With the way we’re progressing, you might think online dating is the best way to meet for most of us these days. But Simran and Siddharth Mangharam like to think otherwise.
The Floh founders have now started Beyond Work, an invitation-only network where working professionals can meet in real time. Want to get a taste of single malts, mix your own cocktails, visit vineyards, barbeque or cookouts, quiz or learn a new form of art or better still go for a bicycle picnic, run, treks, talk or listen to people’s travel experiences, or lend a ear to those who shifted careers or other such fun activities? Then Simran and Sid have it all planned for you.
Talking of the amalgamation of intellectuals over a drink, Siddharth explains, “We get the right people to meet at curated events, regardless of whether they want to just hangout, date or get married.
Since we have an expertise in this field, we understand the importance of getting the right people. When you meet interesting people, it could lead to interesting work opportunities as well, where professionals can interact while learning something new.
Anyone who is 21 and above, can be a part of Beyond Work; it is not a singles only club. There are entrepreneurs, artistes, architects, photographers and others and you never know who might strike a chord, get the right wavelength and strike a great conversation or even find an investor for your start-up. But we screen people before we allow them to be a part and those who’re not working are not allowed. We’ve tied up with a lot of alumni groups also like IIM, NIT, IIT, NIFT, art, medical or architecture schools etc for exclusive events.”
Shedding light into some of the events ahead, the Bengaluru boy who after studying in Mallya Aditi and St Joseph’s went to Mumbai for MBA and did a second MBA at Michigan, adds, “We are curating interesting events with pet lovers, treks outside the city or even outside the country as when you travel with someone you get a deeper insight into their personality. Our members have formed their own rock climbing group, book reading, mountaineering, poetry reading, riding club and so many other special interest groups.”
After working for a few top notch corporate houses, he returned to Bengaluru and was attacking the blue cheese platter at a party, when he caught the eye of his future life partner, Simran.
Simran quips adding with a smile, “We started talking and I messaged him first to which he instantly replied, “Your house for dinner this Saturday,” and after two years of dating, we got married. During one of our dining table conversations, one of my friends was visiting from Paris who faced a similar problem of how to filter the right people on a dating site and that’s when our start-up was created, where people could meet and do interesting things. Everyone seeks companionship! It’s not necessarily a place where you come to have a wild party.”
