GovLia, a Fort Lauderdale, FL-based technology company, has won first place in the AnitaB.org PitcHER contest. GovLia, govlia.com, is an intuitive, cloud-based platform that simplifies every step of the procurement process for small business and government agencies, according to competition organizers.

Palo Alto, CA-based AnitaB.org, anitab.org, is a non-profit organization whose mission is to support women in computing and organizations that view technology innovation as a strategic imperative.

The AnitaB.org PitcHER contest celebrates entrepreneurs from all industries who are leading early-stage tech start-ups with the goal of empowering women and/or families and children.

GovLia’s honor propels the company’s mission to provide small to mid-sized businesses prosperity opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach.

“We’re humbled and honored to have been recognized for our innovative solutions by the AnitaB Organization,” says Shakeia Kegler, CEO of GovLia.

“GovLia’s marketplace allows small businesses and government agencies - for the first time - to fully streamline workflows and manage contracts efficiently, thereby saving time, money and resources.”

Kegler, a military veteran and South Florida resident, founded GovLia in 2017.

“My experiences in the U.S. Navy, as a purchaser and as a contract specialist at pharmaceutical company, are what led me to create GovLia, whose name is a play on the two words ‘government’ and ‘liaison’ because that’s exactly what we are. I wanted to better foster economic opportunities and growth for diverse companies, so no one is left behind. The process needs to be as inclusive as possible, especially for those that are veteran-, minority- or women-owned,” explains Kegler.

“Being that I’m a female minority veteran myself, this aspect of my company is very important to me.”

GovLia was initially selected as one of the 10 finalists to compete on stage at the Grace Hopper Celebration - the world’s largest gathering of women technologists, which was held in Houston, TX last fall.

All finalists were chosen based on a range of criteria including innovation, impact and business model. Following a live-pitching competition, GovLia was selected as the overall winner and awarded $25,000 in prize money.

“GovLia understands how hard it can be for small businesses in today’s economy. We believe it’s important for everyone to be given a chance to succeed,” says Kegler. “As an African-American woman, I fully believe that both personally and professionally. At the end of the day, you’ve got to play the game to change the game.”