In today's episode, Eric sits down with Venus Quates, President & CEO of LaunchTech, to unpack the real truth about certifications—how they open doors, how they fail you when you rely on them alone, and why hunger and capability win long-term. Venus shares how she landed her very first state contract by responding overnight, expanded the work, underpriced herself, lost money, and still used the opportunity as a launchpad to scale. She also breaks down why certs don't equal contracts, the danger of relying on 8(a)/SDVOSB status without capability, and how partnerships, pricing strategy, and operational readiness matter far more than a badge on paper.

Key Takeaways

• Certifications open the door — capability, hunger & execution keep you inside.

• Underpricing kills margins — learn pricing, back-office operations & contract math early.

• 8(a) ≠ automatic revenue; partnerships & performance create real opportunity.

Learn more: https://federalhelpcenter.com/ https://govcongiants.org/

Join the bootcamp: https://govcongiants.org/bootcamp

Watch the full Youtube Episode here: https://youtu.be/wlLfhx0XbuM