Editor's note: Each year, DC Inno and the Washington Business Journal spotlight some of the region’s top young innovators under the age of 25, and this year we’re featuring a diverse group of nine disruptors, philanthropists and venture capital enthusiasts determined to shake up the status quo. Click here to read the other profiles.
Zachary Crilley, CEO, co-founder, GovFuse LLC
- Age: 23
- Hometown: Chevy Chase, Maryland
- College: Babson College
- Degree: Bachelor's in global business management
- First job: Newspaper route delivering the Washington Post
Tell us a bit about your business: GovFuse is modernizing government procurement by helping government users buy items online.
Is there a co-founder? Yes, Gavin Farnan. Gavin and I were freshman year roommates at Babson College.
What was your inspiration for the idea? Working at the General Services Administration [as a summer intern in 2019] and witnessing firsthand the inefficiencies of government procurement while understanding the complexity of making sweeping changes to such a massive system. When the GSA created the commercial platform program in response to Section 846 of the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act, I jumped on the opportunity to be a vendor under this new program. The initiative establishes a program to procure commercial products through e-commerce platforms specially created for government users.
Who are your customers? Our primary customers are government employees who utilize the e-commerce procurement platforms to buy things like electronics and office supplies [for their agencies].
How do you generate revenue? We are a vendor on the e-commerce platform Overstock Government and generate revenue when a client places an order for one of our products.
What funding have you received to date? We have primarily funded our venture from the revenue generated.
What has been your biggest challenge so far? Overcoming fear and doubt is a challenging battle every ambitious young person must face. What keeps me going is the knowledge that steadfast persistence toward my values will guide me to where I need to be.
Where do you see yourself five years from now? Five years from now I will be continuing to serve people through entrepreneurship. Some people find their creative channel in painting, music, or dance. My creative outlet is enterprise.
What advice do you have for other young entrepreneurs? Start. Starting is the hardest part. You will be well served by taking time to think about the easiest possible way to take action on your dreams today, then doing it. Three friends and I started a podcast, “Your 1 Podcast,” where we discuss navigating the journey ambitious young people face.
Favorite book? “How to Win Friends and Influence People,” by Dale Carnegie
What do you do to unwind? Prayer and meditation are tools I use to unwind.
