Company: ZEIT HUND RAUM – Educational Leave & Seminars for Dog Owners

Founder: Marie Konrad 

Date Founded: January 5, 2026

Industry and Company: Education (professional and personal development)

What drives you? What is your motto?

Make the most of your TIME and grow together with your DOG in the SPACE we create together. We live by this—and through our dogs. 

What is your startup about, and what makes it special?

With us, you don’t have to choose between your personal development and time with your dog. That’s because our educational retreats and seminars make it possible to combine lifelong learning with a deep connection to your dog. These educational retreats aren’t about dog training—they’re about your professional development and personal growth. Your dog accompanies you as a learning partner and is integrated into the retreat programs through animal-assisted interventions. 

What have been your first successes?

It was an indescribable feeling to step into the spotlight and launch my website, www.zeithundraum.de. We’ve already received over 60 inquiries for the first three educational retreats on resilience, leadership skills, and dog photography (scheduled for March, June, and September 2027 at beautiful, nature-rich, and dog-friendly locations on the Baltic Sea, in the Spessart, and in the Eifel). Since August, ZEIT HUND RAUM has been a certified educational provider in Hesse for conducting educational retreats. Our team of trainers is growing and currently consists of resilience trainers, MBSR and mindfulness trainers, communication and leadership skills trainers, and an expert in dog and nature photography as well as marketing. 

What is your professional background?

I’ve been working in the field of education and human resources development for over 18 years and have successfully completed degrees in business administration and adult education. I founded ZEIT HUND RAUM as a side business; my full-time job, which I’ve been doing with great dedication for over five years, is as an education manager at vhs Wiesbaden in the Work and Career department. Through my side business, I’m fulfilling my dream of combining my love for dogs with my desire to support people in their personal development journeys. 

What prompted you to start your own business?

As a dog lover, I faced a challenge myself about two years ago: I wanted to book an educational leave but had no one to care for my dog. There were only two programs nationwide where participants could bring their dogs, but those programs were already fully booked. That made me realize that other dog owners must be facing the same situation as I was, and through my research, I discovered that there were no specialized educational providers combining educational leave with dog-assisted learning. That was the spark that led me to found ZEIT HUND RAUM!

Who advised you, and who are your supporters and mentors?

My partner and friends encouraged me to work on bringing my idea to life and to be bold. From October 2025 through September 2026, I’ve been a participant in the funded women’s entrepreneurship program “CoCo – Frauen gründen” and have benefited from one-on-one and group coaching sessions as well as online workshops. 

What was it like during your first few days as a founder?

It was exciting in a positive way as the idea—which originally existed only in my head—became more and more concrete and gained visibility through the website and Instagram. When the first inquiries came in quickly, I realized that other dog owners feel the same way I do and that my service solves a real pet-care problem while also providing so much added value through the connections within the co-learning community with dogs.

What was your biggest challenge, and how did you overcome it?

I became very anxious because, six months after submitting my complete application to the Hessian Ministry of Social Affairs, I still hadn’t received certification as an educational institution. Fortunately, a strongly worded letter explaining my personal situation as a startup founder sped up the process, so that ZEIT HUND RAUM has been an officially recognized educational provider since the end of August, and I can now submit my educational leave applications for certification in other federal states as well. The advantage of continuing education programs recognized as “educational leave” is that employees receive up to five additional days of educational leave to participate in continuing education. Employees in all federal states (except Bavaria) can use this time off for educational purposes. 

How do you draw attention to your business? What’s your best marketing idea?

My website has been online since May. My three educational leave programs are listed on the educational leave portals www.bildungsurlaub.de and www.bildungsurlauber.de. I post on Instagram from time to time, though I could definitely be more active there, because a lot of people are actually discovering ZEIT HUND RAUM through Instagram.

How did you finance the launch of your business?

I’ve financed ZEIT HUND RAUM, the website, and all marketing costs so far using my own funds (savings). My hope is to find one (or more) partnership opportunities, ideally within the “dog community”—for example, dog food suppliers, dog accessory retailers, or another company with a social impact or innovative mission that aligns with our values. 

What other dream would you like to make a reality?

With the financial support of a partner, I’d also like to make it possible for people with lower incomes to participate in a ZEIT HUND RAUM educational retreat—for example, through a scholarship. My biggest dream would be to have my own academy for ZEIT HUND RAUM’s programs—ideally on the Baltic Sea with a dog beach right on my doorstep. 

Please complete the following sentence: If I had more time, I would...

...develop even more educational retreat formats for people with dogs; there are still so many ideas, but we’re starting with three programs in 2027 and gaining experience.

What’s your top tip: What would you recommend to founders?

Pursue your goals and be bold. You’ll surpass your own limits when you step outside your comfort zone. And it really helps to make connections along the way and build a personal network where you can strengthen and support one another.