Nestoria UK Blog

This month we once again dive into the London start-up scene with an interview of Ryan Notz, founder and CEO of MyBuilder.com, a site to help homeowners find and instruct builders. Prior to founding MyBuilder, Ryan worked as a stonemason, roofer, teacher and artist.

Ryan, thanks for chatting with us!

1. Tell us about MyBuilder. What problem does the service solve?

It solves two problems really: the difficulty homeowners have in finding good builders; and the problems builders have in getting the right kind of work, when they need it. I was going through a dry spell with my stonemasonry, while trying to support my wife and two kids. That kind of pressure led to a lot of frustration, and I recognised a real problem in the industry. But for some reason, rather than seeking more security in a job, I went the other direction and started a web business. There must have been something wrong with my head…

Anyway, the idea was to create a website where builders could create a profile that describes their skills and experience – and most importantly, have feedback history from homeowners who have hired them through the site. Homeowners in turn would be able to choose who to hire by comparing all this information, knowing that after their project is done, they can add to the builder’s reputation in a positive or negative way. There is an element of accountability with a system like that which I really liked.

2. Recently it seems all the hype is about pure online start-ups like Twitter, Facebook, MySpace. Your business goes in the other direction, it’s very much a tool for simplifying offline transactions. What are some of the challenges to introducing new ways of working to offline trades.

That’s an interesting question. I very much think of MyBuilder as a technology company, though I can see how someone else could take a different view. We are trying to solve a real world problem, that’s for sure. Bricks and mortar make up the real world, but so do people – and this is the most important element. We’re trying to help bring people together who want to interact with each other, through a fantastic communication tool: the web. Facebook and Twitter are no different, actually.

In terms of convincing builders that they should be looking online to find work, I don’t think that’s our job. We provide a tool for those who want to use it, and if it’s useful enough, that side of things takes care of itself. We’ve seen people learning how to use the web for the first time because they’ve been told they can get work through MyBuilder.com. The need to earn a living is so powerful, you can’t imagine what some people will do. And I can really relate to that.

3. Again and again I hear people talk about how much easier life is for start-ups in the US. Yet, you, an American, chose to start your business here in the UK. Why? And how have you found the business atmosphere versus the US?

Well, to be fair, I was already living here when I started the business. My wife is English and my kids were all born here. But I could have easily moved to California or Austin, and my wife would happily have gone along. We even lived in Philadelphia for a while after having our first child. I guess I just fell in love with Britain and saw the need for MyBuilder here. It is a problem that is particularly acute in the UK. The business climate has certainly worked for me, I have no complaints. More importantly perhaps, was my decision to move from Bristol to London. I love Bristol, but that made all the difference. From fund-raising to building a team to meeting with potential partners, it’s so much easier in London. I think of other tech hotspots like Silicon Valley in the same way: the critical mass of people just makes it easier.

4. MyBuilder has wracked up some impressive awards and great press coverage. What’s the secret? What advice do you have for others contemplating starting their own business – especially those folks looking to bring new technology to bear on traditional industries?

I’m tempted to say that there’s no special sauce. But maybe there is, and it’s just a combination of things. For me, it started by addressing a real problem and having a desire to make the world a better place. It may sound cheesy, but I think that’s important. It’s also about what you want to do with your life and finding a path that’s fulfilling. If starting a business becomes the right thing to do, then you have to do it and rise to the challenge. It’s certainly not easy. It takes a lot of courage and persistence and hard work. You give a lot of blood, sweat and tears along the way. If you’re not doing the right thing for yourself, you won’t last. If you are doing the right thing, people around you will recognise that.

Ryan, thanks for the revealing chat. I can confirm that starting a company takes persistence and hard work. As we like to say, it’s a roller coaster – hang on and enjoy the ride. Keep up the great work!

For any readers out there thinking about having some work done, check out MyBuilder.com

past Nestoria interviews: Lance Johnson, Peter Le Masurier, Henry Yates.