The U.S. Government’s Tech Dilemma: A Call for Innovation and Collaboration
A Lifeline of Innovation in the Government Contract Process
The United States federal government is struggling to keep pace with the rapidly evolving technology landscape, but implementing new systems is a complex and arduous process. The internal process to build new tech moves at a slow enough pace to ensure that the government remains behind the commercial sector. However, there are startups that could serve as a lifeline of innovation for the government, but the process to get a government contract can be thorny and long.
Dcode: A Women-Led Organization Helping Speed Up the Government Contract Process
For the past six years, Dcode has been helping to speed up the government contract process for over 100 companies that are already generating commercial revenue. These companies have resulted in more than $200 million in federal contracts. Now, the women-led organization is raising a fund to invest in some of them.
The Birth of an Idea: Meagan Metzger and Meg Vorland’s Common Gripe
The idea for Dcode came about six years ago when Meagan Metzger and Meg Vorland met for drinks to discuss their common gripe: how hard it was to get good outside tech into the government. Vorland and Metzger knew the struggle from opposite sides: Metzger had experience at a government-facing IT consulting firm, while Vorland worked alongside the COO at the Small Business Administration.
Love at First Sight: The Founding of Dcode
"As we talked about the pitfalls, and where we had both banged our heads against the wall from both the inside and outside, we realized we could add a lot of value getting together to solve these big challenges for the tech sector and government," Vorland told TechCrunch. "It was literally love at first sight in a way. We both just had the intensity, spirit, and background that we thought would be very complimentary."
Dcode: A Stage-Agnostic Accelerator Program
Dcode isn’t a typical accelerator program, though. It’s stage-agnostic because it’s more focused on a company’s potential for the government than size. Dcode doesn’t take equity stakes or offer funding, but a new fund will change that.
Dcode Capital: A New Fund to Invest in Startups
"As we grew and learned, we realized that there was an opportunity to do even more," Metzger said. "We started thinking about how we could invest in these companies, not just help them navigate the government contract process." Dcode Capital is a new fund that will focus on investing in startups that are already generating commercial revenue.
A Growing Market: Government Contracts
The market for government contracts is growing rapidly, with an estimated $5 trillion spent annually. However, the process of getting these contracts can be complex and time-consuming. Dcode has helped over 100 companies navigate this process, resulting in more than $200 million in federal contracts.
Investing in Startups: A New Opportunity
Dcode Capital will focus on investing in startups that are already generating commercial revenue. This new fund will provide a new opportunity for startups to access the government contract market and grow their businesses.
A Collaboration between Dcode and Startups
"We’re not just trying to make money; we’re trying to help these companies succeed," Metzger said. "We’re investing in them, but we’re also helping them navigate the government contract process." This collaboration between Dcode and startups has already resulted in significant growth for the companies involved.
The Future of Government Contracts: Innovation and Collaboration
The future of government contracts is one of innovation and collaboration. With the help of organizations like Dcode, startups can access the growing market for government contracts and grow their businesses. The new fund from Dcode Capital will provide a new opportunity for startups to invest in this growing market.
Related Topics
- Accel: A venture capital firm that has invested in several startups involved in the government contract process.
- Air Force: A branch of the US military that has been working with Dcode to streamline the government contract process.
- Department of Defense: The department responsible for overseeing the government contract process, which has seen significant growth in recent years.
- Finance: The market for government contracts is a growing one, with an estimated $5 trillion spent annually.
- Government: The US federal government is struggling to keep pace with the rapidly evolving technology landscape.
- Healthcare: Dcode has helped several healthcare startups navigate the government contract process and grow their businesses.
- Machine Learning: The use of machine learning in the government contract process is becoming more prevalent, with several startups involved.
- Private Equity: Dcode Capital will be a private equity firm focused on investing in startups that are already generating commercial revenue.
Conclusion
The US federal government’s tech dilemma is a complex one, but organizations like Dcode are helping to speed up the government contract process. With the help of new funds like Dcode Capital, startups can access the growing market for government contracts and grow their businesses. The future of government contracts is one of innovation and collaboration, and with the right partnerships, significant growth is possible.
About the Author
Rebecca Szkutak is a senior reporter at TechCrunch that covers venture capital trends and startups. She previously covered the same beat for Forbes and the Venture Capital Journal.
