Today, Speed Dating in Colombia is the “talk of the town,” with our name and business prominently displayed on the front page of Business Owners’ Idea Cafe, the premiere small business destination!

Spotlight on Top Business Owners in Travel, Tourism & Hospitality                   December 8, 2010

Speed Dating in Colombia Name: Jason Wilson Location: Bogota, Cundinamarca Colombia Type of Business: Speed Dating What does your business do? We have Speed Dating events for single professionals. When and why did you start the biz? I founded Speed Dating in Colombia to help residents of Colombia in their quest of finding a mate. My experience as an English Teacher and resident of Bogotá motivated me to provide people with a fresh, new dating experience through which residents of Colombia can meet new people, practice their English, and have fun. How Many People are in your Company? 4 Where’s your office? My living room What’s the toughest part of running your biz? Finding cheap ways to advertise on a regular basis. What’s the most fun part? Seeing the couples participate in the event and matching the couples. What’s next on the horizon for your biz? Expanding to Medellin and other major cities in Colombia. What advice do you have for others? Stay positive and make sure that you have a solid marketing campaign. How do you use Idea Cafe to help your biz? Reading the profiles of other business owners and reading articles to get new business ideas. School (where, still in school, degree)? Morehouse College- Bachelor of Arts Degree Prior jobs or business? English teacher, personal trainer, sales Favorite Food? barbecued hamburgers, ribs, and shrimp What are your pets’ names? no pets Is there any one person or event in your life that led you to go into businessfor yourself? My wife Ruth Anyone you publicly want to thank? I would like to thank God and my wife Ruth for her love and unending patience. Contact Info: Jason Wilson jason@speeddatingincolombia.com Website: http://www.speeddatingincolombia.com

Speed Dating in Colombia

Ready, set, go! Speed dating arrives in Bogota

By Manuel Rueda, Editorial Director

Bogota – Friday, February 12th, 2010

An American English teacher is organizing the first speed dating events in Bogota in over a year.

Atlanta born Jason Wilson, who is married with a Colombian and has lived here for the past seven years, says he decided to set up his new company, Speed Dating in Colombia after noticing that during his private English lessons students frequently ended up asking him for “marriage counseling” and advice on relationships.

The laid back Wilson currently organizes English conversation groups near Bogota´s parque de la 93 and says he is setting up these new speed dating events so that people can have somewhere to “meet new folks” while “practicing their English.”

Foreigners and Colombians are welcome to attend Wilson´s speed dating events, but they must speak English and pay a 40,000 pesos entrance fee after registering on Speed Dating in Colombia´s website.

During the events each participant gets four to six minutes to talk to someone of the opposite gender before rotating over to the next guy or girl. Wilson says 6 men and 6 women have already signed up for the first event at Balché Wine Bar next Tuesday, which is targeted at 25 to 45 year old women and 35 to 55 year old men.

Another event for men aged 25 to 40 and women aged 20 to 35 will be held at the Pa´lo Bonito lounge on Wednesday night.

Participants at Wilson´s events will use scorecards to express their level of interest in the people they meet. The following day, participants will be contacted by the organizers with the phone numbers and emails of those who expressed interest in them.

Wilson is hoping he can stage several speed dating events per week in Bogota and other major Colombian cities, organizing events by different categories like age ranges, hobbies and religious affiliations. He says he is aiming for events that include up to 20 women and 20 men.