Every product has a beginning, but the story of infoodle is less about technology and more about people.
Spotting the problem
In 2011, Richard, our founder, was part of a management team where staff and volunteers worked tirelessly – but their systems let them down. Information was scattered across different places, paperwork piled up, and simple tasks like sending emails or tracking donations took far too long. Instead of supporting the work, the admin had become the work.
For Richard, this was more than a frustration. Having been a software developer since 1983 and running his own companies in both the UK and New Zealand since 1994, he recognised an opportunity: to build something better.
The first step
Richard offered to design a new system if the team would partner with him as his first client.
Together, they sketched out what was needed:
- One system that everyone could access in real time
- The ability to generate reports and communications quickly
- Tools for tracking donations and producing receipts
- Ways to simplify everyday admin so staff and volunteers could focus on people
This collaboration became the foundation of infoodle.
Values that shaped us
From day one, Richard wanted infoodle to be different. Too many software products felt like “black boxes,” where users were reduced to number and support was impersonal. A promise was made – infoodle would never be like that.
Instead, the company was built on the belief that technology should be relational. That behind every data field, report, or donation, is a person – someone whose time and impact matter. This people-first value still shapes how we design, how we support, and how we grow.
A vision to serve
The vision was simple: use Richard’s skills to serve the non-profit community, enabling them to be more effective in what they do. As he puts it, “I see myself vicariously doing the work of a charity or non-profits, by serving them with the skills I have.”
This perspective opened up something powerful: non-profits across the globe face remarkably similar challenges. Whether in New Zealand, the UK, or anywhere else, the need for reliable, relational systems is the same – infoodle was never just a local solution – it was designed to serve the global community.
Building a team
No founder’s story is complete without the people who join along the way. For Richard, one of the proudest parts of the journey has been the team that has grown with infoodle, starting with his wife Aukje. Some have stayed for years, others have moved on to new ventures, but all have left with the grounding and growth they found here.
Through global ups and downs, the team has upheld the same relational values that were set at the beginning: working honourably with each other and with every client.
Growth and milestones
Fast-forward to today, and infoodle’s growth tells its own story. We now support hundreds of organisations around the world, managing over a million records and tracking close to $1 billion in donations annually. And through it all, we’ve maintained what matters most: running an ethical, people-focused business that organisations can trust.
Numbers are impressive, but they’re not the end goal. What truly matters is the difference those numbers represent – the time saved, the stress reduced, and the impact amplified for organisations, community groups, and non-profits around the world.
Looking back – and looking forward
From a 3am lightbulb moment to a stable, growing company today, infoodle’s journey has always been about more than software. It’s about people: the staff and volunteers who needed a better way, the organisations who put their trust in us, and the team who continues to carry forward the values we were founded on.
Richard says it best: “We’re not just building software. We’re building a way for organisations to focus less on admin and more on the people and communities they serve.”
