Lin Qiu, co-founder of ShakeaPaw

Lin Qiu is a final year DPhil candidate in Clinical Neuroscience, and alongside her colleague Shu Wei, a final year DPhil candidate in Psychiatry, she co-founded ShakeaPaw. Although their company is in its early stages, their enthusiasm and readiness to bring their vision to life are boundless. ShakeaPaw, born from extensive discussions and shared aspirations, is currently comprised of just the two founders who are eager to learn, grow and seek advice as well as funding to propel their startup forward. They believe strongly in the potential of ShakeaPaw and are excited to engage with the community as they take their first public steps.

ShakeaPaw aims to revolutionise local dog owners' social networking with a unique app. The platform allows owners to act as agents for their pets on a Tinder-like dating app, share pictures and clips, and exchange valuable pet care knowledge and services. It fosters a trustworthy community based on dog friendships, enabling owners to support each other with daycare, walks, and public responsibilities. 

  What is your background? What made you decide to become an entrepreneur? My background is in Clinical Neuroscience, where I am currently completing my DPhil. Prior to this, I played a key role in a startup focused on a location-based home-exchange website and spent a year in market research, serving high-profile clients such as Google, Apple, Intel, and Lenovo. This experience has not only sharpened my insights into technology but has also fuelled my interest in leveraging tech to solve real-world problems. My decision to become an entrepreneur stems from a deep-seated drive to transform innovative ideas into impactful products. I thrive on seeing the tangible effects of my work on the community, which is why I co-founded ShakeaPaw. My journey is about making meaningful contributions that enhance people's lives, combining my academic pursuits with entrepreneurial ventures to create solutions that matter.   What is your definition of entrepreneurship? For me, entrepreneurship is the ultimate expression of creative freedom and the ability to innovate without constraints. I thrive in environments where I can lead the direction of my work and continually challenge the status quo. My drive stems from a deep desire to create new ways of living and interacting that currently do not exist, transforming everyday experiences into opportunities for meaningful human connections.   Throughout my ventures, from a cost-free house-exchange platform to the development of ShakeaPaw, my focus has consistently been on building community and fostering trust through genuine connections. ShakeaPaw embodies this vision by addressing a clear need: enabling people to connect and share their lives in a way that balances openness with the comfort of privacy. My aim is to revolutionize how people interact, breaking down barriers of conservatism in personal sharing, and paving the way for a more harmonious and connected society.   Entrepreneurship, to me, is about seeing beyond the commercial to impact lives positively, creating spaces where people can interact authentically and supportively. It's about leading a cultural shift towards more loving and trustworthy human connections, challenging the existing landscape of services that fall short of these ideals.   How and when did you know your idea was good enough to develop it? The realization that my idea had the potential to become a successful venture came from a combination of personal experiences and the unique chemistry with my business partner. Over the years, while living in Germany and the Netherlands, I was somewhat hesitant to transition my ideas into a business. However, finding a like-minded partner in academia who also embraced entrepreneurial thinking gave me the confidence to take the leap.   Specifically, my experience as a dog owner deeply informed my understanding of the market needs. I've engaged extensively with other dog owners, often knowing them first by their pets' names, and we've shared information in an organic, community-driven manner. These interactions underscored a clear gap in the pet industry for a service that enhances the way pet owners connect and share valuable insights without barriers. The synergy between my first-hand knowledge, ongoing dialogues with a community of pet owners, and the entrepreneurial spirit shared with my partner convinced me that we could create something transformative for the pet industry.   What would you say are the top 3 skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur and why? 1. Industriousness: In replacing 'creativity' with 'industriousness', I recognize the fundamental role that tenacity and structured effort play in turning good ideas into successful realities. While creativity sparks the initial concept, industriousness is what propels an idea through the myriad challenges of the real world. My experiences in both industry and academia have taught me that the true test of an idea's value is in its execution. Being industrious means applying consistent, disciplined work-traits that are essential to navigate the complexities of building and sustaining a business. This focus on hard work and perseverance is what ultimately transforms potential into performance.
2. Visionary Thinking: The ability to envision future possibilities and develop innovative solutions is crucial. Visionary thinking allows me to anticipate market trends, imagine new products or services, and create unique strategies that set my ventures apart from the competition. This forward-looking perspective is vital for driving growth and inspiring both the team and potential investors with a compelling vision of what our company can achieve. 3. Effective Communication: Clear and persuasive communication is essential for any entrepreneur. It is the skill that enables me to articulate my vision, negotiate with stakeholders, motivate my team, and connect with customers. Effective communication ensures that my ideas are understood and embraced, which is critical for securing funding, building customer loyalty, and fostering a collaborative team environment.   What is your favourite part of being an entrepreneur? My favourite part of being an entrepreneur is the thrill of embracing risk. I find that taking calculated risks is not only exhilarating but also essential for breakthrough innovation and growth. Each risk represents a challenge to overcome and an opportunity to learn and adapt. This aspect of entrepreneurship keeps me engaged and continually pushes me to think creatively and strategically. It's about stepping into the unknown with confidence and a readiness to pivot as needed, which ultimately leads to personal and professional development. Embracing risk is fundamental to not just surviving but thriving in the dynamic world of entrepreneurship.   What individual, company or organization inspires you most? Why? The individual who inspires me most is the co-founder of the first startup I worked with, a serial internet company entrepreneur. His influence was profound for several reasons: Empowerment through Learning: He taught me that I could learn almost any skill at 80% over a weekend, instilling a powerful drive for self-education. Strategic Insight: He emphasized the importance of deep knowledge in SEO, which could dramatically reduce costs and enhance business visibility. Team Building: He showed me the critical importance of a good team in driving a company's success and fostering an innovative culture.   If you had 5 minutes with the above individual/ company/organization, what would you want to ask or discuss? Do you still just want a buy-out? :) I would want to delve into his thoughts on sustaining passion and innovation over time in the highly volatile tech industry. Specifically, I'd ask, "How do you balance the drive for continual innovation with the operational demands of a growing business?" This would help me understand better ways to manage my own entrepreneurial ventures, ensuring they remain cutting-edge yet stable.   What has been your most satisfying or successful moment in business? The most satisfying moment in my business career was during the pitch for our location-based house-exchange website to potential investors. It was a crucial affirmation of our ideas and execution strategy, marking a peak of validation for our hard work and innovation. Unfortunately, the project had to be discontinued due to external factors-Google Maps being banned in China-but the experience of aligning a team and presenting a vision successfully was profoundly rewarding.   What would you say have been some of your mistakes, failures or lessons learned as an entrepreneur? One significant lesson came from the unexpected discontinuation of our house-exchange website project. The external factor of Google Maps' ban in China taught me the importance of anticipating geopolitical and regulatory changes that could impact the business. This experience has made me more vigilant and adaptable, emphasizing the need for a flexible business model that can withstand such unforeseen challenges in different markets. I've learned that resilience and the ability to pivot are just as crucial as innovation and operational efficiency.   How have you funded your ideas? Until now, my personal projects have primarily been funded through academic channels, specifically through my university as part of my research initiatives in clinical neuroscience.   For the first startup I was involved with, we secured funding from several key individuals associated with Google China. Their backing not only provided the necessary capital to advance our venture but also affirmed the potential of our business concept in the competitive tech space. This experience gave me invaluable insights into attracting investment and the importance of aligning with stakeholders who share a vision for the project's impact and success.   Are there any sector-specific awards/grants/competitions that have helped you? As ShakeaPaw is newly launched, we have not yet had the opportunity to participate in sector-specific awards, grants, or competitions. However, we are actively exploring and planning to engage with relevant opportunities in the near future.   What is good about being an entrepreneur in Oxfordshire? Bad? Here's how you can constructively answer the question about the advantages and challenges of being an entrepreneur in Oxfordshire, based on the positive aspects you've provided: Good: Oxfordshire offers a vibrant community that is highly engaging and communicative, which is particularly beneficial for a new venture like ShakeaPaw. Having established a strong network within the local pet owner community through platforms like WhatsApp, I have direct access to our target market. This connectivity allows us to gather valuable feedback, test our service effectively, and adapt quickly to meet user needs. Additionally, the region's active and supportive atmosphere is ideal for fostering startup growth, making it an excellent testing ground for refining our offerings before expanding to other markets. Bad: Currently, there are no significant drawbacks I've encountered as an entrepreneur in Oxfordshire. However, as we look to expand, we may face challenges typical of scaling businesses, such as navigating different regional regulations or adapting to markets outside of our initial scope. Nonetheless, the foundational experiences and insights gained in Oxfordshire are expected to be instrumental in overcoming these challenges.   If a new entrepreneur or startup came to you looking for entrepreneurship resources, where would you send them? EnSpire and the George Street Social next to St Peters (my college), where we always run into other entrepreneurs.   Have you faced any challenges as a woman entrepreneur? If so, how have you overcome them? In the tech and STEM fields, where I am most active, there's a prevalent underestimation of women's capabilities in understanding and innovating technology. This bias extends beyond just interpersonal interactions-it affects professional opportunities, from securing funding to being taken seriously in strategic meetings and industry gatherings.   How to overcome? Building a Resilient Network: I focus on cultivating a robust network of allies and mentors who support my vision. I persistently advocate for my ideas and projects, refusing to take 'no' for an answer. This resilience ensures I can push past initial rejections and find those willing to invest in my capabilities. Enhancing My Profile in Neutral Contexts: I've worked to establish my credibility in environments where gender is less likely to influence outcomes, such as through publishing research papers and contributing to peer-reviewed journals. These achievements speak for themselves, showcasing my expertise and dedication without bias. Adopting a Self-Centered Mindset: Internally, I strive to start every professional interaction with the expectation that I will be treated on par with my peers, regardless of gender. This mindset helps me approach situations with confidence and assertiveness, focusing on my skills and contributions rather than potential prejudices. By implementing these strategies, I actively work to mitigate the impact of gender biases and create a more level playing field for myself and other women in STEM.   What resources would you recommend for women? We are good at maintaining networks. Build your social media profile and reach out!   How do you think institutions such as the University of Oxford could better support women entrepreneurs? More funding towards organizations such as Oxford Women in Business.   Do you have any advice for women who want to be entrepreneurs? Don't think like a man. Don't think like a woman. Think like a person.   Any last words of advice? Have a Plan B, but make all decisions according to Plan A.   You can keep up to date with Lin by following her on LinkedIn.