Starting a hotel business from the diaspora? That’s the bold gamble Sarah Mberi and her partner Guy-Ange took when they founded KARIBU, a furnished apartment concept in Abidjan at the crossroads of hospitality, tourism, and cultural promotion. The project is driven by one conviction: to bring real added value to the continent.
In this testimonial, Sarah shares her journey, the challenges of running a business remotely, and how an Entourage session with Souleymane Khôl helped structure a new stage in their entrepreneurial adventure.
Can you tell us about your project in Africa?
We launched KARIBU in Côte d’Ivoire three years ago. It’s a furnished apartment service available for short- or long-term rental, catering to vacationers, entrepreneurs, and passing tourists. But KARIBU is also a cultural vision: we want to showcase a certain idea of African hospitality.
My partner started the project, and I later joined him. We both wanted to make a tangible contribution to the continent. Our long-term ambition is pan-African.
What were your first challenges as entrepreneurs in Africa?
The biggest one is remote management. Being based abroad and running a local business is complex. The monitoring tools are not always well-suited or user-friendly, and above all: recruiting and conveying the vision to teams from a distance is tricky. It requires a lot of pedagogy and method.
How did you discover Entourage?
By chance, on social media, when I came across a post about a masterclass led by Souleymane Khôl. It was exactly the kind of expertise we were looking for. We signed up, listened… and it was a revelation. He was addressing exactly our pain points. So we booked a coaching session.
What did you take away from your session with the expert?
The first step was to clarify our priorities. Preparing our needs in advance for the Entourage session with Souleymane Khôl helped us take a step back. Then, during the session, we realized that our business lacked structure. He gave us tools, methods, and a real management framework. Before that, we were flying blind. After that session, everything changed.
What concrete impact did the Entourage experience have on you?
It sparked a real transformation. We benefited from personalized follow-up with Entourage over several months. We implemented the advice step by step, and a few months later, when we met Souleymane again for a new consultation, he was proud and told us: “Now I understand why time flew by during our session — you’ve worked, you’ve really worked.” That was a moment of real satisfaction. Today, our activity is much clearer, we have processes in place, and a roadmap.
Where do you see KARIBU in two to five years?
We want to become a recognized and well-structured hospitality brand with a strong identity. We’re aiming for a presence in other cities and countries. And above all, we want to stand out in a sector that is often under-professionalized.
What would you say to an entrepreneur from the diaspora who is hesitant to launch in Africa?
You need to ask yourself the right questions. And if you have doubts, Entourage is a great place to start. The platform allows you to connect with an on-the-ground expert in your target country and get concrete, objective feedback. For me, it was a real turning point.
