Mission

Creating Contract Equity as a new frame for Economic Mobility.

We're transforming the landscape, where many more businesses become suppliers and thrive in an inclusive and equitable supply chain.

Today, major organizations actively seek opportunities to engage with small and mid-sized businesses, which are often underrepresented, as suppliers for their required products and services. Organizations want their supply chain to reflect a resilient, innovative, and competitive supplier base. It’s estimated that 75% of major corporations are expanding supplier development programs.

Contracts Role in Fostering an Economic Ecosystem

The Billion Dollar Roundtable
  • Thirty-Two Corporations Impressive Annual Procurement
  • $1.3 Trillion Spend (2021)
  • Engaging 27,000 Emerging Suppliers, $67.7+ Billion Towards Underrepresented Suppliers
U.S. Federal Government Procurement
  • Annual $650 Billion Spend
  • 2021 Small Businesses Secured $154.2 Billion
  • 27% of the Eligible Total Spend
  • $72 Billion Allocated to Small-Business
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Gaps in Billions of Spend & Finding Suppliers

Allocating spending to emerging suppliers is complex. Despite efforts to contract with a broader base and mix of businesses, fewer than 1% of Mainstreet small and mid-sized business have completed the certifications essential for contract readiness and visibilty. This leaves buyers struggling to identify qualified suppliers to meet their spend goals. With so few certified, billions in allocated spend goes untapped for Mainstreet businesses. 

CERTIFIED BUSINESSES

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Out of the 33 million small businesses, only a small percentage are leveraging commercial and government spend, and in supplier enablement and onboarding initiatives.

 Imagine the economic and societal impact of more qualified businesses certified to bring competition and innovation into the commercial and government contracting ecosystem.

To learn more, visit the Small Business Administration - Office of Advocacy, the National Minority Supplier Development Council, and the Business Round Table.
    MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES
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    out of the 3.2 million black-owned businesses, only a mere 7,000 are officially certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) firms leveraging allocated commercial and government spend and supplier diversity initiative.
    These MBEs collectively contributed an estimated $57 billion to the annual revenue pool through commercial contracts alone in 2022. Imagine the economic and societal impact of more qualified Black-owned businesses certified to bring competition and innovation into the commercial and government contracting ecosystem.
    BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES
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    out of the 3.2 million black-owned businesses, only a mere 7,000 are officially certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) firms leveraging allocated commercial and government spend and supplier diversity initiative.
    These MBEs collectively contributed an estimated $57 billion to the annual revenue pool through commercial contracts alone in 2022. Imagine the economic and societal impact of more qualified Black-owned businesses certified to bring competition and innovation into the commercial and government contracting ecosystem.
    ASIAN-AMERICAN OWNED BUSINESSES
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    among the 2.6 million Asian American- owned businesses make up the 5,000 certified as Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) firms accessing allocated spend.
    In 2022, these MBEs contributed $59 billion to the annual revenue pool through commercial contracts and far more in government procurement. Imagine the growth and scale in business and employment gains by increasing the pool of certified Asian-Owned businesses as contracting resources.
    HISPANIC-OWNED BUSINESSES
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    within the 4 million Hispanic-owned businesses, which equates to a scant 5,000 being officially certified as MBEs tapping into allocated spend.
    These MBEs contributed an estimated $63 billion to the annual revenue pool through commercial contracts in 2022. As the third largest population in the U.S., imagine how the exponential growth of certified businesses from this sector can spur the breadth and depth of new supply chain suppliers.
    WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES
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    out of the 12 million woman-owned businesses represent a prospering but meager 6,000 certified Women- Owned Small Business (WOSB) firms accessing designated spend.
    These WOSBs collectively contributed over $26 billion in estimated Federal procurement revenue, representing just 4.6 percent of the eligible allocated dollars in Fiscal Year 2021. The Small Business Administration is leading efforts to make future progress toward WOSB goals and expanding the business categories for which women- owned businesses can receive set-aside awards. Now is the time to harness the growth and force of women-owned small businesses across the supply chain.
    VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESSES
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    among the 1.8 million veteran-owned businesses make up the 15,000 officially certified through the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs as Veteran/Disabled Veteran firms.
    These Veteran-owned firms contributed an estimated $25 billion in Federal procurement revenue, equating to just meeting 4.4% of the eligible spend allocated in Fiscal Year 2021. Imagine growing the base of certified firms to meet the allocated spend for commercial and government procurement contracts and its cascading effect of financial benefits to the broader veteran community.
    LGBTQ-OWNED BUSINESSES
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    among the 1.4 million LGBTQ-owned businesses, only 2000 are officially certified through the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.
    These MBEs collectively contributed an estimated $57 billion to the annual revenue pool through commercial contracts alone in 2022. Imagine the economic and societal impact of more qualified Black-owned businesses certified to bring competition and innovation into the commercial and government contracting ecosystem.
    To learn more, visit the Small Business Administration - Office of Advocacy, the National Minority Supplier Development Council, and the Business Round Table.
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    PAIN
    POINTS
    Critical Pain Points in the Supplier
    Diversity Industry
    Disparte Access
    Fractured systems over siloed buyer landscapes limit visibility and create unequal access to opportunities.
    Myriad Profile Management Complexity
    Difficulty juggling profiles across a myriad of disjointed systems.
    Readiness to Contract (Capital, Compliance, etc.)
    Barriers to meeting compliance demands and obstacles to access capital.
    Exposure of Qualified Suppliers
    Limited discoverability of qualified underrepresented groups to match supply chain needs and capabilities.
    Certification Process Burden
    Overly complex steps to certification status and cumbersome management process.
    Meeting Allocated $$$ Goals
    Supply Diversity programs struggle to direct allocated contract dollars to viable and potential diverse suppliers to meet goals.
    Disparte Access
    Fractured systems over siloed buyer landscapes limit visibility and create unequal access to opportunities.
    Myriad Profile Management Complexity
    Difficulty juggling profiles across a myriad of disjointed systems.
    Readiness to Contract (Capital, Compliance, etc.)
    Barriers to meeting compliance demands and obstacles to access capital.
    Exposure of Qualified Suppliers
    Limited discoverability of qualified underrepresented groups to match supply chain needs and capabilities.
    Certification Process Burden
    Overly complex steps to certification status and cumbersome management process.
    Meeting Allocated $$$ Goals
    Supply Diversity programs struggle to direct allocated contract dollars to viable and potential diverse suppliers to meet goals.

    inSIDEkonnect

    Scaling Access to Emerging Suppliers

    Our focus is crystal clear on getting more high-potential yet untapped business suppliers certified, contract-ready, and connected faster, so public and commercial opportunities don’t get missed. The growth opportunity for Mainstreet businesses, suppliers, and the broader economy is immense when resources and capabilities are leveraged and empowered. 

    OBLITERATING

    Critical Pain Points in the Emergent Supplier Industry

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    Disparte Access

    Fractured systems over siloed buyer landscapes limit visibility and create unequal access to opportunities.

    Readiness to Contract (Capital, Compliance, etc.)
    Barriers to meeting compliance demands and obstacles to access capital.
    Certification Process Burden
    Overly complex steps to certification status and cumbersome management process.
    Myriad Profile Management Complexity
    Difficulty juggling profiles across a myriad of disjointed systems.
    Exposure of Qualified Suppliers

    Limited discoverability of qualified underrepresented businesses to match supply chain needs and capabilities.

    Meeting Allocated $$$ Goals

    Supply Enablement programs often struggle to allocate contract dollars effectively to viable and potential emerging suppliers, hindering their ability to meet goals.

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    Myriad Profile Management Complexity
    Difficulty juggling profiles across a myriad of disjointed systems.
    Exposure of Qualified Suppliers
    Limited discoverability of qualified underrepresented groups to match supply chain needs and capabilities.
    Meeting Allocated $$$ Goals
    Supply Diversity programs struggle to direct allocated contract dollars to viable and potential diverse suppliers to meet goals.

    How does inSIDEkonnect solve common challenges faced by businesses emerging as suppliers?

    How does inSIDEkonnect solve common buyer challenges?