Mazô Maná's advisors: a strong team around a new model

Since its inception, the entire concept surrounding Mazô Maná has caught the attention of a number of big names in the market. These are people like chefs Bela Gil and Alex Atala, who see the purpose of nourishing the world with the diversity and wisdom of the Amazon as a real possibility – and who believe that the model that Mazô has built is the one that makes the most sense to deal with the challenges posed by the climate crisis.

Discover how Mazô Maná works to nourish the world and conserve the Amazon Rainforest

Just like the names on Mazô's executive team , the list of advisors also brings a diversity of visions and experiences that help both in the development of the company and its products, as well as in providing more effective support to traditional communities that are part of the network around the business.

In this post, we provide a little insight into the profile of Mazô Maná’s advisors.

Who are the personalities involved in Mazô Maná?

Alex Atala

Chef and owner of the restaurants DOM, Dalva e Dito and Bio - Comer Saudável. He is also the founder of the ATÁ Institute, the first Brazilian organization dedicated exclusively to the relationship between man and food, and of FRU.TO, a platform for mobilizing people to discuss food, the problems, challenges and solutions of our time.

“Valuing national ingredients and local products is part of my mission. I see Mazô Maná taking this challenge as seriously as I do, and that’s why I had no doubts about joining the project,” says Alex.

At Mazô Maná, he plays the role of advisor, working on product evaluations and developing the impact business model.

Arturo Isola

Italian living in Brazil for 15 years. An architect and designer by training, he is the founder of Amázzoni Gin, the first Brazilian artisanal gin awarded the Best Artisanal Gin in the World in London, a successful exit for Pernod Ricard in 2021. He is also an investor and advisor to companies with a socio-environmental impact in Brazil, the United States, France and the United Kingdom. At Mazô Maná, he is an advisor on issues related to brand creation, route-to-market and strategy.

Bela Gil

Chef and owner of the restaurant Camélia Òdòdó, nutritionist and TV presenter. She holds a master's degree in Gastronomic Sciences from the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Italy (UNISG), with an emphasis on the global food system. She works as an activist for the relationship between sustainability and food.

“Knowing and consuming foods from Brazil’s biodiversity is a way of supporting traditional peoples who live off the production or harvest of these foods, as well as an active way of helping to keep our forests standing. Mazô Maná is a product that combines this very important element with the practicality of a supershake ,” says Bela.

At Mazô Maná, she works as an advisor, participating from the first ideas of the business and product on issues involving the generation of food sovereignty for the communities of the Amazon.

Eduardo Goes Neves

Archaeologist and one of the leading experts on the Amazon region. He is a full professor at the University of São Paulo (USP), where he also directs the Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology (MAE).

“We have to look at our forests as libraries, with a lot of information that we are only now learning. The traditional populations are the ones who understand what is there and that is why we need to get closer to this knowledge”, highlights Eduardo.

As an advisor to Mazô since the first conversations about the business model, he provides support on issues involving the relationship between the forest and its people.

Esteban Walther

Investor and advisor to several technology companies. Previously, he accumulated over 20 years of experience as an executive, during which time he held positions such as sales director and CMO for Google in Latin America. Throughout his career, he has worked in several countries, including the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom and Brazil. At Mazô Maná, he is an advisor on issues related to marketing and market access.