Sam McIntyre Named Trade Me Property's 2025 Innovator of the Year

Sam McIntyre | Founder of Ownly - Wins Trade Me Property’s Innovator of the Year 2025

Sam McIntyre, founder of Ownly, has been awarded Trade Me Property’s Innovator of the Year 2025, selected from over 900 submissions across New Zealand’s 16,000+ licensed agents.

This recognition marks a powerful full-circle moment in McIntyre’s real estate journey.

“For nearly a decade, I poured everything into helping build what was then New Zealand’s largest real estate disruptor. I pictured myself there for life,” McIntyre shared.

“Then in one surreal morning, everything changed. What followed was three years of legal battles and deep personal challenge—but also the push I didn’t know I needed.”

From that turning point came Ownly—a bold new model that empowers high-performing agents to launch their own brand, keep more of what they earn, and operate without corporate politics or legacy constraints.

Since launch, Ownly has grown at more than 100% year-on-year, attracting top agents who are ready to scale their personal brand with full marketing support and no franchise fees.

“This award isn’t just about innovation—it’s about backing yourself when things fall apart,” says McIntyre.

“It belongs to my wife for backing me completely. To our head office team who make the impossible look easy. And to the early agents who believed in something different.”

In a post shared online, McIntyre acknowledged the irony of winning an innovation award just years after being forced out of the company he helped create.

“I take no joy in its decline—only a reminder that businesses either evolve or contract. Sometimes being pushed out is really being pushed forward.”