Towards a Better Future: How Matthew and Building Are Revolutionizing Real Estate

Matthew’s entrepreneurial journey has always been about solving tough problems in industries that need shaking up.

From his early ventures to leading Building today, his career is all about trying new things and breaking boundaries. When we spoke, it was clear that what drives him is a mix of resilience, curiosity, and a strong belief in how technology can change the way we live and work.

Here’s what Matthew shared:

For those who might not be familiar with your story, can you share a bit about your entrepreneurial journey and what led you to start Building?

If you were to open my social media pages, you would see that I’ve been traveling the world, speaking at seminars, and publishing a flurry of posts about one thing: tokenization. Outside of technology and finance, this word doesn’t mean much to people, but that’s okay. You probably don’t know what HTML is either (unless you’re a software engineer), yet it forms the foundation of every website you’ve ever visited.

I make that analogy because this extremely niche space, akin to a rabbit hole, has absorbed me and become my life’s purpose for one reason: I’m predicting—with the same confidence as Steve Jobs about the personal computer in 1973—that tokenization (which I’ll describe later) is the latest industrial revolution.

My unwavering belief that this technology will change trillion-dollar industries such as construction, supply chain, or banking has positioned me as an international expert, a contact to hundreds of professionals from all corners of the globe, and an ambitious entrepreneur determined to craft products and take them to market.

My passion for innovative technology as a solution to legacy industry problems has grown furiously over the past few years and quite unexpectedly. While my roots trace back to capital markets, creativity, and a little bit of technology, I was pretty sure I would be a musician, politician (don’t crucify me for this), or day trader. Even when I started my first platform, I hadn’t fully grasped the gravity of what I was working on. It was only once I began engaging with global audiences that I realized I could boldly build where no entrepreneur had ventured.

I also saw it as an opportunity to fulfill a belief I’ve had since I was very young: I can learn a concept more effectively when left to my own devices rather than sitting in a classroom. As it turns out, cutting-edge technologies like blockchain and artificial intelligence might fall under computer science, but their real-world applications can only be uncovered by hands-on exploration.

Fast forward to today, and my initiatives to create something new, carve my own path, and step into roles that were entirely unfulfilled in the industry have brought me recognition and the opportunity to form dozens of partnerships, raise capital, and disrupt the status quo.

How does the mission of Building reflect your evolution as an entrepreneur?

The biggest difference between my early ventures and Building, our enterprise platform for data management and tokenization, is how we understand our customer.

By attempting to deliver multiple products to market, I had the fortunate—albeit shocking—opportunity to understand what my target customers truly needed. Now, Building is a company and platform designed based on real customer needs. The mission to innovate and improve productivity in real estate is the same, but our efforts are now more focused and strategic, requiring less trial and error.

Building is really a reflection of my maturation as a person and as an entrepreneur. Failures and pivots were crucial in shaping Building into the valuable company it is today.

What drew you to the commercial real estate industry and inspired the creation of Building?

I haven’t yet figured out why I’m drawn to uncharted territory, but I’m beginning to uncover some clues. Starting a company in an emerging industry and trying to sell new technology where antiquated processes are still preferred, often due to comfort rather than practicality, is like an explorer boarding a ship to cross an ocean: chaos and uncertainty are inevitable, the rewards undefined, but the adventure is unparalleled.

Commercial real estate and its adjacent industries like construction, supply chain, and banking are massive and ripe with problems, making them strong candidates for innovation. It takes boldness to disrupt these industries, given the immense capital and expertise involved, but I also think the boldness required is an admirable character trait.

Building is one part technology solution, another part monetization, with the core rooted in my belief that people should embrace massive challenges and take risks, however daunting, for the chance to change the world and advance humanity.

I have less money and more debt than I ever could have imagined; my inspiration for Building couldn’t have been financial. I feel as though I’ve answered a call of the wild.

Building aims to provide transparency and efficiency in real estate—how does the platform accomplish this, and what challenges have you faced in achieving it?

The major problem that underpins real estate, banking, and supply chains right now is data asymmetry: the imbalance of information, leading to disadvantages, fraud, and faults. Though this problem is nearly universal, it is exacerbated when dealing with the built environment (everything around you created by humans). If humans are naturally flawed, so too are the products we create.

When we don’t communicate sufficiently when constructing a dam, it bursts. When we don’t know the health of a nuclear reactor, it melts. On a smaller scale, if we don’t understand the structural requirements for a support beam, its collapse leads to costs, closure, and injuries.

On an even smaller scale but still important, misaligned spreadsheets can result in lost investments. When a company doesn’t obey its payment contract, there are delays and disputes. These issues amount to trillions of dollars in losses, wasted time and resources, and widespread frustration.

Therefore, the mission of Building is recognizing and realizing the value of information and equipping our customers and their stakeholders with tools to harness that value. We do this in several ways:

• Promoting Better Practices: While we’re a technology service provider, we’re also guardians of the digital age and set expectations about how properties are developed (e.g., requiring Building Information Modeling) and how they’re maintained (i.e., compliance and reporting).
• Collecting, Verifying, and Structuring Data: Data exists all around us (geometry, physics, and attributes like “Who, Why, How, Where, When”) but it needs to be collected, trusted, and formatted in a way that people or computers can use it properly. Building’s core product is data management, helping real estate developers begin to collect asset information, store it securely, and put it to effective use.
• Expecting Transparency: Even if information is collected, trusting it is a dilemma. Blockchain has proven to be a remarkable technology in mitigating trust issues because of its immutability. Human tendency to manipulate is exposed when the technology is incapable of lying.
• Fixing Fragmentation: Even if information is collected, it may live in siloes. Is critical information locked in a remote filing cabinet, or is it easily accessible for underwriting, insurance, investments, and operations?

By combining these elements in a sophisticated platform, we increase transparency and knowledge about the built environment, enabling both people and machines to make faster, more informed decisions. The results range from more structurally sound buildings to instantaneous investments.

What role does tokenization play in your platform, and how do you see it transforming the real estate industry in the next five years?

To tokenize something is to place it on the blockchain, which is a ledger resistant to manipulation. It carefully, securely, and effectively tracks the movement of information and value, whether that be an important document or your ownership in a multi-million-dollar property.

Referring to our mission to fix data asymmetry, we want to put as many real estate elements on the blockchain as possible. This means digitizing documents or design plans and then assigning them a “fingerprint,” or unique identifier. This fingerprint is produced by the blockchain (in technical terms, a “hash”) so that we can proactively trace information, who modified it, and when that happened.

Once something is digitized and integrated with blockchain, there are opportunities to automate certain tasks because of the programmable nature of the technology. In real estate, an example of blockchain being used effectively is “tokenizing” a contract between two parties performing work. First, the blockchain safeguards parties during disputes by enabling traceability of the original contract and its terms. Second, if the terms are met, then the parties can exchange their goods and services quickly—releasing payment as soon as certain work is completed. In this process, there are fewer intermediaries while preserving integrity and trust.

Tokenization most commonly refers to putting the ownership of something on the blockchain, such as vehicle titles, equity stakes in companies, or financial instruments for private credit. Though you could move ownership by handing over a paper document and shaking hands, digitization in a ‘trustless’ format reduces counterparty risk, removes discrepancies, and makes information significantly more accessible and efficient.

You’ve mentioned before that resilience is key for startups. What’s been your biggest learning experience from the challenges at Building so far?

Startups are often a war of attrition. Having more funding or greater market share is irrelevant if a company is on the path to insolvency. Success in launching a business often hinges on asking yourself how to outlast your competitors.

Thinking in this way will change your personal and professional practices. First, a company is composed of people; how we can ensure our teammates remain happy, healthy, and motivated? Second, how do we make sure that the business is built on a solid foundation and weathers any storm?

While the answers may vary, the underlying theme is always resilience. I’ve seen firsthand several companies in our industry go out of business despite raising millions of dollars. Even well-formulated long-term plans were left unrealized. Something happened in the short term that ended their journey early. On the other hand, despite minimal resources and fewer hands on deck, the brand and community surrounding Building have endured.

Resilience coincides with perseverance; you will encounter obstacles and must overcome them. The more determination you bring and the better you anticipate obstacles, the stronger your venture's resilience will be.

What role does tokenization play in your platform, and how do you see it transforming the real estate industry in the next five years?

To tokenize something is to place it on the blockchain, which is a ledger resistant to manipulation. It carefully, securely, and effectively tracks the movement of information and value, whether that be an important document or your ownership in a multi-million-dollar property.

Referring to our mission to fix data asymmetry, we want to put as many real estate elements on the blockchain as possible. This means digitizing documents or design plans and then assigning them a 'fingerprint,' or unique identifier. This fingerprint is produced by the blockchain (in technical terms, a “hash”) so that we can proactively trace information, who modified it, and when that happened.

Once something is digitized and integrated with blockchain, there are opportunities to automate certain tasks because of the programmable nature of the technology. In real estate, an example of blockchain being used effectively is “tokenizing” a contract between two parties performing work. First, the blockchain safeguards parties during disputes by enabling traceability of the original contract and its terms. Second, if the terms are met, then the parties can exchange their goods and services quickly—releasing payment as soon as certain work is completed. In this process, there are fewer intermediaries while preserving integrity and trust.

Tokenization most commonly refers to putting the ownership of something on the blockchain, such as vehicle titles, equity stakes in companies, or financial instruments for private credit.

Though you could move ownership by handing over a paper document and shaking hands, digitization in a 'trustless' format reduces counterparty risk, removes discrepancies, and makes information significantly more accessible and efficient.

The simple truth is that technology can execute a number of mundane responsibilities far faster than humans and with greater accuracy, reducing timelines and costs. In real estate or investment banking where there are dozens of parties and responsibilities, automation can lead to substantial cost savings.

How have your past entrepreneurial experiences, such as your ventures in music and trading, influenced your approach to leadership at Building?

I think my proclivity for creativity has been very helpful for Building, especially in marketing. Given the complexity of our topics, it’s imperative for Building to communicate them clearly. I think that music and writing have shaped my thinking differently compared to a traditional technical founder, allowing me to think outside of the box more often and share concepts in new formats that are relatable to people.

Day trading, which I refer to as a 'street knowledge of investment banking,’ has been crucial to shaping Building’s identity. What I didn’t realize in my first venture was how much we must cater to institutions and have a deep understanding of capital markets, despite being a property technology company.

Building does a remarkable job of connecting the dots between innovative technology, the wants and needs of a real estate developer, and how capital markets operate. For example, making a case for effective data management requires understanding how properties are valued and at what frequency, as well as recognizing how infrequent pricing increases an asset’s risk, making it less attractive to wealth managers and more difficult to collateralize.

This polymath approach has given me a unique perspective and I’m grateful for my unstructured background; adaptability and open-mindedness have been key strengths in my entrepreneurial journey.

Your journey highlights a shift from being product-focused to solving broader industry issues. How has this mindset shaped your approach to product strategy?

Although I love our product, I received blank stares for enough years that I realized I needed to reframe both what I was building and how it was perceived by the world. Focusing solely on 'what' we have allows customers to interpret their own 'why,' which can sometimes harm our message.

At Building, we’ve focused on controlling the narrative by clearly defining why we exist and envisioning the future impact of our growth.

Another reason for shifting from a product focus is the numerous pivots I’ve made; however, the mission and vision have remained consistent.

Lastly, I’ve found it more effective to captivate an audience by emphasizing big-picture goals. For instance, would you rather focus on circuit boards and NFC chips or the peace of mind that you can travel anywhere in Hong Kong in a Ding Ding by tapping your phone to pay?

How do you go about building trust in an industry that’s heavily regulated and often met with skepticism?

Adhering to and respecting regulations has been a cornerstone of our approach. Interestingly, real estate is less regulated than we’d prefer, and Building strives to enforce higher standards on real estate projects. Our 'Gold Standard' approach has garnered recognition from conglomerates such as insurance companies, institutional lenders, and large asset managers.

By appealing to authority and setting expectations higher than the status quo, the dynamic has shifted: we now focus less on proving ourselves and more on qualifying potential prospects. In essence, we position ourselves as the skeptics.

Of course, there are still questions about the underlying technology, but we highlight how leading corporations and institutions are already adopting the technology, prompting customers to ask themselves, “Why aren’t we?”

Where do you see Building in the next five years, and how do you plan to scale the platform globally?

Building is transforming relationships among real estate stakeholders, revolutionizing capital markets, and advancing infrastructure for the built environment. Our vision is to propel humanity forward, unlocking a new era of trust, productivity, and growth.

Through my international travels, I’ve observed that every culture and market faces challenges with data asymmetry and inefficiencies. This universal challenge presents a significant opportunity for us to expand globally. While execution will be challenging, our unique relationships provide us with an advantage to streamline efforts. Building is proud to be part of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, which supports both local and international startups entering the Asian market.

Additionally, we have working relationships with companies all around the world and are proactively discussing how to enter new jurisdictions by collaborating with incumbents. The ability to connect globally through virtual meetings and calls has significantly accelerated our progress.

Building has also recently joined FIBREE, the Foundation for International Blockchain and Real Estate Expertise. I am also personally part of a network called BIM Heroes, and it’s communities like these that allow us to stretch our wings to all corners of the globe.

It’s remarkable that a young entrepreneur like myself, even without formal education or substantial resources, can launch an international company, establish industry leadership, and ignite a digital revolution in real estate. Grit and vision have brought me this far, and it will take persistence and execution to turn our goals into reality.

You can find out more about Building Inc. by visiting their website.