HIBT Lab! Yolélé: Pierre Thiam
Pierre Thiam, co-founder of Yolélé, explains how he transformed the ancient West African grain fonio into a global commodity to support Senegalese farmers and diversify the global food supply. He details the company's journey from a chef's personal mission to a scalable business, highlighting the critical breakthrough of partnering with a milling equipment manufacturer to mechanize processing and eliminate waste. Thiam discusses the strategic decision to brand fonio as a premium, drought-resistant superfood, leveraging his culinary platform and partnerships with retailers like Whole Foods to drive consumer adoption in the U.S.