Linktree alumni Jessica Box launches Matched, a new platform to democratise access to knowledge

At SXSW Sydney this week, tech startup Matched announced the debut of its waitlist for a new platform that aims to democratise access to knowledge and expertise.

According to Matched, it allows ‘Learners’ and ‘Trainers’ to be paired up based on common interests.

This structure is designed to help individuals from various backgrounds achieve their personal and professional goals more efficiently ,whether it be securing a new job, transitioning industries, or undertaking physical challenges.

The conception of Matched came from founders Jessica Box and Susan He’s experiences with the Girls in Tech’s Australian community: Box was formerly Head of Growth at Linktree, and He the Melbourne-based unicorn’s Group Product Manager.

They identified a persistent challenge for underrepresented groups regarding access to opportunities and experiences, primarily due to closed networks and systemic barriers.

“I’ve long been frustrated by the inequality in opportunities given they’re solely reliant on the people you meet and your 9-5. I’ve been fortunate to have many opportunities by dabbling in paid and volunteer work to achieve the goals I’m passionate about,” Box said in an email to SmartCompany.

“Our vision for Matched is to give that same opportunity to everyone who earns a living, at a time when Gen Z are exploring portfolio careers as creators and less concerned with a 9-5. To make this happen we won’t designate individuals as a Learner or Trainer only, which broadens the opportunity for growth in learning from someone while also mastering your skills by paying it forward.”

Users will be able to choose between group or or one-on-one sessions. Additionally, Trainers on the platform have the option to monetise their time or offer free support to underrepresented communities.

Matched confirmed with SmartCompany that Trainers will be able to set their low prices, as well as the frequency for their sessions.

“Underrepresented groups and prices will be selected by the Trainers when they’re setting up their 1:1s or groups so they’re in control of their time allocated to knowledge sharing,” Box said.

“Examples include gender identity, ethnicity, physical ability and we’ll have an open option for them to choose in the product as well.”

Box also confirmed that Matched will have a freemium offering in the future, but was unable to share further details just yet.

During the announcement at SXSW, Box disclosed the involvement from leaders in organisations such as Snap, TEDx, Culture Amp, Graphite, Girls in Tech, and Linktree, as Master Trainers. Early subscribers to the waitlist will have exclusive access to these professionals’ career narratives, including insights into their successes and failures.

When discussing the influences behind Matched’s features, Box shared her insights from previous roles.

“I personally experienced this challenge in my most recent executive role at Linktree, leading growth from bootstrapped to $1bn in value. The company was scaling to a stage I hadn’t experienced. I actively wanted to close the gap between my experience and knowledge, but couldn’t easily find the right types of experienced people that would be suited to me,” Box said.

At the present time, Matched says it is focusing on market fit ahead of raising cash so it can solve the most painful problems for its users.

“We’ve had significant interest from global investors but have made the decision to remain bootstrapped to avoid distractions at this current stage,” Box said.

“We haven’t decided yet which capital path will be the right one for us, but when we do we’ll be strategic in who we partner with based on their passion for using business as a tool for good, and the doors they can open for us.”