MISSION

Building Thriving Businesses with Smallholder Women Coffee Farmers

Bean Voyage

Bean Voyage

Bean Voyage supports women farmers across the value chain.

We’re a vibrant, diverse team of passionate folx working together to support coffee-growing communities. Our team reflects a variety of perspectives and experiences, all rooted in a deep commitment to creating positive change in the world.

Our Founders’ Story

Bean Voyage began as a conversation over a shared meal. In college, Sunghee and Abhinav were researching gender and development when they met Ericka Mora, a smallholder woman coffee farmer from Tarrazú, Costa Rica, with a vision for her farm.

Over stories and shared coffee, Ericka spoke of the challenges smallholder women face — limited resources, knowledge, and market access.

At first, Sunghee and Abhi imagined starting a roasted coffee brand. But they quickly realized: this problem needed systemic solutions, not a single product. After graduating, they returned to Costa Rica with a bold idea. They met with Ericka, and she trusted them to join their voyage. Together, they launched their first cohort of 16 women, gathering weekly to learn, connect, and grow. Through conversations with the community members, they realized that a combination of training, peer mentorship, and opportunity to export globally would reduce a lot of the structural challenges.

From there, Bean Voyage has evolved through listening, prototyping, and learning.

What began as a classroom became a marketplace, seed funding program, and now the Women-Powered Coffee Summit.

Every program we run — the four pillars of our work — has grown organically from the voices of women farmers themselves, and we are grateful to them for allowing us to be a part of this journey.

Our Values

Everything we do is rooted in CARE

[C]ompassion

Understanding the unique challenges women farmers face.

[A]gency

 Supporting women to lead their businesses and make their own decisions.

[R]esilience

Helping women adapt, grow, and thrive despite challenges.

[E]quity

Creating brave, inclusive spaces and opportunities for all.

Who we are

67%

Staff from the communities we serve

9 women, 1 man

Gender breakdown of staff

90% women, 10% men

Gender breakdown of board

Meet the Team

  • Sunghee Tark

    CO-FOUNDER & CEO

    She/Her

  • Abhinav Khanal

    CO-FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    He/Him

  • Itzel Mendoza

    LEAD, FARMER SCHOOL - MEXICO

    She/Her

  • Maria José Monge

    LEAD, FARMER SCHOOL - COSTA RICA

    She/Her

  • Natali Venegas

    LEAD, FARMER SCHOOL - HONDURAS

    She/Her

  • Flor Coghi

    LEAD, WOMEN-POWERED COFFEE COLLECTIVE

    She/Her

  • Laura Gómez

    REGIONAL LEADER - COSTA RICA

    She/Her

  • Viviana Gómez

    REGIONAL LEADER - COSTA RICA

    She/Her

Board of Directors (USA)

  • Philanthropy Lead Advisor, Brighton Jones

  • Director, Council on Smallholder Agricultural Finance (CSAF)

  • Founder & CEO, Webacy

  • Independent Consultant

  • Independent Consultant

  • Co-Founder & CEO, Bean Voyage

  • Co-Founder & Executive Director, Bean Voyage

Asociación Bean Voyage (CR)

  • President

  • Secretary

  • Treasurer

  • Fiscal

  • Vocal 1

  • Vocal 2

  • Associate

  • Associate

  • Associate

Advisory Council

  • Founder of Women in Coffee Project and Head of Coffee, Joe Coffee Company

  • Senior Director, Wellspan Health Human Resources

  • Co-Founder, Arabella Advisors

  • Chief Executive Officer, Beyers

  • Independent Advisor

  • VP Global Operations & Site Leader, Western Union

  • Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Watson Institute

  • Founder & CEO, The Resolution Project

  • Community Leader

  • Founder, AVL Growth Partners

  • Chief Financial Officer and Director, Skees Family Foundation

  • Co-Founder and Editor, Barista Magazine

  • CEO, IDE Canada

  • Director, Contracts and Legal Affairs, Skoll Foundation

Our Offices

Costa Rica

5 staff

Mexico

3 staff

Global

1 staff

How we work

Reports & Transparency