Tunisian startup WildyNess has closed an undisclosed pre-seed funding round to accelerate the growth of its sustainable travel marketplace across North Africa and the Middle East, signaling investor confidence in a tourism model focused on authenticity and direct community impact.
The round was co-led by the Bridging Angels network and the African Diaspora Network, marking a strategic first investment in the region’s travel tech ecosystem.
Founded in 2021 by engineers Achraf Aouadi and Rym Bourguib, WildyNess operates a B2C and B2B2C marketplace that connects conscious travelers with unique, curated experiences. These experiences are co-created with local micro-businesses, ensuring authentic cultural immersion and channeling revenue directly to local communities.
The platform has established itself as a leader in Community-Based Tourism (CBT) in the region, empowering local micro-businesses with international visibility and a new revenue stream. Its traction is demonstrated by generating over $300,000 in sales since its 2022 launch, achieved entirely through organic growth without any paid marketing.
“This investment validates our thesis: the future of travel is not in volume, but in authenticity and impact,” said co-founder Achraf Aouadi. “Generating $300,000 in organic sales proves that travellers are desperately seeking real connections, not generic attractions.”
Aouadi added that the support from their investors provides “not only capital but a strategic bridge to international markets as we export this Tunisian success story across the MENA region.”
The fresh capital will fuel WildyNess’s ambitious expansion into Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the UAE. A portion of the investment will also be used to strengthen its proprietary technology platform.
Investors from Bridging Angels praised the startup’s approach, stating, “We are proud to support African startups and entrepreneurs who not only bring a fresh take on their industries but also do so with relentless discipline and constant care for their customers. WildyNess and the team are a perfect example of that.”
TunisianMonitorOnline (NejiMed)
