Near A Builder: disrupting old-school construction
88mph startup, Near A Builder is using its digital platform to disrupt the old-school construction industry with an online and mobile approach to connecting clients and contractors.
Near A Builder is a platform that connects property owners, tradesmen and contractors via web and mobile channels.
According to the platform’s co-founder, Roy Postings, Near A Builder works by allowing property owners to receive reputable, reliable, accredited tradesmen to quote on their projects by viewing a detailed profile page of each tradesmen, while tradesmen receive credible leads via email and sms.
“Clients who make use of the service are then able to rate and comment on the tradesmen used to complete their projects, which will then provide a star rating system which is auto generated,” Postings said.
The product is location-based, integrating with Google maps, so tradesmen can on the fly via mobile or web view opportunities whenever, wherever he finds himself,” said Near A Builder co-founder, Roy Postings.
Local suppliers are emailed to the owners with directions, address etc which pertains to that particular project.
What inspired you to start up this business?
Having been in the industry for a combined total of 20 years with our own construction companies, we have experienced first-hand the pitfalls that clients and tradesmen alike go through to complete a project.
Prior to joining 88mph, the co-founders completed an 18-month case study on three companies; the result was a business plan that was submitted to the 88mph programme.
The case studies are very interesting as all 3 companies reached success as to how they were before by boosting profits considerably.
How long has your business been operating?
While our business has been in ideation for a couple months, we started full-time operations February 1, 2013 here at the 88mph Garage.
How many people are employed at the business?
Currently the three of us co-founders: Roy Postings, Danny Kesta Havenga and Sebastian Mark Matroos.
Are you currently profitable? – if not, when do you foresee the business turning a profit?
As mentioned, we officially launched our business at the beginning of February. We now have a community of tradesmen signed up, and foresee our business turning a profit very soon.
What has the 88mph Startup Garage done for your business so far?
It would have been impossible for us to attempt this on our own. We have learned an exceptional amount about online start-ups and the mentorship is invaluable.
But if we had to pin point one thing, it will have to be that 88mph has put us in touch with a great international network and top notch in-house resident mentors that are available all-day, everyday and work with us around the clock to fine-tune our business from all aspects.
It is a great working environment & our network has increased.
What other stream of investment have you tapped to get your business off the ground?
We are only self-funded and 88mph funded.
What is your business goal for 2013?
We would like to have 50,000 job posts per month in Cape Town.
Where do you see your business in 2 years’ time?
To be a well-recognized brand for industry with a job posting of 500,000 per month throughout major cities in RSA.
Startup culture in South Africa
Postings firmly believes that the Internet is the way to go for startups in SA, and that as more people get connected, more ideas will spring forth.
“We are still in the early stages here in Africa, and we have the challenge of changing the mindset of our target audience who is used to doing things manually,” Postings said.
“Our opinion is that the Internet is the future, and startups will be commonplace in the next 5 years – but this depends on the public getting accustomed to doing most of their daily needs via the Internet.”
About 88mph
88mph makes investments in early stage mobile-web companies targeting the African market, focusing purely on ideas with potential to scale across Africa.
The three month accelerator programme was launched in South Africa last year, aiming to assists start-ups by providing them with investment, access to business networks and the know-how to quickly grow their businesses.
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