Month: October 2025

On today’s episode of The Daily Windup, we dive into the costly mistakes small businesses make when jumping into government contracting too soon. Our guest breaks down why rushing to bid without preparation backfires, the importance of aligning opportunities with your long-term strategy, and how proper market analysis and patience can make or break your success.

• Why bidding too early leads to terminations, cure notices, and damaged reputations

• How to use tools like USASpending.gov to identify real customers and opportunities

• The importance of building foundational excellence—legit setup, compliance, and CRM basics

Learn more: https://govcongiants.org/ 

In today’s Daily Windup, I sit back down with Craig Cohen, VP of Business Development at Encore Funding, to uncover the hidden ways banks quietly deny small businesses—even when you’re holding multi-million-dollar government contracts. From rejecting companies for being “too liquid” to charging an “unused line” fee when you don’t even borrow, Craig exposes how traditional finance prioritizes protecting themselves, not helping you grow in the federal space.

• Why banks underwrite based only on past revenue, not your new awards
• The shocking “too liquid” reason lenders deny strong credit applicants
• Hidden “unused line” fees that charge you even when you don’t borrow

Learn more: https://govcongiants.org/ 

On today’s episode of the Govcon Giants Podcast, I sit down with Andrew Hunter, former Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, to unpack the realities of how the government buys—and where opportunities exist for contractors. With nearly two decades on Capitol Hill, years in the think tank space, and direct leadership in rapid acquisition at the Department of Defense, Andrew shares firsthand stories from counter-IED programs in Iraq to drone defense and logistics modernization. We dive into the $700B+ defense budget, the slowdown of new entrants into the federal market, and why outdated Air Force systems still create massive openings for innovative contractors ready to deliver modern solutions.

Key topics covered:

• Insights from Andrew Hunter’s career spanning Capitol Hill, think tanks, and DoD rapid acquisition.

• Why new entrants into government contracting have slowed—and how small businesses can still break through.

• The urgent need to modernize legacy systems and the opportunities it creates for contractors.

Learn more: https://govcongiants.org/