Created for the built world.
First Rule exists because contract risk is operational risk. The clauses you sign decide how schedule, payment, and change exposure play out long before the job starts.
Our story
Construction teams work under compressed timelines. Contracts get executed fast, and the hidden costs often don't show up until the project is already in motion. We built First Rule to make risk visible early — tied to the exact clause language — so teams can price it, plan it, negotiate it, or walk away.
First Rule combines construction contract playbooks with an AI contract assistant (Marten) and workflow support for both prime contracts and subcontracts — so review becomes repeatable, not heroic.
Why training is core
Software can surface risk, but people still have to understand it and act. Training makes adoption stick and turns contract review into repeatable discipline.
Leadership team
- Rhonda Huismann — Co-CEO
- Eliot Wagonheim — Co-CEO. Construction attorney with decades of experience negotiating prime contracts and subcontracts.
- Victor Sturgis — Director of Strategic Partnerships
- Marni Smith — Director of Customer Success
- Wade Markley — Director of Sales
- Conner Lillig — Business Analyst
- Justin Bass — AI Advisor
- Matt Palackdharry — GTM Advisor