EP 18 — Long Capture’s Russell Long on Crafting Winning Government Proposals for Startups

On this week's episode of the DIB Innovators podcast, David speaks with Russell Long, Founder & CEO of Long Capture, to explore the intersection of innovative technology and government contracts. Russell shares his journey from military service to founding Long Capture, aiming to bridge the gap between tech startups and government funding. 

 

Russell discusses strategies for crafting compelling proposals that communicate the value of tech solutions, building essential relationships with government clients, and leveraging programs like SBIR to scale startups effectively. He also offers valuable insights and expert advice on securing government contracts for companies with tech innovations ready to scale. 

 

Topics discussed:

 

• The importance of creating clear and impactful proposals that effectively communicate the value of tech solutions to government clients.
• Leveraging the SBIR program to help tech startups scale from initial phases to substantial government contracts.
• Strategies for conducting customer discovery during the early phases of a project to identify the right government customers for tech innovations.
• The significance of developing strong relationships with government clients and understanding their needs to secure long-term contracts.
• Differentiating between various SBIR types and understanding the role of feasibility analysis in securing funding for tech projects.
• How to effectively communicate the practical benefits and potential impacts of tech innovations to government stakeholders.
• The process of conducting targeted outreach to identify and engage the right government offices interested in specific tech solutions.
• Preparing proposals with a focus on the client's pain points and addressing how the tech solution can meet their specific needs.