MyBuilder

MyBuilder is an online marketplace that connects homeowners and tradesmen, founded by former tradesman Ryan Notz. Notable for being the first winner of the Seedcamp startup competition in 2007, MyBuilder was founded in Bristol, UK in 2004 and is now based in London.
The website is based around a feedback review system and works by introducing job posters to relevant, vetted tradesmen. Once a job has been completed through MyBuilder, feedback can be left for the hired tradesman on the website.
Since November 2011, MyBuilder operates by charging trade members ‘shortlist fees’ which range from £2 to £35. MyBuilder lists over 25,000 plumbers, electricians, painters, plasterers and other tradesmen and has had over 500,000 jobs posted since the company was founded.
History
The company was founded by Ryan Notz, who thought of the idea while working in Bristol as a stonemason. The business was developed to enable tradesmen in the UK to find jobs in their local area and find jobs suited to their skills. The website revolved around the process that users can check the profiles of tradesmen, and provide feedback for other users once the job is completed. After the relaunch and rebrand in 2008, MyBuilder had thousands of users and by 2009 had 20,000 users. By 2010, 85,000 jobs had been posted on the MyBuilder website.
*The Buildersite Limited was founded in October 2004.
*Buildersite.co.uk launched in the UK in February 2006.
*The website was relaunched and rebranded as MyBuilder.com in May 2008
Awards and achievements
*HSBC elevator pitch competition winner (2007)
*Seedcamp Investment Winner (2007)
*Shortlisted in Courvoisier Future 500 ‘the one to watch’ (2007)
*Finalist in the British Interactive Media Association (BIMA) Awards in the Property, Construction and Engineering category (2010)
*Number 6 in ‘Startups 100 2010’ - a hitlist of the UK’s best new businesses (2010)
*Shortlisted for the Future 50 Awards - a list of Britain’s most promising and exciting startups (2011)
Partners and funding
MyBuilder won the Seedcamp competition in 2007, and was rewarded with seed funding and support from a host of angel investors, including TAG (Robin & Saul Klein), Paul Birch, Jamie Murray Wells, Sean Park, Alex Hoye and others.
As a part of the Seed investment, Travis Perkins Group became a stakeholder in 2008, inviting MyBuilder in as a partner to their network of builders merchants and retail stores, including Wickes and Tile Giant.
The Channel 4 investment fund, 4iP, pledged investment in 2009.

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu