Government websites are not typically associated with cutting-edge technology. Co-founder and CTO Ben Cohen of GovWell experienced this firsthand when assisting his contractor father in applying for building permits. While working as a full stack engineer at Uber during the day, he found himself faxing documents for building permits at night, highlighting the significant difference in technology. This experience led him to co-found GovWell.
Based in New York, GovWell offers a workflow system for small and medium-sized governments to automate and streamline tasks such as building permits, zoning, and fire safety inspections. CEO Troy LeCaire mentioned to TechCrunch that the platform has enabled local governments to complete tasks much more efficiently than before.
LeCaire emphasized that every government operates differently, so GovWell’s platform allows for customization without the need for a bespoke solution, making it adaptable to various requirements through no-code tools.
The founders of GovWell, LeCaire and Cohen, initially aimed to automate building permits but realized the broader need for a general workflow solution after research and conversations with municipalities. Despite securing government customers prior to developing code, GovWell now serves multiple local governments across seven states.
GovWell recently secured a $4.5 million seed round led by Work-Bench with support from Bienville Capital. The company plans to expand its team, invest in product development, and maintain positive cash flow. While GovWell faces competition from other startups in the government software space, LeCaire believes the vast market and need for improved government technology offer ample opportunities.
LeCaire expressed the goal of GovWell to become a leading provider of workflow automation for smaller and medium-sized local governments within the next 18 months. As a believer in the importance of efficient government operations, he envisions GovWell as a solution to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of government services.
