#47 - Eldar Sadikov, CEO & Co-Founder at Field Materials

Join us in this exciting episode of the Slice of Construction podcast, hosted by Jared S. Taylor! Our Guest: Eldar Sadikov, CEO & Co-Founder at Field Materials.

What you’ll get out of this episode:

From AI Researcher to Construction Tech Leader: Eldar Sadikov transitioned from a Stanford PhD program and PayPal-acquired startup to co-founding Field Materials.
Deep Industry Roots: With a family background in construction, Eldar brings personal passion to solving procurement inefficiencies.
AI That Wows the Industry: Their AI capabilities—especially document recognition—became the product’s standout feature, driving rapid growth.
Rocket-Fueled Series A: Raised an oversubscribed Series A in just two weeks, buoyed by strong customer traction and growth.
Big Vision for Vertical Software: Plans to double GMV and expand the platform’s modules, tackling the complexities of diverse construction trades.

A Journey Rooted in Construction and Innovation

Eldar Sadikov’s path to founding Field Materials is marked by a blend of high-tech expertise and personal heritage. A computer scientist who left Stanford’s AI PhD program to pursue entrepreneurship, Eldar sold his first company to PayPal and later returned to his construction roots through Field Materials. Motivated by his father’s general contracting background and his mother’s experience in construction finance, the idea resonated both professionally and personally.

Launching Field Materials

Founded in late 2021, Field Materials emerged from a simple but powerful thesis: procurement in construction is inefficient and ripe for technological transformation. Eldar and his co-founder—also from Stanford, with a civil engineering background—interviewed dozens of contractors and distributors, shaping a modular platform through an iterative, customer-led beta phase. By June 2023, they launched the full product.

AI at the Core

Initially an auxiliary feature, Field Materials’ AI capabilities—like parsing quotes, packing slips, and invoices—quickly became its core differentiator. Contractors were not just using it; they were showcasing it to peers. This organic enthusiasm propelled the company into a phase of 2x growth across eight consecutive quarters.

Raising Capital on Momentum

Despite early rejections from top-tier VCs like Andreessen Horowitz, Field Materials’ strong traction flipped the narrative. By Q1 2025, they had closed an oversubscribed Series A round within two weeks of initiating fundraising, demonstrating high investor confidence and demand.

What’s Next for Field Materials

The team is now focused on tripling revenue, expanding their AI capabilities, and building out at least five more product modules to serve the unique needs of various trades. Currently processing $400 million in annualized order volume, Field Materials aims to remain the best in class at automating procurement workflows across the construction industry.

Lessons from the Field

Eldar reflects on how vertical software development revealed the unexpected breadth of required features. Serving nine different trades, each with unique needs, has been both a challenge and a guiding force. Doubts from investors and early customers have only fueled his determination—a classic entrepreneur’s chip on the shoulder turned into rocket fuel.