MyBuilder.com is a UK based, independent, online marketplace that serves to connect homeowners to recommended local builders and tradesmen.
Using MyBuilder is free for homeowners. The business is monetised primarily by charging builders a small success fee, when they successfully secure work through the website.
Business
editMyBuilder aims to solve the common problem of where and how to find a good builder, while simultaneously dispelling negative misconceptions about tradespeople. The site facilitates the hiring process by providing resources and tools for communication, backed up by a useful recommendation model to reinforce accountability. Tradesmen are reviewed by homeowners who have hired them through the site. Homeowners are able to review genuine feedback and profiles for local builders before they hire[1].
History
editThe company was founded by US born Ryan Notz, who thought of it while working in Bristol as a roofer and stonemason[2].
- 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
Partners & Funding
editMyBuilder won the Seedcamp competition in 2007[3], 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[4], earning support and promotion from the organisation, including their homes & property website 4homes.
Technology
editChief Technology Officer, Gavin Love, was the first employee, having been with the company since December 2007. He was responsible for the rebuilding of the technology and the launch of MyBuilder.com, using PHP, the Symfony framework, and PostgreSQL.
External Links
editReferences
edit- ^ "BBC - Website filters cowboy builders". BBC. 2008. Retrieved 2010-02-26.
- ^ "Telegraph - Wakeup and smell the new dotcom brew". Telegraph. 2008. Retrieved 2010-02-26.
- ^ "Seedcamp Winners". Retrieved 2010-02-26.
- ^ "Techcrunch - 4ip makes 350k equity investment in MyBuilder.com". Retrieved 2010-02-26.