Aventi Enterprises

10/03/2026

What issues matter most to small business owners as we head into Election Day?

At the recent NAWBO Columbus Candidate Forum, candidates for state and federal office discussed several issues directly affecting businesses and families across Ohio—including:

Access to capital
Access to contracts and business opportunities
Childcare and healthcare costs
Economic development
Data centers and their impact on local communities

Moderated by Emmy Award-winning journalist and news anchor Tonisha Johnson, the forum gave women business owners and community members an opportunity to hear directly from candidates about their priorities and proposed solutions.

With Election Day on November 3, being informed matters. We’ve put together a recap highlighting some of the key perspectives and takeaways from the discussion.

Read our recap of the candidates' views in the comments 👇

At Aventi, we believe a strong business ecosystem requires businesses to have a voice in the conversations and decisions shaping our communities.

10/03/2026

How much time did you spend searching for contract opportunities this week?

Now ask yourself another question:

How many of those opportunities were actually a good fit?

Aventi's Bid Search service helps businesses identify government and corporate opportunities based on their industry, capabilities, NAICS codes and growth goals.

And we don't stop at sending you a link.

Depending on your plan, Bid Search includes:

Curated contract opportunities
Opportunity fit reviews
Bid Review Calls
Pipeline tracking through the Aventi Client Portal
Access to our Teaming Network

Aventi has already matched businesses with 750+ contract opportunities.

Spend less time searching and more time pursuing the opportunities that make sense for your business.

Learn more about Bid Search at Aventi Enterprises.

https://www.aventienterprises.com/bidsearchservices

Maximize your opportunities with our customized bid search services. We help you identify the best government and corporate contract opportunities tailored to your industry, capabilities, and growth goals.

10/02/2026

“We haven't won a government contract yet, so we don't have past performance.”

Not necessarily.

Have you successfully completed similar work for:

✔️ Commercial clients
✔️ Nonprofits
✔️ Schools or universities
✔️ Local organizations
✔️ Other businesses

Then you may already have relevant experience that can help demonstrate your ability to perform.

Start documenting it.

What was the project?
What problem did you solve?
What was the scope?
What results did you achieve?
Can the client serve as a reference?

And if you need additional experience, consider subcontracting and strategic teaming opportunities that can help your business strengthen its capabilities and track record.

Don't wait until an RFP asks for past performance to start building your past performance library.

Read: How to Build Past Performance When You Haven't Won a Government Contract Yet

https://www.aventienterprises.com/post/how-to-build-past-performance-when-you-haven-t-won-a-government-contract-yet

If you have been successfully serving commercial, nonprofit, educational, or other clients, you may already have more relevant experience than you realize. Here's how to document, position, and build upon it.

10/01/2026

You finally get 10 minutes with a buyer.

What do you talk about?

“We've been in business for 15 years…”

“We're certified…”

“We provide these 12 services…”

Those things can be important, but the better conversation starts with understanding the buyer.

What are they purchasing?
What problems are they trying to solve?
Who currently holds the contract?
When does it expire?
How does the organization typically purchase your service?
Are there subcontracting opportunities?

Your goal shouldn't simply be to leave the meeting with the buyer knowing more about you. You should also leave knowing more about the buyer.

Read our latest article, "Where Small Businesses Get It Wrong When Connecting with Buyers."

https://www.aventienterprises.com/post/where-small-businesses-get-it-wrong-when-connecting-with-buyers

Buyers need to better understand the problem your company can solve rather than the roster list of services you offer.

09/29/2026

Columbus is growing. But who gets the opportunities that come with that growth?

Today, Aventi is bringing together business owners, procurement professionals, economic development leaders, and community stakeholders for an important conversation:

Who Gets the Opportunities as Columbus Grows?

As our region expands, growth creates opportunities for construction companies, consultants, technology firms, food service providers, transportation companies and many other local businesses.

But creating opportunity is not enough.

Businesses need to know where opportunities exist and be prepared to compete. Buyers need strong pipelines of qualified businesses ready to perform.

Today’s conversation is about how we strengthen both sides.

Because a stronger Columbus business ecosystem should create opportunities for businesses to grow right along with it.

https://www.aventienterprises.com/event-details/who-gets-the-opportunities-as-columbus-grows

Columbus is growing but how do we ensure local businesses have access to the opportunities that come with that growth?

09/28/2026

What’s the biggest thing keeping your business from pursuing more contracts right now?

🔹 Finding the right opportunities
🔹 Knowing which opportunities to pursue
🔹 Writing proposals
🔹 Pricing your services
🔹 Past performance
🔹 Finding the right buyer
🔹 Having enough capacity to perform the work

Drop your biggest challenge in the comments. 👇

09/21/2026

Want to build stronger relationships with government and corporate buyers?

Stop starting the conversation with:

“What opportunities do you have for my business?”

Instead, try asking:

“What priorities or upcoming projects should companies in our industry be paying attention to over the next 6–12 months?”

That changes the conversation.

You’re no longer simply asking for a contract. You’re gathering learning how to position your company before the opportunity hits the street.

Contracts are won through more than proposals. Relationships, positioning, timing, and preparation matter too.

Read more in this week's blog article:

Buyers need to better understand the problem your company can solve rather than the roster list of services you offer.

09/19/2026

Not every contract is a good contract.

Before you bid, ask:

✔ Does this align with what we already do well?
✔ Do we have relevant past performance?
✔ Can we realistically deliver at this size and scope?
✔ Can we finance the work while waiting to be paid?
✔ Do we understand what matters to this buyer?

A strong contract strategy is just as much about what you don’t pursue as what you do.

At Aventi, we help businesses identify, evaluate, and pursue opportunities that support long-term growth.

What’s your biggest challenge right now: finding opportunities, deciding which ones to pursue, or responding to them?

09/09/2026

The next Contract Growth Workshop is Thursday, September 17th at 10a.

Schedule 2 hours of your day for this online executive session to explore ways your business fits in the contract marketplace and learn how to evaluate opportunities to determine where you can compete and win.

Register here: https://www.aventienterprises.com/event-details/contract-growth-workshop-prepare-to-win-government-corporate-contracts-2026-09-17-10-00

09/05/2026

Can your cash flow handle your next big contract?

Winning a contract is exciting. Being financially prepared to perform it is just as important.

As your business pursues larger government and corporate contracts, you need a clear understanding of your cash flow, financial capacity, and what it will take to successfully deliver when the opportunity comes.

Join Aventi Enterprises featuring Mangen & Associates on Financial Clarity for Contract Growth, a practical session designed to help business owners strengthen the financial foundation behind their contract growth strategy.

We’ll talk about:

• Building greater cash flow visibility

• Understanding your financial capacity to take on contracts

• Identifying potential financial gaps before you win

• Strengthening financial readiness for larger opportunities

• Making more informed decisions about when and how to pursue growth

Wednesday, September 9th
8:30a - 10a
Aventi Enterprises Corporate Office

Ready to strengthen your financial foundation for contract growth?

Register here: https://www.aventienterprises.com/event-details/financial-clarity-for-contract-growth

Build the cash-flow visibility, capacity, and financial readiness required for contract growth.