Rising Sun Adventure Tours

Kareem Dieng, an active Soldier in the United States Army Reserve, fused his love of adventure and connection with his experience leading groups in the outdoors to create Rising Sun Adventure Tours. Alongside Maine SBDC at CEI Business Advisor Alison Lane they worked through potential problem areas relating to liability, a partnership agreement, pricing, marketing, and the funding necessary to start his e-bike tour business.

One aspect he was not willing to compromise on was his wish to give back to the local community. Partnering with Black Owned Maine and Land Back, he is committing 3% of proceeds to Bomazeen, a local non-profit Indigenous Land Back Land Trust. Now that Rising Sun Adventure Tours is open Kareem hopes to use his status as a local business owner to continue donating to and bringing awareness to causes important to him.

I cannot begin to express how integral Alison has been in the process of preparing and launching my business. I have spent years toeing the line, envisioning stepping off at the sound of the starting gun, but I could never seem to get myself across that threshold in my dreams. It wasn’t until, through conversations and planning with Alison, I was able to open my eyes and grasp the hard action steps required to take that vision into fruition, and I am forever grateful for her guidance.”