Our Team
Farmer's Friends
Maimouna Mbacke
Founding Friend
Since 2015, Maimouna has dove deeply into a variety of marketing and entrepreneurial ecosystems. From global luxury corporations to seed stage start ups. Her years of experience in these environments shaped her values in innovative solutions, and strategic planning.
After diving into the entrepreneurial ecosystem. She knew the patterns of innovation and entrepreneurship were very much alive in her home country of Senegal, where innovative strategies were executed by her grandparents and community particularly in the Mouride brotherhood. These strategies were designed to ensure a smooth transition of leadership and of entrepreneurial resources such as agriculture resources and networks.
Scott Gillespie
Advisor
As Founder and Director of the Jigsaw Group, Scott and his export accelerator team, connect: founders, talent, customers, markets, and channels; with global opportunities. Jigsaw Group has delivered outcomes and programs, for a variety of entities. For universities, Scott has: forged market links for technology transfer offices, plus developed and delivered courses on: risk management, innovation, entrepreneurship, and strategic marketing, and helped establish research centers with global links and funding. For startups, Scott has architected mentoring programs for: new market entry, startup founders, women entrepreneurs, winners of startup competitions, growth (export) stage businesses, and angel investors. Jigsaw Group has a keen interest in supporting not-for-profits including: Sydney Angels, INJAZ, and Yacht Aid Global (YAG) which transports education and medical supplies to disaster areas; using mega yachts. Scott has delivered outcomes and programs for government agencies from bootcamps in Tanzania and Jakarta; to entrepreneurship training in Saudi and Dubai; to incubator and accelerator support across the GCC and Australia. For corporates Scott has helped with top line growth like first 100 day roadmaps after private equity’ investment and new market development with regional headquarter establishment and skilling programs.
Lika Mbengue
Advisor
Lika, Founder and Director of Ndindy Business Development Services, has led various projects in the Touba community to help low-income individuals get into the workforce. One of her notable achievements is the establishment of Touba United Motors, a Social Enterprise that has improved transportation and agriculture in rural communities. Through partnerships with Credit Mutuel du Sénégal and the Touba Mayor's Office, Lika has been able to provide financing and accessibility to people of all income levels.
Lika is also an advocate for animals in Touba, particularly those used for transportation. With Touba United Motors and the Mayor's Office, she helped transition from animal-drawn carriages to motor-powered transportation, reducing animal abuse and risks associated with carriage transportation. In addition, she is involved in social initiatives such as food distribution, small business financing for underprivileged women and youth in the Touba Community, as well as projects for water access and electricity in the rural community of nomads in Touba.
