Executive Summary

Hello West Africa is a boutique, founder-led tourism business offering immersive cultural travel experiences in Benin for travelers seeking meaningful connection, comfort, and guidance in an emerging destination.

As interest in perspective-shifting travel grows, many English-speaking travelers remain hesitant to visit Francophone West Africa due to language barriers, limited English-language infrastructure, and a lack of trusted operators.

Hello West Africa addresses this gap by providing carefully designed, small-group journeys rooted in community, preparation, and cultural understanding.

The company's flagship offering is a 12-day guided tour priced at $7,000 per person, centered around an extended stay in a rural village near Dassa in central Benin. Guests experience daily village life, local markets, cultural sites, and facilitated conversations with community members, while staying in comfortable accommodations designed for international travelers. Tours are intentionally limited to 6–8 participants to maintain quality, flexibility, and depth of experience.

Hello West Africa is led by co-founders Dr. Debra Kouda and Thomas D'Aquin Kouda, who also serve as the primary tour guides. Both founders are Beninese American and bring complementary strengths to the business. Dr. Kouda holds a Doctorate in Education in Leadership and Innovation, with research focused on transformative learning through tourism, and has lived and worked in Benin since 2007. Thomas D'Aquin Kouda was born and raised in Benin and leads in-country operations, logistics, and community relationships. Together, they offer rare binational expertise, cultural fluency, and firsthand understanding of both traveler expectations and local context.

Unlike mass tourism or self-guided travel, Hello West Africa integrates preparation and reflection into the experience. Travelers participate in pre-trip orientation sessions, guided reflection during the tour, and post-trip engagement through an online community. A key feature of the tour design is the inclusion of "knowledge exchanges," facilitated conversations between travelers and local experts who share parallel fields of experience, encouraging mutual learning rather than one-sided observation.

Benin is an increasingly attractive market for boutique tourism. Prior to the pandemic, the country welcomed approximately 325,000 international visitors annually, and tourism has been elevated as a national economic priority. In October 2025, Benin Tourism entered a strategic partnership with Expedia Group, significantly increasing international visibility. Benin has also been recognized by Lonely Planet and Afar Magazine as a top emerging destination. Hello West Africa is designed to serve a focused niche of travelers (primarily women aged 50+ and families) who value safety, depth, and cultural connection. Capturing even a small fraction of this growing interest supports a sustainable, profitable small-group model.

Revenue will be generated primarily through guided tours, with a limited number of departures per year. In Year 1, Hello West Africa plans to operate two guided tours, with the intention of expanding to six tours in Year 2 as operations stabilize. Additional revenue may come from private group bookings and future offerings, though the initial focus remains on delivering a high-quality core experience.

Hello West Africa is seeking seed funding of $300,000 to support startup costs, including the construction of three guest bungalows, renovation and expansion of the main house to accommodate guest areas and on-site offices, installation of solar, water, and sewer systems, purchase of a vehicle, technology setup, and initial operating capital. These investments establish a permanent, village-based foundation for the business, enabling reliable and comfortable operations from launch.

By combining founder-led guidance, deep community relationships, and a thoughtful approach to cultural travel, Hello West Africa offers a new model for experiencing Benin. One that benefits travelers, supports local communities, and meets the growing demand for travel that goes beyond sightseeing.