Alumni Spotlight - Ines Zimmerman, BBA '10, founder of Doggy Date

Tell us a little bit about yourself! Where are you from, and why did you decide to study at Modul University Vienna?

I am from Vienna, but my mother is Croatian, therefore I speak the language and am very thankful for that. I decided to study at Modul Uni, because the study program Tourism Management covers everything you need for further development, job or educational wise, in the tourism and leisure field.  Another great advantage is that the program is in English, which is indispensible these days.

You are a member of the first BBA graduating class of 2010 - what were your first career experiences after graduating from MU?

For a short period of time I worked in Sales, but realized, that it’s not the right thing for me and that I am more of an all-rounder. After that I pursued a career in tourism consulting, which was very exciting and thought me a great deal about tourism and its economics. However, after two years I finally found what makes me really happy, and that is marketing and events.

You are the founder of Doggy Date, a company that puts on dating events for dog-loving singles in Austria to meet each other. How did you come up with the idea?

I gave online dating a try and I figured very quickly that it isn’t about writing to each other, but meeting up. A person can be a great writer, but if it does not ‘click’ at the meeting, there is nothing you can do about it. Therefore Doggy Date is not an online platform, but provides dating events. The second thing was that some of my ex-boyfriends where not happy with the idea of me having a dog. Yet, there is not man in the whole wide world I would give my dog up for – he has been in my life for 9 years and will be until his final day. These experiences combined gave me the input for Doggy Date. What people often get wrong, is that Doggy Date is only for dog owners. It is also for people who like dogs or are looking for a partner who has one. It can be a good solution if you do not have the time for a dog of your own ;)

How does it work?

When people sign up I ask them some questions about themselves so I can match them better with others, and as soon as an event in their age category is scheduled they are informed. Up to 10 people meet up at the dating events. At first we have a sip of Prosecco, then there is a small speed-dating part, and afterwards a walk together. Finally the participants get a form to fill in where they are asked which other participants they would like to see again. In case two of them match, I provide them with the contact information.

How did your studies at MU prepare you to start your own business? 

I knew what I was getting myself into, at least from some perspective. I knew what was important in the first place, what I could do by myself, and what needed to be outsourced. My studies definitely gave me the confidence I needed to start the business.