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Wai Foong Ng is the visionary CEO and Founder of Matchable, a B2B impact startup that operates a platform connecting employees with innovative volunteering projects tailored to them, at nonprofits and other impact startups around the world.  

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Matchable’s roots can be traced back to its incubation at the Good Lab—a collaborative effort involving eight major UK charities including The British Red Cross and Save The Children. This initiative was sparked by a growing market trend: companies offering paid volunteering time off to staff because it aligned with their values, as well as to meet the rising demand from employees to contribute more to the community. Despite 86% of companies providing such benefits, only 17% of employees engaged, primarily due to the challenge of finding suitable opportunities.  

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The core objective was to simplify the volunteering process, and to address this challenge, Matchable developed a 60-second quiz. This innovative tool matches employees within minutes with suitable projects based on their interests, skills, and availability. Foong states “the platform features thousands of innovative and transformative projects, making volunteering not only accessible but also engaging and experiential”.  

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Matchable’s commitment to accessibility is evident in its approach, with 90% of projects being fully remote. The emphasis on inclusivity is exemplified by the platform’s first autistic volunteer, who found opportunities that accommodated her needs. By focusing on providing quick and accessible opportunities, Matchable aspires to redefine volunteering for future workforces.  

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Innovation Challenge Triumph: Matchable’s Journey from Pitch to Impact  

Looking back on her involvement in the 2021 Innovation Challenge, Foong conveys her excitement about participating in the event. “The excellence of organisations applying for the Innovation Challenge is remarkable, and the diversity of startups emerging is truly amazing; people coming from minority backgrounds bring a unique perspective, making them founders with a distinctive and interesting approach.”  

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Securing victory not only offered an opportunity to refine pitching skills and build confidence, but also resulted in forging valuable connections and subsequent discussions. Foong notes “it was a nice platform to practice pitching, but also validate our innovation because we won the challenge knowing that these corporate buyers would be interested in our solution”.  

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The £5,000 prize money was instrumental for Matchable’s development, serving a dual purpose in marketing and technology investment; it contributed to brand-building and part of the marketing expenditure involved hiring an external consultant to provide insights on positioning and campaign strategies. Three years later, Matchable successfully executed an out-of-home campaign with JCDecaux, leveraging the fun tone and distinctiveness of the original concept. This campaign in 2023 covered over 170 train stations across the UK, including a prominent billboard in Waterloo station during New Year’s.  

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Additionally, Foong received mentoring from Accenture and one of her mentors, Linda, and she emphasised how it helped with her leadership, personal development, and how to manage people more effectively. “It was really helpful to get someone else’s perspective, who was more experienced, and it was cathartic and educational”.  

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Entrepreneurial Growth: Matchable’s Revenue Surge and Global Collaborations  

Over the past three years, Matchable’s revenue has increased from £100,000 to just under half a million; and as the overall winner, Foong gained a week-long entrepreneurship course in Dartmouth, USA. The funded experience provided invaluable insights from speakers and tutors, new frameworks to apply to the business, and connections with fellow founders. She appreciated the opportunity to visit an American university campus and expressed gratitude to MSDUK. “I’m really grateful for the opportunity, it was a priceless experience for me and there were lots of incredible founders and tutors which was surreal and amazing”.  

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Recently, Matchable has facilitated a skills-based volunteering project with the creative team at Innocent Drinks, and matched them with an organisation called Blossom LGBT, which empowers LGBTQ+ young adults to bloom in their social and professional lives without the fear of discrimination. Foong expresses Matchable’s core belief, “it was a real showcase project for us because what we really believe at Matchable is that you can make a huge impact by volunteering the skills that only you can offer”.  

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They now serve nearly 100 clients and approximately 30,000 employees across these companies, including notable brands such as Dentsu, Indeed Flex and Kroo  

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Foong’s Insights: Entrepreneurial Advice   

Foong extends advice to other businesses looking to take part in the Innovation Challenge. “Go for it – put your best foot forward, highlight the best features and uniqueness of what you do because a lot can be gained from that exposure, such as potential buyers and networking with like-minded entrepreneurs”.