Five Elms Capital doubles down on RFP360, bringing its investment to $12M
March 16, 2020 | Startland News Staff
RFP360 proved its worth and ability to push itself in the months following Five Elms Capital’s first investment in the software platform, said Thomas Kershisnik.
RFP360’s elevator pitch: We develop software solutions that transform how organizations worldwide request information, respond to requests and connect — making the RFP and proposal process far more efficient, effective, collaborative, consistent and repeatable for everyone. Our complete approach covers every angle, from knowledge management and response automation to request development and vendor evaluation.
The payoff? Five Elms today announced a second strategic growth investment in RFP360 — bringing its total backing of the Leawood-based startup to $12 million, said Kershisnik, managing director at Five Elms Capital.
“It’s clear that RFP360 truly understands an underserved market, offering a unique platform that creates value for all sides of the process — groups that issue RFPs and other information requests and teams whose job it is to respond,” he said. “We are excited to continue to partner with them and be a part of their growth.”
Click here to check out the firms on Startland News list of Kansas City’s Top Venture Capital-Backed Companies in 2019.
RFP360, plans to use the funds to support ongoing expansion of the product development, marketing and sales teams.
The investment comes a year after the first round of funding from Five Elms, a leading growth investor in founder-owned software businesses, which came in conjunction with the hiring of David Lintz as chief executive officer.
In 2019, RFP360 also expanded its executive leadership team by adding Beau Wysong as chief marketing officer and most recently Ryan Townsend — co-founder and former CTO of PayIt — as chief technology officer, as well as moving its global headquarters to Leawood after more than doubling its headcount.
Click here to read more about RFP360’s acceleration.
“We experienced a tremendous amount of growth in the last year from both a personnel and product standpoint,” Lintz said. “The additional investment from Five Elms will allow us to accelerate our growth and success in 2020 while continuing to disrupt the industry.”
RFP360 — founded by David Hulsen and Stuart Ludlow and previously known as RFP365 — was named one of Startland News’ Kansas City Startups to Watch in 2018.
Featured Business

2020 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
KC’s cheesemakers Green Dirt Farm opening new space in embattled Crossroads
Editor’s note: The following story was published by KCUR, Kansas City’s NPR member station, and a fellow member of the KC Media Collective. Click here to read the original story or here to sign up for KCUR’s email newsletter. Green Dirt Farm is opening a new restaurant next month that will bring its sheep’s milk cheeses to the Crossroads —…
Plexpod Westport closing Feb. 29; offices to remain but under new management, branding
The spacious classrooms-turned-offices retrofitted for large startup teams at a site once billed as the world’s largest coworking space never regained their pre-pandemic demand, said Gerald Smith, confirming the sudden closing of a Plexpod location that for years epitomized Kansas City innovation culture. “We so wanted Plexpod Westport to be the center of the universe…
NMotion invests $100K in AI storytelling startup’s next chapter; KC founder flexes momentum
A $100,000 investment by a leading regional accelerator is expected to expand the capabilities and reach of a Kansas City AI storytelling startup — establishing Overland Park-based Storytailor as a well-known brand for children worldwide, founder JQ Sirls said. The NMotion Accelerator on Wednesday announced six new companies selected for its cohort, which is powered…
Kansas City lands new HQ for Eastern Airlines; company invests $4.7M in site near airport
A cargo/charter airline’s move to consolidate its operations into a new Kansas City headquarters is expected to create 165 full-time jobs, company officials said Wednesday, announcing another win for the region connected to its investment in a new airport terminal. “Kansas City and its airport have a great legacy in our industry,” said Stephen Buscher,…


