**GovWell: Revolutionizing Government Workflow with Cutting-Edge Technology**
Government websites are not typically associated with cutting-edge technology. However, Ben Cohen, co-founder and CTO of GovWell, discovered this firsthand while assisting his contractor father with building permits. Working as a full stack engineer at Uber during the day and faxing documents for permits at night, Cohen experienced a stark contrast in technological capabilities. This experience ultimately inspired him to launch GovWell, a New York-based workflow system for small and medium-sized governments.
GovWell aims to automate and streamline tasks such as building permits, code enforcement, zoning, and fire safety inspections. According to CEO Troy LeCaire, the platform has significantly reduced the time it takes for local governments to complete these processes. What sets GovWell apart is its ability to be customized by governments without the need for a bespoke platform. Using no-code tools, governments can configure the software to adapt perfectly to their unique requirements.
LeCaire and Cohen were brought together through a founder speed dating activity at Fractal Software, a New York-based startup incubator. They realized that both of them had experience working with the government – Cohen through his father and LeCaire through political campaigns and his college degree. Initially, their focus was on automating building permits, but they soon realized that the problem was much larger than that.
After reaching out to numerous municipalities to inquire about their software preferences, LeCaire and Cohen discovered that many were dissatisfied with their current solutions despite the significant costs involved. Recognizing the need for a more comprehensive workflow solution, GovWell quickly gained traction, securing five government customers before a single line of code was written. Since its launch in April 2023, GovWell has expanded its reach to over a dozen local governments across seven states, including parks departments and health departments.
To fuel its growth, GovWell recently raised a $4.5 million seed round led by Work-Bench, with participation from existing investor Bienville Capital. Although the company was already on a path toward positive cash flow, LeCaire explained that they decided to raise funds due to inbound investor interest and the opportunity to set their own terms for accelerated growth. The investment will be used to triple the team over the next 18 months and invest in further product development.
While GovWell may not be the only company seeking to modernize government software, it stands out due to the scale of the problem it addresses. LeCaire acknowledges that government expenditures account for 36% of GDP, with local governments alone spending $1.8 trillion on administering services. This vast market presents a significant opportunity for GovWell and other players in the sector, such as GovDash, Hazel, Odo, OpenGov, and GovPilot.
LeCaire emphasizes that local governments, despite not being commonly associated with tech adoption, are already investing substantial amounts in software. GovWell aims to become the go-to provider for smaller and medium-sized local governments, unifying the idea that government should work better and be more efficient for taxpayers. With a goal to become the number one workflow automation solution within the next 18 months, GovWell is poised to revolutionize the way governments operate, benefiting citizens and improving the efficiency of public services.
