When Tim McGuire entered StarterStudio, he had a passion for solving problems — but like many founders, he was still refining exactly what the specific problem was and who he was solving it for.
Today, as Founder and CEO of TourOnePlanet, Tim is building a platform that connects travelers directly with local tourism providers across Madagascar, helping communities capture more of the economic value generated by tourism while offering visitors authentic, locally led experiences. The company has grown significantly in recent years, and Tim credits much of that progress to lessons learned during his time at StarterStudio.
“StarterStudio was a godsend for me. The team relentlessly encouraged me to define the problem I was trying to solve and to understand completely the people I was solving it for. This has given me a tremendous advantage in my field. Understanding the problem and exactly who I’m solving it for led me to a solution I wouldn’t have otherwise reached.”
💡 Finding the Right Problem to Solve
TourOnePlanet was born from Tim’s firsthand experiences in Madagascar. During his travels and work throughout the country, he observed a troubling disconnect: travelers were spending significant amounts of money for their tourism experiences, but local communities and service providers often saw only a small fraction of that revenue.
Rather than creating another traditional tour company, Tim focused on a deeper challenge — access. Local tourism vendors needed better access to travelers, digital tools, and global markets. That insight led to TourOnePlanet’s marketplace model, which enables local providers to sell directly to travelers while retaining a much larger share of their earnings.
This customer-focused approach reflects one of the biggest lessons Tim took away from StarterStudio: deeply understanding the problem and the people experiencing it before building the solution.
📈 A Year of Significant Growth
That focus is paying off.
In 2025, TourOnePlanet increased total revenue by more than 2.5x year over year, driven primarily by steady growth in online bookings.
The company also expanded into new revenue streams, including:
📱 Social media bonuses
👕 Merchandise sales
💰 Accured interest income
These newer revenue channels are expected to continue contributing to the company’s growth throughout 2026.
One of the company’s most significant milestones came through a partnership with Yas Madagascar, the country’s premier telecommunications provider. After signing an initial agreement in 2025, TourOnePlanet renewed the partnership this year at a substantially larger scale.
Together, the organizations are helping showcase Madagascar’s unique culture through festivals and events sponsored throughout the country.
🤝 Empowering Local Entrepreneurs
The growth of TourOnePlanet’s platform reflects increasing demand for authentic, locally led tourism experiences.
Today, the platform includes:
🌟 More than 100 active local vendors
🧭 Over 300 pre-planned experiences
🇲🇬 Experiences spanning destinations throughout Madagascar
By helping local businesses connect directly with travelers, TourOnePlanet is creating new economic opportunities while ensuring more tourism dollars stay within local communities.
🚀 The Next Chapter: Enhancing the User Experience
Despite broader instability within the tourism industry, Tim expects platform sales to increase by approximately 70% in 2026.
To support that growth, the company’s next major focus is improving the website experience.
While TourOnePlanet receives strong traffic from search engines and referrals, the team sees an opportunity to better service visitors who arrive on the site and begin exploring its content. With hundreds of experiences, destinations, and vendor profiles available, improving navigation and discoverability has become a top priority.
The goal is simple: make it easier for travelers to find and book experiences while helping local vendors increase conversions and grow their businesses.
🎯 Looking Ahead to Profitability
For Tim, growth is important — but sustainability matters just as much.
As TourOnePlanet continues to expand its marketplace, strengthen strategic partnerships, and support local entrepreneurs, the company is focused on reaching an important financial milestone.
“My goal for 2026 is for this year to be the first in which we achieve net zero or better in net profits.”
🎓 A StarterStudio Success Story
Tim’s entrepreneurial journey is a powerful reminder that successful startups are built on a deep understanding of the problem being solved and the people being served.
From refining his customer focus during the StarterStudio program to building a thriving tourism marketplace that now supports more than 100 local vendors, Tim has demonstrated what can happen when founders stay committed to their mission.
We’re proud to celebrate Tim’s accomplishments and excited to watch TourOnePlanet continue creating opportunities for communities across Madagascar while building a more inclusive and sustainable future for tourism.
