Adam Sachs (C05) and Dan Osit (C04)
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“Our systems went into a bit of a shock when we realized how hard it was to meet new people after college,” admits Adam Sachs (C05). Sachs and fellow alumnus Dan Osit (C04) recently launched Ignighter.com, an innovative dating site meant to make social networking a little easier, and certainly more enjoyable, than they had found it to be.
Out in the post-graduation world, the benefit of classes, Greek life, and clubs grew quite apparent. “[We] realized that what made meeting people so easy [at NU] was the group-based structure with which we did it,” says Sachs.
Meanwhile, their friends were bringing back their fair share of “horror stories of awkward experiences” from rendezvous set up through singles dating sites. The problem, the pair realized, was that these traditional sites disregarded the advantage of a group atmosphere. “We feel very strongly that in real life, you tend to meet new people through connections or in the company of your friends,” explains Sachs. “And that’s how Ignighter was born.”
Instead of matching up singles, Ignighter allows groups of friends to connect. “The group dynamic allows you to feel comfortable and be yourself — key factors for meeting somebody for the first time.”
The idea was an immediate success. During the summer of 2008, the pair was among 10 groups to attend a competitive three-month mentorship program for young, web-based startup companies. The host, TechStars, provided seed-stage financing and the guidance of veteran entrepreneurs and venture capitalists.
In August, Osit and Sachs headed for NYC and opened up the Ignighter office. The company now employs six full-time staff members, and with a steadily growing user base, it is the industry leader in group dating networks.
Tapping into the entrepreneurial energy they well know exists on college campuses, the duo recently established a campus ambassador program. Recruited students use social media tools such as Facebook and Twitter to spread the word about Ignighter and help organize events and parties in the area.
For the time being, Sachs and Osit are focusing on expanding their base in New York, but they do plan to launch a branch in Chicago soon. Sachs notes that NU in particular “challenges its students to think critically and outside the box,” so Ignighter will certainly look to collaborate with other Northwestern students in the near future.
Osit and Sachs also continue to rely on NU’s extensive alumni community for support as their company grows. Inspired by this strong network, they recently founded the NU Startup Society of NYC to connect entrepreneurs around the city. “It’s great to see how eager people are to help each other out and share experiences,” says Sachs, adding that they wanted to do the same.
Read more alumni and student spotlights.
Posted June 17, 2009.
