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The CEOs of Alpha Omega and Global Alliant discussed emerging business opportunities in U.S. government contracting during a panel on September 6 at the Association of Kannada Kootas of America (AKKA) Business Forum in Philadelphia.
The forum was held on the sidelines of the AKKA Silver Jubilee World Kannada Conference 2026.
Responding to a question about building a successful business in the federal marketplace, Alpha Omega founder and CEO Gautham Ijoor advised aspiring entrepreneurs to first identify their “passion or purpose” for entering government contracting.
Raja Natarajan, founder and CEO of Global Alliant, recalled considering different career paths after leaving government service.
“Should I go back to the private sector or start my own company?” he said, adding that he ultimately decided to establish Global Alliant in the government contracting sector.
Natarajan, the first Indian American appointed deputy secretary of state in Maryland’s history, said his company has since achieved steady growth.
“Fortunately, we are doing very well. We are growing fast and growing smart,” he said. Natarajan noted that people often ask how he built a successful company after entering the sector without an established business.
“I was driving Uber for other CEOs for 25 years. Yes, I was sitting in the driver’s seat. They were in the passenger seat. Now I’m driving my own Uber, with my employees as passengers,” he said.
Drawing on his own experience of starting a company later in his career, Natarajan encouraged aspiring entrepreneurs to pursue their business ambitions.
Asked what advice he would give the leader of a commercial technology company generating between $5 million and $10 million in revenue who wanted to enter government contracting, Ijoor recommended first identifying a clear purpose or a specific government problem the company could solve. He cautioned against entering a sector that is undergoing significant change without a distinct value proposition.
“The grass is always greener on the other side. If you don’t have a unique problem you’re solving, then think harder before you get in. That’s my recommendation,” Ijoor said.
Reflecting on his journey, Ijoor said he received a full assistantship to pursue his master’s degree after arriving in the United States. From that program onward, he said, the country has been a gift that has never “stopped giving.”
“So, it has created a passion in me to build a business that doesn’t just produce profit, but also creates something of significant value and gives back to this nation that has given me an opportunity,” he added.
Echoing Ijoor’s observations, Natarajan said government contracting offers several potential benefits, including stability, scalability and large contract opportunities. However, he emphasized that companies entering the sector must be persistent and prepared to work hard.
Natarajan advised commercial entrepreneurs seeking federal contracts to be “strategic” rather than “practical” and to adopt a long-term outlook.
“Don’t look for revenue the next day. It takes 18 to 24 months. But once you get in there, you will be there forever,” he said.
For entrepreneurs seeking to build a business without federal contracts, past performance, contract vehicles or relationships with contracting officers, Natarajan identified networking as a critical first step. He recommended the approach “connect, collaborate, and grow,” describing it as a “fantastic” principle for aspiring business owners.
He said entrepreneurs should establish contacts that can develop into prospects and eventually lead to contracts. He also advised them to identify successful large prime contractors, learn about their values and challenges, and explain how their companies could provide solutions.
Natarajan further emphasized the importance of building relationships in government contracting. Those connections can help companies respond to requests for proposals and requests for information, he said. Securing an initial contract can then allow a business to develop financial stability and establish a record of past performance.
The Business Forum featured several panel discussions and was inaugurated by India’s Minister of Steel and Heavy Industries, H. D. Kumaraswamy. Entrepreneurs from India and the United States participated in the event.
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