A L I YA B H AT I A
Class of 2010 Interviewed by Cam Henderson | August 2018
What could possibly make the GM of Hampton Suites in Vancouver leave her position to start a company aimed at creating a community for dog-owners? Aliya has had an array of experiences since her graduation from Mulgrave in 2004, but she took time to answer some questions about her new company PawSwap and explain why she left her high-level position to follow a dream.
What is PawSwap?
We have been testing our concept while developing a native iOS application with additional features such as
PawSwap is a platform that helps dog owners
virtual treats to incorporate a pay-it-forward model,
connect with other owners in their building, neigh-
which we will begin beta testing for in September 2018
bourhood, and community to watch their four-legged
with our early adopters. Our goal is to launch in
best friends while they work or are on vacation in a
Vancouver by October 2018 and then expand in major
safe, convenient, and completely free way. We have
cities across Canada and the US.
monthly meet-ups to help facilitate new friendships and a private Facebook group that our members use to
How did you first recognise there was a need for this
swap pet sitting services. Our mission is to make
service?
owning and caring for a dog easier by harnessing the
The hotel that I was working at required long, incon-
power of the sharing economy.
sistent hours and there were days that I couldn’t bring 31
