In this episode of the Beyond the Build podcast, hosted by Kevin Carney of Kingsmen Software, listeners get an insightful look into Catapult, a platform revolutionizing the RFP process for businesses. Justin Witz, co-founder and CEO of Catapult, shares the journey of developing a system that drastically reduces the time and complexity associated with RFPs. The discussion covers Catapult's beginnings, its impact on various industries, and how it uses AI to improve efficiency and decision-making. The episode also dives into the challenges and breakthroughs encountered while building an enterprise-quality software solution, highlighting Catapult's role in helping companies navigate the RFP process more effectively.

Key Takeaways:

· Revolutionizing RFPs: Catapult's journey to streamline the RFP and RFQ processes, making them more efficient and less time-consuming.

· The Power of AI and Data Analytics: How Catapult leverages artificial intelligence to offer predictive insights, saving companies countless hours.

· Global Impact and Industry Adaptation: With over $340 billion worth of RFPs processed, Catapult's significant footprint across multiple sectors including finance, healthcare, and technology.

Learn more about our guest:

Justin Witz, a seasoned U.S. Air Force veteran with experience in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, serves as the Co-Founder

and CEO of Catapult HQ, Inc. This company offers a versatile Request for Proposal ("RFP") platform that accommodates various industries and project types, including RFPs, RFIs, RFQs, DDQs, Cybersecurity, Government, and more. Catapult HQ has garnered numerous awards both locally and globally, recognized as a leading startup to watch for its groundbreaking, time-saving technology, widely adopted by Fortune 500 companies. Catapult HQ streamlines the RFx workflow for organizations worldwide, achieving efficiency improvements of over 90% while standardizing their internal processes.

Furthermore, Justin has earned widespread acclaim for his technological contributions, particularly in the Financial Services - Retirement sector. He has developed three Target Date Solutions for prominent institutions like AllianzGI, Merrill Lynch, and the highly successful Principal Financial Group's Target Date Analyzer. Additionally, he has crafted custom solutions for Vanguard, Nationwide, and other notable entities. His work has been featured in publications by Google, Atlassian, Balsamiq, Forbes, ASPPA's Plan Consultant Magazine, Bloomberg BNA, 401kWire, 401k Help Center, StartCharlotte, and the Charlotte Business Journal. Justin has also shared his expertise on a global stage, speaking at industry-related conferences hosted by Google, Atlassian, Startup Grind, NAPA, Excel 401(k), and CFDD, covering topics such as project management, team empowerment, collaboration, entrepreneurship, and more.

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Production Credits: Produced in partnership with Mistry Projects: https://mistryprojects.com/ Connect With Us on LinkedIn

Summary:

In this episode of Beyond the Build, Kevin Carney interviews Lauren Goodell, founder and CEO of Zinnia, an AI-powered relationship intelligence platform. They discuss how Zinnia integrates with your calendar to create short "dossiers" on people you're meeting, gathering insights to help you build connections. Lauren shares her background working at Microsoft and Salesforce before founding startups, and how Zinnia uses AI like GPT-3 to summarize information. They also talk about Zinnia's future roadmap including more personalization and fun features like facial recognition at events, lessons learned from quick iteration, and supporting female founders.

Key Takeaways:

· Zinnia creates short summaries on people you're meeting to help you make meaningful connections. It integrates with your calendar and gathers insights using AI.

· Lauren believes in launching quickly and getting customer feedback early, avoiding perfectionism. She's incorporating learnings into Zinnia's future roadmap.

· Organizations like Gwen (Growing Women Entrepreneurs Network) provide important support for female founders, who get only 1.9% of VC funding.

Learn more about our guests:

Lauren Goodell is the founder and CEO of Zinnia, is an innovative, AI-powered tool designed to revolutionize meeting preparation for sales professionals. She is celebrated as one of the "100 Women to KNOW in America," by JPMorgan Chase and Top 25 Women in Business by

Charlotte Business Journal for her influential and commendable contributions in entrepreneurship and community building. From her corporate experience at Microsoft and Salesforce, to her entrepreneurial journey, her focus has centered on the power of human connection.

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Production Credits: Produced in partnership with Mistry Projects: https://mistryprojects.com/

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