Having previously served time, Matthew Poh transformed his sentence into a second chance. Today, he runs The Caffeine Experience (TCE), a cat café and specialty coffee roaster that brews hope and creates opportunities for ex-offenders like himself. Through his dedication as a social entrepreneur, his work with TCE has earned him recognition as one of SIM Trailblazers, where our alumni are making meaningful impact in their industries.
Initially fueled by passion, faith, and instinct, Matthew later enrolled in the Dr Richard K M Eu – SIM Social Entrepreneurship Centre (RESSEC)’s Specialist Diploma in Social Entrepreneurship (SDSE) to better serve marginalised communities and grow his business into a thriving organisation — proving that transformation and opportunity truly go hand in hand.
Tell us about your journey. How did The Caffeine Experience begin?
The Caffeine Experience (TCE) began in 2015 — scribbled on a piece of paper in a prison cell.
When we finally opened our doors in April 2017, the mission was simple but powerful: to brew second chances for ex-offenders, seniors, and at-risk youth through the dignity of meaningful work.
What I had then was passion and lived experience. What I didn’t yet know was how to build an organisation that could survive long enough to fulfil that mission.
What made you decide to join the Specialist Diploma in Social Entrepreneurship (SDSE) programme offered by RESSEC?
I realised that passion alone is not enough to sustain impact.
The SDSE programme gave me something I was missing — language, structure, and strategic discipline. It helped me understand how to build a social enterprise that is both mission-driven and sustainable.
How did the programme change the way you run your organisation?
Before the programme, I operated mostly on instinct and faith.
The programme introduced structured ways to think about our work — how we identify beneficiary needs, design programmes, and measure outcomes.
Today, we are much more intentional in how we operate.
The programme equipped me to articulate and evidence our impact rather than simply feel it. Learning to quantify what we do, and communicate it clearly to funders and partners, has transformed how TCE presents itself to the world.
Can you share an example of something you implemented immediately?
Design thinking was one of the most powerful tools I brought back. The SDSE programme introduced me to Design Thinking as an operational discipline, and I brought it straight back to the organisation.
We started conducting structured interviews with our beneficiaries to map their real journeys and understand their barriers, but also what a truly transformative experience looks like for them.
That changed how we onboard staff, design training, and support people through their challenges.
We stopped assuming. We started listening more deliberately.
Did the programme influence your strategic planning as well?
Absolutely. The Lean Canvas framework transformed how we plan.
For the first time, I stress-tested our business model properly — mapping revenue streams, cost structures, and social value in one coherent view.
This discipline now guides everything from grant applications to evaluating new café opportunities.
Did the programme change your mission?
No, the mission remains the same. My faith and calling to serve “the least of these” continue to be the foundation of what we do. The SDSE programme gave us a method and tools to work smarter every day.
SDSE has profoundly changed how I pursue that mission — with greater clarity, better systems, and stronger confidence that the work can endure.
What guidance would you give to someone starting out in social entrepreneurship?
I would recommend learning the right frameworks early and valuing the power of structure. It saves a lot of time and mistakes along the way.
Passion will get you started, but clarity, planning, and disciplined execution are what let you turn ideas into lasting impact.
About Dr Richard K M Eu – SIM Social Entrepreneurship Centre (RESSEC)
Established in honour of Dr. Eu’s legacy, RESSEC is dedicated to advancing social entrepreneurship in Singapore. Its bespoke Specialist Diploma in Social Entrepreneurship (SDSE) prepares learners with industry-relevant skills to tackle real-world social challenges. Interested in making an impact and contributing to the social service sector? Sign up for SDSE today!