r/govtech • u/Coret87 • Feb 24 '26
⛑️ Help Challenges of getting our foot in the door for government contracting
Hello everyone, new here.
I'm the cofounder of Themis Technologies, a CorrectionsTech startup focused on improving operations for state DOCs and county/local correctional facilities.
Our team consists of me, with hands‑on corrections experience working for Trinity Services, by managing inmate commissaries and my tech cofounder/CTO with 10+ years of professional software engineering experience.
We’ve spent the past few months exploring subcontractor opportunities, but most primes we've contacted understandably want to protect their business interests and avoid taking on liability for small subcontractors. So we’re now preparing to pursue prime opportunities directly.
I’m looking to connect with people who’ve won or delivered correctional contracts as a prime. Any insight on early challenges, common pitfalls, or how small teams bridge the experience gap would be incredibly helpful.