Ben Keene ia a social entrepreneur who recruited an online tribe and then built a cross-cultural community on a Fijian Island. The development of the island has featured on TV around the world.

As co-founder of Tribewanted - a unique eco-tourism and social media adventure -  Ben Keene has been in the spotlight for the last two years as he has fought to get this ambitious project off the ground both on the island of Vorovoro in Fiji and online.

Tribewanted

The idea behind Tribewanted was to recruit a group of like-minded people online before heading to the Fijian Island of Vorovoro to build a sustainable community alongside the local indigenous tribe. With an immediate online and media buzz leading to a flood  of paid memberships Tribewanted got off to a flying start with barely any investment - the island lease was secured and the virtual community sprung to life. All major decisions on the island are voted on by an online tribe that anyone around the world could join.

But there were soon many challenges to overcome. A fire swept the island in week one of the project, a military coup (delayed until the end of a rugby match!) brewed on the mainland, and a tropical cyclone threatened to wipe out the emerging village. Online there were other storms to fight, as accusations of scam artistry, near bankruptcy, and the regular grind of debates and decision-making among Tribewanted’s 1000+ members pushed the adventure and Ben's business to the very edge.

Ben's entrepreneurial journey is as exciting as any start-up around today - and the challenges he's faced and overcome show how a dream can be realised when you put your trust in people and a culture that you haven't yet discovered. It is a 21st century attempt at building a better way of life and a successful social enterprise.

After spending two years on Vorovoro Ben is now sharing his remarkable story with a diverse range of audiences from schools, corporates, charities and even, although he didn't quite realise it at the time, the CIA!

Ben is developing the Tribewanted social media network to deliver sustainable projects, journeys and events with the aim of turning his island adventure into a significant social enterprise.

Media & What Clients Say

Ben was the central character in the BBC documentary series that followed the project Paradise or Bust and he has also written a book on his adventure, TRIBE WANTED.

Ben and Tribewanted have also appeared on the cover of National Geographic, Making It (11 great entrepreneurs), Good Morning America, The Today Show, BBC Breakfast, Radio 1 and Richard & Judy. Ben blog's for the Daily Telegraph.

"The best speaker at the conference by a mile."
Chris Cramer, President CNN International at Social Enterprise Summit, Thailand

"Everyone found Ben's session and presence inspirational."
Dame Jo Williams, Chief Exec, Mencap