We were lucky to catch up with May Bugenhagen recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi May , thanks for joining us today. How do you feel about asking friends and family to support your business? What’s appropriate, what’s not? Where do you draw the line?
Fifteen years ago, when I first started my matchmaking business, I faced a lot of skepticism from those around me. The concept was new, and people found it difficult to wrap their heads around what I was going to be doing. When it came time to ask for support from my friends and family, I felt a mixture of nervousness and excitement. On the one hand, I wanted to share my passion with those closest to me, but on the other, I knew that not everyone would immediately see the value in my idea.
The early days of my business were challenging. Some people doubted my ability to succeed, and I encountered a lot of skepticism from those who were closest to me. However, instead of letting those doubts and criticisms get me down, I used them as fuel to keep pushing forward. My social nature and love for connecting people made the matchmaking industry a perfect fit for me, and I was determined to make it work.
Over time, I began to see my business grow and evolve. I realized that sometimes, the people who you think will be the most supportive are the ones who end up being the least helpful. I encountered family members who told me I would never be successful and friends who claimed to want to support me but didn’t follow through on their promises.
Through it all, I learned a valuable lesson: starting a business teaches you who your true friends and family members are. Some people will be quick to jump on board and offer their help and encouragement, while others will be more hesitant or even envious of your success. I loved when my mom and dad would recruit for me in finding singles! But ultimately, if you stay true to yourself and your vision, you will find the support you need to succeed. And looking back on my journey, I can say with certainty that it was all worth it in the end.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
At 30, I realized I was a catch but was missing a companion to share my life with. So I joined a matchmaking service but found them to be terrible. Believing I could do better, I set out to create my dating service after I dared to quit my corporate job. After 11 years of corporate work, I finally leaped and started my matchmaking firm. I offered date coaching and personalized one-on-one matchmaking services. I help clients become more confident in navigating the dating world and finding who they truly need instead of what they may want. Over the past 15 years as a certified matchmaker and dating coach, I have made over 7596 successful matches and helped hundreds of people find true love.
I specialize in working with Asian women seeking confidence in dating and clarity in choosing a partner. I have a date coaching program called “Transform Your Dating Strategy.: 8 Mistakes Asian Women Need To Avoid”
My outgoing nature and networking skills enable me to connect with like-minded individuals dedicated to establishing healthy, long-term relationship.
I provide insider tips and tactics for successfully navigating the complex dating world. My experience in the dating industry means I understand what it takes to create and sustain successful matches. As a result, my clients take one step closer to the love they desire through my coaching services and personalized matchmaking.
I offer ongoing tips, inspiration, and support on my social media. The process is simple: complete a profile on my website, and I’ll take it from there. After an interview, I get to know you and determine your best matches based on compatibility. As Asian women join my database for free, men age 35-65 of all backgrounds pay as clients. Next, I ask potential partners if they’re interested in meeting, and if they are, I arrange the date from the venue to time and place. After the date, I work with both parties to fine-tune the search based on feedback.
I always encourage Asian women ready to find their perfect match and start a healthy, loving relationship to join my database for free.
Have you ever had to pivot?
In the business world, pivoting refers to shifting the direction of my company or life. It involves significantly changing my business model, and I did just that in October 2019. My business partner of 10 years wanted to part ways. At first, I was very bummed and disappointed. Why would she want a work divorce from me? I was hurt. I founded the company in 2009 and invited her to be my 50/50 business partner. We got along incredibly. We each had strengths and weaknesses that made us partner up nicely. Where I lacked, she excelled, and vice versa. She did not see the success of our company and wanted different things. She may have identified a new opportunity that better aligned with her and her boyfriend’s goals. She wanted to make more money. We were making a significant income. We parted ways and ironed out how to divide our business assets. This move turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
In that first year of my being a solo entrepreneur and making immediate changes to fit my lifestyle and mission statement of my company, I doubled my annual income without even trying. I stayed focused on what was necessary: to find men and women whom I wanted to serve at the highest level. I was being selective in whom I was inviting as a client. I didn’t want to help just anyone. I wanted to help people I connected with and see them being open-minded in finding their match. So I took over all the duties (and subcontracted where needed) and responsibilities and exploded. I have no regrets about the new direction of my career.
Pivoting can be a bold and scary move, but I was very fortunate. I already profoundly understood my industry since I was involved with all the industry groups and people. By pivoting, my company stayed relevant, remained competitive, and continued to provide value to my customers.
It is important to note that pivoting doesn’t necessarily mean abandoning my old business model altogether. Instead, it can be a strategic shift that builds upon my company’s core strengths while also addressing the evolving market needs. Successful pivots require careful planning, research, testing, and execution. I talked to many people in my industry to land where I am today. The direction and guidance of the Global Love Institute and the Matchmakers Alliance made my pivoting a lot easier.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
When I started Two Asian Matchmakers, I financed the business with my own money. Fortunately, I made good money at my corporate job, so the initial start-up costs were manageable. These costs included creating a business website, designing business cards, joining networking groups such as the Chamber of Commerce, and investing my time in activities such as getting on social media and meeting clients at coffee shops and hotel lobbies.
The best part is that starting up a matchmaking business does not have to require much capital. I hired a business coach, took a Matchmakers Certification course to learn everything I needed, and attended conferences to expand my knowledge and network. Personal savings were my first funding source, and I didn’t have to ask family or friends for financial support.
Starting a matchmaking business is low-cost unless you revamp your wardrobe or buy a new car. However, I already had a nice car and many suits from my previous corporate job, so I only needed to make a few changes there.
I highly recommend learning from experienced matchmakers, as it is invaluable to growth in this industry. I teach Asian matchmakers how to become professionals with all the trade secrets. The course cost is under $10,000, and after undertaking one or two clients, the investment is quickly recovered, ultimately launching a career with half the time it took me to get where I am today.
Overall, financing a business venture can be done in various ways, and entrepreneurs can explore their options to find the best path to success.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.TwoAsianMatchmakers.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matchmakermay/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TwoAsianMatchmakers
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayhui/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/AsianMatchmaker
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/twoasianmatchmakers
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/two-asian-matchmakers-los-angeles-2
- Other: Podcast: The Asian Dating Podcast