RFP Plus, Ashish Patel
The path to innovation is rarely a straight line. For Ashish Patel, the founder of RFP Plus, the journey reveals that true entrepreneurial spirit is often forged in uncertainty. While his current focus is on revolutionizing procurement software, his story began with a significant pivot: leaving his role as a Software Developer at Fidelity during the 2008 Great Recession.
Facing a changing landscape, Ashish transitioned to helping small businesses with websites and SEO. It was here, in Nashua, NH, that he found the problem that would define his future career. He developed an automated ordering system for Rapid Sheet Metal, allowing major clients, such as large manufacturing companies, to upload diagrams for instant quotes. This project did more than solve a technical problem; it built a lasting friendship with the owner, who later asked Ashish to create a communication system for an HOA. That request once again ignited his entrepreneurial spirit.
The road from a friend’s request to a viable company was not without obstacles. Ashish faced significant financial challenges, making the difficult decision to sell his house and withdraw from his IRA to fund his vision. Initially hiring local workers, he eventually brought in former Fidelity colleagues to serve as CTO and Software Architect. His persistence paid off. After seven years of grit and determination, Ashish had made his business profitable.
Two years ago, Ashish launched RFP Plus, a procurement process management software designed to help companies streamline vendor communications and manage Request For Proposals (RFPs). Ideally suited for small to medium-sized companies looking to move beyond Excel spreadsheets, the software is not industry specific. It features tools for tracking outstanding RFPs and monitoring vendor performance, ensuring a structured approach to spending.
Ashish acknowledges that no entrepreneur succeeds alone. His relationship with SCORE spans over 15 years. It began with Ashish helping SCORE maintain their New Hampshire website over a decade ago. Today, the roles have reversed, with SCORE mentors providing critical guidance. Early mentorship came from Glenn Boston and Dick Kuhl in marketing. Currently, mentor Roman Geletkanycz is assisting with the continued growth of RFP Plus. Ashish notes that he “loves SCORE” and he deeply appreciates Roman’s business expertise and insight and his willingness to meet with him every other week even while Roman was on vacation!
With a solid foundation in place, Ashish has expressed a strong interest in expanding RFP Plus across multiple industries, including the lucrative government procurement sector. Recognizing that his strengths are in technology and building capabilities and not in sales and marketing, Ashish is actively looking at different options to help him grow RFP Plus. His immediate strategy involves either hiring a senior salesperson, bringing in a co-founder, or seeking capital within the next three months to capture this opportunity.
2024: Start-up; Business Planning & Strategy; Buying a Business; Accounting; Financial Statement...
