// MATHIESON MOLLER

From Sites
to Startups

Nearly a decade in construction. Two years in Manila. Six businesses that didn't make it — and one that's working.

Mathieson Moller
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Mathieson Moller
MM

From the tools to
the laptop

Started as a labourer in Auckland at 18. Worked my way up to project manager at Williams Corporation — 184 homes delivered, $137.7M in value, all before 25.

Moved to Manila for two years, built a remote team, started 6 businesses that failed, and came back to New Zealand to build TradieBack — marketing and bookkeeping for the tradies I used to work alongside. That one stuck.

Based inWellington, NZ
EducationMassey University · 2018–2020
CurrentlyFounder & Director · TradieBack

The road from
labourer to founder

Every role taught me something the last one didn't

2018 – 2020
// EDUCATION

Massey University

Auckland, New Zealand

The foundation. Theory, frameworks, and the realisation that I learn faster by doing than by sitting in lectures.

2019 – 2020
// CONSTRUCTION

Construction Labourer

LT McGuiness

Auckland, New Zealand

Started at the bottom. Concrete pours, site clean-ups, 5am starts in the rain. Learned how building sites actually work — not from a textbook, but from a wheelbarrow.

2021 – 2022
// CONSTRUCTION

Cadet Foreman

Redican Allwood

Wellington, New Zealand

First leadership role. Managing subbies, reading plans, solving problems on the fly. The jump from "doing the work" to "making sure the work gets done."

Feb 2024 – Mar 2026
// ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Director — APEX Global Limited

Manila, Philippines

Packed up at 24 and moved to Manila for two years. Built a virtual assistance company from scratch — hired a team of 9, learned how to operate across time zones, and figured out what it takes to build something in a country where you know nobody. The business failed — but two years in the Philippines changed everything about how I work.

Apr 2026 – Present
// CURRENT
Mathieson at TradieBack

Founder & Director — TradieBack

New Zealand / Australia

Marketing and bookkeeping built only for trade businesses in NZ & Australia. One team handles your website, leads, and admin — so you stay on the tools. No lock-in, no jargon, no cowboys.

Visit TradieBack →

"I have not failed. I've just found
10,000 ways that won't work"

Six businesses that didn't make it. Each one taught me something the last one couldn't. No regrets — just receipts.

Easy Glow
2020
FAILED

Easy Glow

Teeth Whitening Kit

Resilience Clothing
2021
FAILED

Resilience Clothing

Apparel Brand

Resilience Series
2021 – 2023
FAILED

Resilience Series

Courses / Coaching

APEX Outsourcing
2023 – 2025
FAILED

APEX Outsourcing

Outsourcing Services

APEX Contracting
2024 – 2025
FAILED

APEX Contracting

Contracting Services

Visit Site →
APEX Global Recruitment
2025 – 2026
FAILED

APEX Global Recruitment

Remote Recruitment Service

Visit Site →

"Be patient and tough; someday this pain will be useful to you"

Marketing and bookkeeping built only for trade businesses in NZ & Australia. Website, leads, and admin — one team, no lock-in.

0Trade industries served
NZ + AUBoth countries from day one
0Services: Website, Marketing, Admin

Every failed business taught me one piece of the puzzle. Easy Glow taught me e-commerce. Resilience taught me content. APEX taught me remote teams and operations. TradieBack is where all of it came together — built for the tradies I spent years working alongside on building sites.

Visit TradieBack →
tradieback.com
TradieBack website
tradieback.com

When the laptop
closes

Not everything has to be a business

Sprint triathlon
// ENDURANCE

Sprint Triathlons

Swim, bike, run — the short, sharp version. The only sport where you get to be mediocre at three things simultaneously and still feel like a champion at the finish line.

Motorbikes
// TWO WHEELS

Motorbikes

The fastest way to clear your head after a week of spreadsheets. No Slack notifications, no email — just the road and the sound of the engine.

Speedway
// DIRT

Speedway

Dirt track, sideways, full noise. The perfect antidote to sitting in front of a computer all week. Turns out the lessons from speedway apply to startups — commit to the corner or you'll hit the wall.

Shooting
// PRECISION

Guns

Breath control, focus, patience — then one squeeze. The only hobby where standing completely still for 30 seconds counts as a skill. Turns out it's the best training for making decisions under pressure.

Want to connect?
Reach out

Whether it's about TradieBack, construction, startups, or just want to say G'day — I'm always happy to chat.