The Amazon for building materials? Materials Market raised £2M to bring it to life

The UK’s £40 billion building materials market is highly fragmented, with thousands of suppliers servicing localised areas. Limited digital adoption and opaque pricing make the purchasing process frustrating. Over 70% of builders’ merchants still rely on manual processes for quoting and order management, leading to inefficiencies and delayed deliveries. The result? Billions are lost annually through inefficiencies, delayed projects, and mismanaged inventories.
Materials Market, an innovative online marketplace for heavy-side building materials, is transforming this industry. Through its proprietary marketplace technology and extensive supplier network, it offers competitive prices, fast delivery, and excellent service to both DIY and trade customers. The platform’s real-time bidding system enables suppliers to compete, resulting in average customer savings of up to 20% compared to traditional procurement channels.
Today, the company raised £2 million in a funding round led by its existing backers,Fuel Ventures, with participation from new investors Active Partners and experienced angel investors. The funding will help recruit best-in-class talent across supplier and sales teams, marketing, product, and operations, enabling Materials Market to expand its marketplace model and develop innovative ways to connect customers and suppliers.
Founded in October 2020 by professional construction buyersSamuel HuntandAndrew Haehn, who had firsthand experience with these problems, Materials Market aims to create an ideal online marketplace for building materials.
Co-Founder and CEO Samuel Hunt said: “The fragmented nature of the construction industry creates a frustrating trading environment for both customers and suppliers alike. Faced with an uncertain economic climate and ambitious government targets, maximising efficiency in the procurement process has never been more important. We are thrilled to be working with Active Partners, who bring a wealth of consumer-side experience, as well as Tom and James, whose expertise will play a pivotal role as we take this exciting next step in our journey.”
Since 2020, Materials Market has grown from a startup in a spare bedroom to the UK’s leading marketplace of its kind. With over 750 supplier branches, more than any other UK building materials supplier, both online and offline, the platform now serves over 2,000 customers each month, ranging from DIY enthusiasts seeking better deals to construction contractors managing large commercial projects.
While competitors like CMO Group and ProBuild Direct are advancing in digital procurement, Materials Market’s supplier network is 2.3 times larger than its closest online rival, offering a broader selection and greater price transparency. The company’s asset-light model enables rapid scaling, while investments in logistics partnerships aim to match the delivery reliability of traditional merchants.
Through its proprietary technology and extensive supplier network, Materials Market delivers competitive prices, quick delivery, and exceptional service to DIY and trade customers. Beyond offering customers better pricing than established retailers, the platform enables suppliers to access an online market without incurring the costs of investing in digital infrastructure.
Trustpilot reviews indicate high satisfaction with pricing (4.7/5 stars), although some users report occasional delivery inconsistencies — a challenge inherent in coordinating a decentralised logistics network. The Materials Market is addressing this through new logistics partnerships and the integration of real-time delivery tracking.
James McKensie, Non-Executive Director at Materials Market, commented: “The building materials sector is one of the last major industries to undergo true digital transformation. What Materials Market is doing — using technology to simplify and scale a highly fragmented supply chain — is exactly what the industry needs. Their progress to date speaks volumes, and I’m looking forward to bringing my experience to the board as we work to unlock the next phase of growth.”
Tom Profumo, Partner at Active Partners, added: “The building materials market is highly fragmented and inefficient and has yet to experience the level of disruption seen in other industries through digitisation. Materials Market is changing that with its innovative approach and proprietary technology, seamlessly connecting buyers and suppliers through its online marketplace. Their impressive growth to date demonstrates clear product-market fit and Samuel and Andrew’s deep understanding of their customers. We’re excited to support them as they scale their offering nationwide and beyond.”