Glenn Oliver finished the first part of turning his entrepreneurial aspirations into a reality by launching H2bid. Now he's working on the hardest part, gaining traction.
"We have completed the build out and Beta testing of our software," Oliver says. "We are in full-blown marketing mode."
H2bid is an Internet start-up that provides e-procurement services for water utilities.
Oliver, who worked with the Detroit Board of Water Commissioners in the late 1990s, was inspired to start the company while helping approve contracts for the utility. He always thought there was a better way to bring down projects costs through more competition.
H2Bid's software helps these water utilities bid out projects over the Internet, helping ensure they get the best deal in the most cost-effective manner. The 6-year-old firm, which calls Eastern Market home, finished its Beta launch last year and has been steadily adding more users to its site. It has added five people to its team of 20 over the last year and is looking at adding interns.
Oliver expects to add another 5-10 new e-bidding customers this year, helping to poise the company for some breakthrough growth. "This is a large market opportunity," Oliver says.
Source: Glenn Oliver, president & CEO of H2bid
Writer: Jon Zemke
Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.
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