makes Emkao Chocolate Special

Emkao is founded on two core values that most chocolate brands struggle to combine: exceptional flavor and verified impact .

• Rare, Premium Cacao Genetics (60% Criollo + 40% Trinitario): Criollo is one of the rarest and most esteemed cacao varieties, celebrated for its delicate and complex flavor, produced in significantly smaller quantities than commodity cocoa. Trinitario melds Criollo’s aromatic qualities with enhanced resilience, resulting in a beautifully balanced profile characterized by depth, smoothness, and consistency.
• Single-Origin and Direct Relationships: We source directly from smallholder farmers in Cameroon (Central Africa) , fostering long-term relationships and ensuring fairer value distribution.
• Traceability You Can Verify: Our QR-code traceability allows consumers to connect the chocolate back to its origin.
• Craft Quality: Having trained as a professional chocolatier, I emphasize meticulous processing and consistent specifications, enabling our cocoa ingredients and chocolate to perform reliably for both consumers and food makers.

Where is Cameroon?

Cameroon is located in Central Africa , bordered by Nigeria and featuring a coastline along the Gulf of Guinea . The country boasts rich cacao-growing regions and deep-rooted farming traditions.

Dark Chocolate for Healthy Living (in Moderation)

Today's consumers are increasingly health-conscious. High-cacao, low-sugar dark chocolate is filled with cocoa flavanols and minerals that may support:

• Heart health (promoting blood flow and maintaining healthy blood pressure)
• Brain function (enhancing focus and memory)
• Stress support (capable of lowering cortisol levels)
• Antioxidant support (including bolstering skin resilience)

These benefits are most potent with higher cacao content and should be enjoyed in moderation .

How Emkao Began (My "Why")

My journey began on my family's cacao farm in Cameroon. I grew up amid the cocoa-producing community—witnessing both the pride in crafting something extraordinary and the harsh truth that farmers often do not receive fair value or recognition for their hard work.

As I later trained as a chocolatier and built my career in business, I knew I wanted to create something that would connect people to the source—evidence that ethical sourcing can indeed be real, transparent, and scalable.

That is why I founded Emkao: to establish a farmer-first cocoa and chocolate company that creates opportunities both at the origin and within the communities we serve.

Proven Operations (Vancouver, Canada)

We currently operate a branch in Vancouver, Canada , established in 2021 . This venture has enabled us to validate our products and processes, consistently serve our customers, and build the operational foundation we are now bringing to the U.S.

Awards & Recognition

Our efforts have been recognized throughout the industry, including: - 2025 SFA Leadership Award (Vision & Sustainability) - 2026 Sustainability Project of the Year (International Confectionery Awards) - 2024 CHFA Diversity Award - 2024 TD Social Impact Award - 2024 Rising Star Award - 2025 BLDC-EAP Business Plan Competition — 1st Place (Binghamton, NY)

Why Binghamton

We are gearing up to establish our bean-to-bar chocolate and cocoa ingredients production in Binghamton, New York (73 Griswold St) .

In 2024 and 2025 , we participated in the Grow-NY® Food & Agriculture Startup Competition . Although we were not selected as finalists, we explored alternative options and discovered the Binghamton University Koffman Incubator’s Soft Landing New York program , which helps foreign entrepreneurs expand their businesses in New York's Central Southern Tier. Soft Landings reached out to us and provided invaluable insights into the market, assisted with building relationships, and prepared us for long-term success.

We persisted—and winning 1st place in the BLDC-EAP Business Plan Competition affirmed that we are indeed constructing something substantial in Binghamton.

What We're Building

We aspire to create more than a facility; we aim to establish a local chocolate destination and community hub that: - Creates jobs - Hosts events and tastings - Connects Binghamton to a global network of ethical farmers and chocolate enthusiasts

Why We're Raising Funds

• $50,000: Renovations to transform the space into a welcoming factory and community hub.

• $100,000: Essential equipment for production in Binghamton.

• $150,000: Inventory, tariffs, and initial stock to ramp up production.

How You Can Help (and Why This Is a Strong Investment)

Supporting Emkao transcends merely purchasing chocolate—it is about contributing to the establishment of a resilient, farmer-first supply chain and a local manufacturing enterprise with real growth potential.

• A product people already desire: Premium, single-origin cocoa and chocolate accompanied by verified ethical sourcing and traceability—exactly where consumer and retailer demand is headed.
• A supply chain advantage: Our direct relationships at the origin enable us to secure quality cocoa while minimizing reliance on middlemen, shortages, and market volatility.
• A proven operator: Having operated in Vancouver since 2021, we are bringing that trusted foundation to the U.S.
• Momentum and validation: Our accolades reflect exceptional product quality, impactful leadership, and market credibility.

Ways to Support

• Contribute: Any amount will help us create this farmer-first chocolate destination in Binghamton.
• Share: If you are unable to contribute today, sharing this campaign serves as a powerful impact.
• Partner: For larger contributions (loans or equity investments), please contact us directly, and we will discuss available options.

Thank You

Thank you for supporting a chocolate industry that puts farmers at the forefront, prioritizes transparency, and focuses on community. We are incredibly grateful to have you alongside us in this journey.