How CMG Alliance Accelerated Our GovTech Journey

Shawn Kahen

As an early-stage founder of a Govtech startup, building a product that solves a massive problem is only step one. Step two is navigating the notoriously complex world of government sales. Local governments are the exact partners we need to reach to fundamentally modernize community development departments. We know our AI can help cities digitize their workflows, meet state mandates, and untangle their zoning regulations. However, the path to securing a contract is not as simple as a standard software sales pitch; it is a road walled in by complex Requests for Proposals (RFPs), strict compliance requirements, and highly structured bid procurement.

That process looked just as impenetrable as the outdated zoning laws we are trying to fix. That is why our time in the Ascend LA incubator, led by the incredible team at CMG Alliance, has been an absolute game-changer. The Ascend LA program provided us with the exact blueprint we needed to navigate the Business-to-Government (B2G) landscape. They did not just teach us high-level theory; they provided the practical tools to understand how local municipalities actually buy technology.

Through their guidance, we learned:

  • Procurement Searches: Understanding how to find and source potential proposals relevant to our business.

  • The Anatomy of an RFP: How to break down dense government requests and identify exactly what procurement officers are prioritizing.

  • Bid Strategy: How to position our product competitively and format our proposals to meet strict municipal scoring rubrics.

In a very real way, CMG Alliance did for Civic Decode what we do for our cities: they decoded a massive, bureaucratic system and made it accessible and actionable. We are walking away from this first cohort with a profound understanding of the procurement process and a sharp strategy for securing municipal contracts. We want to extend a massive thank you again to CMG Alliance and the Ascend LA program. Your dedication to empowering diverse businesses and providing the education necessary to break into government contracting is deeply appreciated.