# Emily Stone

> Emily Stone is the founder and CEO of Uncommon Cacao, the first specialty cacao trader to publish verifiable prices for every transaction along its supply chain. From a base that started in the jungles of Belize and Guatemala, she built a Transparent Trade model that sources from more than 10,000 smallholder farmers across 15+ countries and supplies hundreds of craft chocolate makers worldwide. An Ashoka Fellow and Georgetown-trained sociologist, she is trying to decommoditize cacao by making farmers the protagonists of the chain rather than its afterthought.

- **Role:** Founder and CEO at Uncommon Cacao
- **Organizations:** Uncommon Cacao, Maya Mountain Cacao (Belize), Cacao Verapaz (Guatemala), Fine Chocolate Industry Association (board member), Ashoka, Unreasonable Group
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** B.A., Sociology and Arabic, Georgetown University, Environmental organizing leadership program, Green Corps
- **Known for:** Founded Uncommon Cacao, the first and still only international cacao trader to publish verifiable prices for every transaction along its supply chain., Built a sourcing network reaching 10,000+ smallholder producers across 15+ countries., Ashoka Fellow (2013) - the only Ashoka Fellow in the chocolate supply chain.

## Career timeline

- **2007** — Graduates Georgetown University (C'07) with a degree in Sociology and Arabic.
- **2007** — Joins Green Corps, building organizing, management and strategic-planning skills.
- **2010** — Co-founds Maya Mountain Cacao in Belize with Alex Whitmore (Taza) and Jeffrey Pzena; launches November 2010.
- **2011** — Maya Mountain Cacao grows from 0 to 52 partner farmers.
- **2012** — Farmer network expands to 119 producers.
- **2013** — Named an Ashoka Fellow; company becomes B Corp certified; selected as McNulty Fellow in Agora Partnerships accelerator.
- **2014** — Launches Cacao Verapaz in Guatemala, the first exporter of premium cacao from indigenous Maya communities to the U.S.
- **2015** — Consolidates operations under the Uncommon Cacao group brand.
- **2016** — Raises Series A funding (total funding reported at $200K).
- **2017** — Selected as an Unreasonable Fellow (Unreasonable GOALS); relocates operations base to the U.S.
- **2020** — Uncommon Cacao joins the Climate Collaborative.
- **2024** — B Corp recertification score of 113.4, well above the median.

## Achievements

- Founded Uncommon Cacao, the first and still only international cacao trader to publish verifiable prices for every transaction along its supply chain.
- Built a sourcing network reaching 10,000+ smallholder producers across 15+ countries.
- Ashoka Fellow (2013) - the only Ashoka Fellow in the chocolate supply chain.
- Unreasonable Fellow (2017).
- Recipient of the FCIA Recognition of Excellence for Outstanding Contribution at Origin in Sustainability of Fine Chocolate.
- Built a nearly 100% indigenous Maya team in Belize.
- Certified B Corporation since 2013 (2024 score 113.4).
- Featured in Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and Huffington Post.

## Latest updates

- **2024-01** — Uncommon Cacao recertified as a B Corp with a score of 113.4, nearly double the median business score.

## Links

- Website: https://uncommoncacao.com
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/emilyvstone
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/mayacacao
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JflwR-2TLx8
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncommoncacao/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/emily-stone
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-07-01