KCK tech firm RFP365 named ‘new small business’ of the year

The wins are stacking up for RFP365.

Now weeks after scoring a contract with the City of Kansas City, Mo., the tech company was named the 2015 “New Small Business of the Year” Friday by the Kansas City Kansas Chamber of Commerce. A member of the Kansas City Startup Village, RFP365 created software that eases the request for proposal process for issuers and drafters of RFPs.

“It’s an honor just being nominated, and definitely to win,” RFP365 co-founder Stuart Ludlow said. “Being in the Startup Village has really helped us overcome some of the challenges that new businesses face. The Village has really helped us grow as a company and helped us to win this award.”

RFP365 also recently landed $950,000 from regional angel investors, which allowed the co-founders to add marketing, sales and tech staff. Based in Kansas City, Kan., RFP365 now has seven employees and more than 100 customers in North America, Europe, Africa and Australia.

The Kansas City Startup Village, which contains nearly 30 startup companies, also was nominated as a finalist in the KCK Chamber of Commerce’s small business awards as the non-profit of the year. The Community Housing of Wyandotte County won the Non-Profit of the Year award, and El Padrino Soccer Apparel & Soccer Nation won Small Business of the Year.