Martine Davis on Running a Successful Business… and Becoming the Unexpected Techy at 50+

I imagine you wouldn’t expect a woman in her 50s to launch a tech platform from scratch. I certainly didn’t expect it either. But that’s exactly what I did.

After divorcing during Covid and dealing with the upheaval of moving home, both emotionally and practically, the last thing I thought I’d do was create a tech company. But here we are.

Start With the Idea

My entry into entrepreneurship didn’t begin with a tech startup, it began with dating. A friend hired an expensive matchmaking agency that left her disappointed, and I found online dating equally unsatisfying. My reaction? “I think I can do better myself.”

So, I created my own bespoke matchmaking company: Page Introductions. The name felt obvious, after all, aren’t we all looking to be “on the same page”?

I built the brand from scratch, the logo, the website, and a network that expanded across the UK and overseas. I was proud of it. But the truth is, bespoke matchmaking is incredibly time-consuming, and unless you have a team of staff, you’re limited in how many people you can help.

Meanwhile, my sidekick Rusty (my cockapoo and constant companion) was influencing my life more than I realised. As a single dog mum, I plan nearly everything around him. Fortunately, the world has become more dog-friendly, but it still comes with limitations.

Then I started hearing more about the loneliness epidemic. People of all ages and life stages were struggling to connect, whether they were newly divorced, living rurally, working from home, or simply feeling isolated. On top of that, dating apps were becoming increasingly toxic. Ghosting, fake profiles, burnout. No thanks.

In January, a new idea emerged: Meet My Paws a global platform where dog lovers can connect for friendship, advice, local walks, travel tips, or even romance. And just like that, my next business was born.

Believe in Yourself (Even When You’re New to It All)

I had never built a tech platform before. But I believed in the idea. I believed in why I was building it.

I knew I wanted the branding to be warm and inclusive, the logo had to show a person, a dog, and a globe. The colour? Orange. Gender-neutral, cheerful, and impossible to miss.

I found a web developer who could translate my vision into something real and then came the hardest part: testing, tweaking, learning what worked and what didn’t. I had to put myself in the user’s shoes constantly. How would they navigate this? What would they expect?

And I had to learn to be patient, which isn’t my natural state.

Be Obsessed With It (In a Good Way)

Meet My Paws became my obsession in the best possible way.

I wanted it to be free. I didn’t want price to be a barrier to connection. I didn’t want it to be just for singles, or just for dog owners. Even if you don’t have a dog, you’re welcome as a “dog auntie,” “uncle,” or “grandpawrent.” I was done with pigeonholes.

And while there have been challenges (technical, emotional, logistical, you can take your pick), I still find it fulfilling. People are joining from across the UK, the USA, Europe, and beyond. We’re growing steadily and organically, and the feedback has been incredibly moving.

Final Thoughts

Running a business at any age is demanding but doing it at 50+ comes with a special kind of perspective. You don’t waste time. You don’t chase shiny objects. You just do it and figure the rest out as you go.

So, if you’re reading this and wondering whether your idea is worth pursuing, ask yourself:

What’s already a part of your life that could become something more? What frustrates you and how would you fix it? What could you make better?

That’s where the magic is.

By Martine Davis

Author Bio:

Martine Davis is the founder of Meet My Paws, a free global platform for dog lovers to connect for friendship, dog walks, advice, travel tips, or even romance. She previously ran a bespoke matchmaking agency (Page Introductions) and a garden design company (Balcombe Street Window Box Company). She lives in London with her beloved cockapoo, Rusty.