Ben Redwood

Ben Redwood, founder of construction tech startup Mutu, joins Andy to discuss resource efficiency in construction, the second worst digitised sector in the world (just ahead of hunting, per McKinsey). Mutu's platform helps contractors stop buying or hiring things they already own through digital inventory, internal marketplaces, and utilisation reporting. Ben's journey spans a PhD in mechanical engineering at Canterbury, a previous startup in Amsterdam acquired for half a billion dollars, and 500 cold calls to LinkedIn contacts pretending to be a university student. His "hourglass theory" of starting narrow and earning the right to solve bigger problems is a masterclass in startup strategy.

Key Topics Discussed

• Construction digitalisation. Construction is the 2nd worst digitised sector globally, just ahead of hunting (McKinsey data). Massive opportunity for tech intervention.
• Mutu's Three Rs. Reveal (digital inventory of what you own/hire), Reuse (internal marketplace so teams share resources), Report (utilisation data, waste metrics, carbon reporting).
• Resource waste. The Kennards example: a plate compactor sitting idle on one site while the same company rents a new one for another site. Mutu stops this duplication.
• Market position. 40 contractors across NZ, mostly Tier 2/3, the "perfect space" where companies are big enough to have the problem but underserved by enterprise software.
• Hourglass theory. Start narrow, earn the right to solve bigger problems. Google makes self-driving cars but didn't start there, they started with search.
• Previous startup. Built a manufacturing marketplace in Amsterdam that was acquired for half a billion dollars. Proof of concept for the marketplace model.
• Hustle and validation. Cold-called 500 LinkedIn contacts pretending to be a university student to validate the market need. Classic founder resourcefulness.
• Personal journey. PhD at Canterbury, lectured there. Wife said "I'm going to Melbourne, you're coming with or without me." Travelled the world 2015/16, saw Uber/Airbnb disrupting traditional industries, got inspired.

Notable Quotes

• Ben: Construction is the 2nd worst digitised sector, just ahead of hunting.
• Ben: Start narrow, earn the right to solve bigger problems, the hourglass theory.

Guest Background

Ben Redwood holds a PhD in mechanical engineering from the University of Canterbury, where he also lectured. Previously founded a manufacturing marketplace startup in Amsterdam that was acquired for approximately $500M. Travelled the world in 2015/16, inspired by the sharing economy (Uber, Airbnb). Cold-called 500 LinkedIn contacts to validate the Mutu concept. Now leads Mutu with 40+ contractors across NZ.