Entering a new market is a formidable and demanding endeavor, particularly for an emerging business in a recovering economy. It includes building new relationships and alliances and fundamentally understanding how business is conducted in order to be competitive and win business.  As an emerging business, it is crucial to remain efficient and effective during each step.  Our due diligence led us to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) 8(a) program as an efficient and effective approach for entering the Federal marketplace.

PReSafe Technologies became aware of the SBA 8(a) program through online research, dialogue with colleagues and participation at meetings hosted by the Government Technology & Services Coalition (GTSC). The SBA 8(a) program is well suited for emerging businesses, particularly socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs that aspire to gain a foothold in government contracting.

The SBA 8(a) application process is much more comprehensive (and lengthy) than most state programs with a similar focus on emerging, disadvantaged businesses. PReSafe Technologies found it was well worth the effort because of the significantly greater market opportunity, structured business development (annual reviews, business planning, systematic, evaluations) and executive leadership development opportunities.  Moreover, we believe that demonstrating success in the Federal marketplace may readily lead to increased opportunities in other private sector marketplaces.

PReSafe Technologies recently initiated the SBA 8(a) application process, and we expect that it will take some time before the anticipated successful outcome.  Our aim is to protect global digital assets and support the Federal government’s mission of securing the U.S. homeland. We seek to collaborate and remain optimistic about the opportunity to bring additional innovation, agility and high-quality solutions to the Federal marketplace through the SBA 8(a) certification process.

Learn more about the SBA 8(a) application process here.

Robert V. Jones
President & CEO
PReSafe Technologies LLC

Robert V. Jones is the President & CEO of PReSafe Technologies LLC. PReSafe Technologies LLC is a professional consulting, advisory and solution delivery company dedicated to protecting global digital information assets by identifying and eradicating cybersecurity threats thus enabling companies to do business with confidence in today’s global interconnected electronic marketplace. 

The Emerging Small Business Group’s Mission

The Emerging Small Business Group (ESB) was formed to provide dedicated programming and resources for Emerging Small Businesses (businesses with revenue <$2.5M). The group focuses on engaging emerging small business owners, understanding the numerous challenges of starting/growing a small business in the Federal space and marshaling GTSC’s vast resources of peers, owners, mentors, subject matter experts and online virtual tools to provide our members the knowledge and techniques needed to meet the challenges of growing a business.

ESB Chair: Elaine Kapetanakis, CEO, Kapstone Technologies, Inc.

Kapstone Technologies, Inc. is a Woman-Owned Small Business based in Reston, Virginia offering Information Technology Services to the Federal, state, and local governments.