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Editor’s note: Matt Mattei was an editorial intern at MeetMindful.com prior to becoming a reporter for the Times Leader.
KINGSTON — In the world of technology startups and entrepreneurship, getting accepted to the Techstars accelerator program is like getting accepted to an Ivy League school. The prestigious program accepts only 10 companies from over 1,000 applicants.
Denver, Colorado-based dating website and mindfulness forum MeetMindful.com has recently matriculated with the help of an editor who oversees the publication from Northeast Pennsylvania.
MeetMindful has grown tenfold in the last six months under the watchful eye of founder and CEO Amy Baglan, chief product officer Adam Taylor and managing editor and Wyoming Valley native Sara Crolick.
Started by several entrepreneurs and venture capitalists, the Techstars program offers 90 days of mentorship and a $100,000 convertible note in exchange for a small amount of equity and participation in the program. Alumni include Sphero, Digital Ocean, CrowdTwist and ClassPass.
“The mentors that Techstars brings to the table are the best in the industry,” Baglan said. “The ability to have that type of mentorship and advice is critical for success, so we’re really excited about that feature.”
Mindfulness is defined as consciousness, in a moment or of a lifestyle, and is often associated with healthy living, meditation and spirituality. Part of MeetMindful’s mission is to make people aware that mindfulness comes in many forms.
“It’s been a constant challenge to overcome the notion some people have that spirituality and conscious living and mindfulness are things that are fringe behaviors and value sets,” Baglan said. “We tread an interesting line between embodying the values of the consciousness movement … while doing it in a way that is approachable and not threatening for people who might be interested in it but haven’t taken the plunge.”
Baglan said Crolick is an integral part of reaching out to those people.
“Sara, I like to think of as the keeper of all of our content … and the one who can really keep a pulse on what people are struggling with in our community,” Baglan said.
In addition to managing a revolving door of 15 to 20 writers on a monthly basis, Crolick is responsible for generating content ideas, posting on social media platforms, promotion, drafting newsletters and contributing her own writing.
“If it involves content at all, I’ve got my hands on it,” Crolick said.
She believes there is something unique about MeetMindful’s marriage of dating website to wellness publication.
“It’s a constant stream for our members — and non-members really — that accentuates the community aspect of what we’re doing,” Crolick said. “People have opportunities to share ideas through the medium of articles. I don’t think there are other dating websites that are doing that.”
Crolick said the constant sharing of ideas allows people who think they fall outside the realm of mindfulness to find it can be, or already is, part of his or her lifestyle and that something as simple as making one’s bed — part of Colick’s daily regimen — can be a conscious way to begin a day.
Baglan believes Crolick’s open and friendly communication with her writers, site users and colleagues is vital to the meaningful content generated and the positive mission the team is trying to accomplish and promote.
“We send out (newsletters) every week,” Baglan said. “That’s a huge part of the experience for people that makes them feel like MeetMindful is that older sibling who’s made it a little bit further along than they have and has some advice to share. Sara’s been so integral in playing that role.”
Baglan likens getting an email from Crolick to receiving a little Christmas present.
“Email is interesting,” Crolick said. “I think so many people miss a great opportunity to share some joy. I think there’s always an opportunity when you’re communicating to be a little playful, a little fun, and that’s one of the things I love about MeetMindful. From day one, we’ve been very supportive in our communication style.”
Upon graduating from Wilkes University, Crolick never imagined working for a tech startup dating site but is grateful for being in the entrepreneurial world.
“I’ve learned so much about myself, how I operate and how capable I am of managing a lot more than I would have ever given myself credit for,” Crolick said. “To be able to take what I consider my strengths — my love of language, my attention to grammar and the feel of words — and somehow turn that into a beneficial component of a tech startup company, is crazy. It’s awesome.”
To Baglan, Crolick embodies a unique commodity in the tech industry.
“That’s an incredible feat for someone to have the ability to have the people skills and artistic skills and the raw editing skills that she has,” Baglan said. “And she does it with a smile on her face every single day.”
MeetMindful is on a mission to help create one million conscious power couples by 2020.
