Video: Foosball and whimsy are integral to the RFP365 ethos

April 4, 2016  |  Bobby Burch

David Hulsen, left, and Stuart Ludlow, co-founders of RFP365.

 

Kansas City foosball virtuoso Stuart Ludlow knows his way around the fútbol table.

With a strike rivaling a Black Mamba’s, Ludlow’s instincts and supple wrist on the foosball pitch puts to shame most any adversary. But perhaps equally as cunning is Ludlow’s savvy to integrate the table game into the workplace culture of RFP365, of which he’s a co-founder.

Founded in 2012, RFP365 created a software platform for issuers and receivers of requests for proposals — an often onerous process for organizations to solicit bids for commodities, services or assets. The company’s technology helps eliminate redundancies in the RFP process by providing streamlined tools to enable collaboration and improve workflow. It also allows RFP issuers to compare, track and monitor RFPs from respondents.

In 2015, RFP365 snagged the City of Kansas City, Mo. as a client, was named the 2015 “New Small Business of the Year” and raised $950,000 from regional angel investors.

As a small but quickly growing tech firm, RFP365 faces an ever-growing list of demands to juggle, creating stress that Ludlow and his co-founder, David Hulsen, aim to allay with foosball and a whimsical workplace. The company — which has seven employees and more than 200 customers in North America, Europe, Africa and Australia — recently moved to Kansas City’s Waldo District as part of an office expansion.

Check out the video below to learn more about the firm.

startland-tip-jar

TIP JAR

Did you enjoy this post? Show your support by becoming a member or buying us a coffee.

Tagged , , ,
Featured Business
    Featured Founder

      2016 Startups to Watch

        stats here

        Related Posts on Startland News

        KC’s FairWave coffee pours into the Carolinas with latest small-batch roaster acquisition

        By Tommy Felts | April 2, 2025

        Joining Midwest-based coffee collective FairWave gives Black & White Coffee Roasters access to the enhanced equipment, resources and network needed to scale the North Carolina business to its potential — while staying true to its values, said Kyle Ramage. “It’s a natural progression that will allow us to build upon our existing foundation and reach…

        DoorDash Accelerator opens applications to local businesses through KCMO partnership

        By Tommy Felts | April 2, 2025

        Independently-owned brick-and-mortar businesses — think restaurants, flower shops, mom-and-pop supermarkets, and more across Kansas City — that partner with DoorDash for deliveries can now apply to join a new-to-KC entrepreneur-focused accelerator, Quinton Lucas announced Wednesday. Up to 10 local businesses are expected to be selected to receive mentorship, professional programming, and funding through the accelerator.…

        Meet the winners: Pitch Black competition rewards founders’ vision with $60K in prizes

        By Tommy Felts | April 1, 2025

        Founder Godfrey Riddle was overwhelmed with emotion Saturday, he said, after accepting the $30,000 grand prize at the Pitch Black Business Summit — a game-changing development for his sustainable, affordable housing venture, Civic Saint. “I’m feeling phenomenal. Shocked, relieved — just elated,” said Riddle, following the announcement of his win. “It’s crazy because when you…

        This young baker tore up the instructions for starting a business (but kept all the best recipes)

        By Tommy Felts | March 31, 2025

        Overland Park cookie shop gets a new baker behind the counter, adding a frosted twist to familiar favorites She learned to bake as a child by her grandmother’s side. So by middle school, Maddie Callicott was so proficient she not only held popular bake sales, she printed up business cards for her “You Take the…