June 5, 2025  ·  Free  ·  60 Minutes

Is Federal Market Entry Right for You?

A free 60-minute orientation for Richmond-area founders considering government contracts. Honest and structured — no sales pitch, no hype.

Date Thursday, June 5, 2025
Time 12:00 – 1:00 PM ET
Format In-person · 1717 Innovation Center, Richmond, VA · or virtual
Cost Free · No prerequisite
Can't make June 5? See the June 19 workshop →
Outcomes

Clarity, not a sales pitch

01

A clear answer

Yes or no on whether the federal market fits your company's current stage, technology, and runway. Not a generic "there's opportunity everywhere" answer.

02

Your on-ramp, mapped

SBIR, 8(a), OTA, subcontract-first, or GSA Schedule — you'll know which applies to your company and what the first 90 days look like.

03

A scored diagnostic

You'll complete the Federal Readiness Diagnostic during the session. Your score (1–30) determines whether the June 19 workshop is the right next step.

Session agenda

60 minutes, structured

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM ET  ·  In-person and virtual

12:00 PM 5 min

Welcome & the honest question

We open with the question most programs avoid: should your company pursue government contracts at all? Framework for making that decision without a consultant.

12:05 PM 20 min

Federal market reality check

How agencies actually buy. Why sales cycles are 18–36 months. What past performance means and why it's the biggest barrier. Three companies that failed and why.

12:25 PM 15 min

Your company through a federal lens

Live walkthrough of the Federal Readiness Diagnostic. Participants score their own companies in real time. Archetype reveal: Pathfinder, Scout, Wolf, Bison, or Eagle.

12:40 PM 15 min

The four on-ramps

SBIR/STTR for R&D-stage companies. 8(a) for service firms. Subcontract-first for companies without past performance. GSA Schedule for mature commercial vendors. Which fits your stage.

12:55 PM 5 min

Next steps & open Q&A

Who should attend June 19. Who should come back in six months. APEX Accelerator intro. Questions answered.

What's next

Ready to go further?

Founders who score 15+ on the diagnostic and want to build a real federal GTM strategy attend the June 19 half-day workshop. Four sessions, prime contractor network access, and a pathway-selection working session.

See the June 19 workshop →
June 19, 2025  ·  9:00 AM – 1:00 PM ET  ·  Virginia Bio+Tech Park  ·  Free
Registration

Reserve your spot

25 participants · Peer conversation format · Confirmation sent within 24 hours

You're registered

Thanks — check your email for the Zoom link and pre-read. See you June 5.

After registering, you'll receive the Zoom link and a short pre-read (15 minutes) by email.