Hortz:  How did you design and develop your solution?

Amplo: The site follows a very intuitive, step-by-step process which makes running an RFP very straightforward, even for those with little experience. But it also allows for complete customization for RFP pros.

We designed InHub for the institutional investment industry, making the technology flexible enough to accommodate various types of RFPs, including investment consultants, investment managers, recordkeepers, plan auditors, actuaries and more, with extra levels of assistance for certain RFPs. All with a focus on streamlining and documenting a prudent evaluation process.

Lastly, we designed the eRFP tool so investment advisors and RFP consultants can manage RFPs for and with their clients more easily. Clients appreciate when the firm running RFPs on their behalf uses innovative technology—saving time and costs, and increasing transparency and collaboration. 

Hortz: Can you share some of your key experiences with InHub that can help other would-be innovators?

Amplo: You can’t be everything to everyone. Part of our vision is a simple RFP tool, so we have to be careful not to implement every idea that every user has. It’s hard to say no, but you have to—for the sake of your vision and because of limitations on your time and resources. It’s particularly hard for me because I love new ideas!  To help me balance, I keep every single idea in an Ariana list called “Web Dev Ice Box.” That way we can still consider them in the future, but just not right now.

I’ve also had to stretch myself to accept that developing a software tool takes longer—and costs more money—than you anticipate. Even for a nimble startup like us! When we started, people would jokingly tell me to quadruple the timeline and budget—and the not funny thing was, they weren’t wrong!

Hortz: How do you like the moniker of being an innovator, having created InHub as a new solution to an age-old problem?

Amplo: I’m just doing something that interests me. Last year, 401kwire named me as one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in the Defined Contribution Industry, and I was shocked. It’s flattering to hear you’re influential or an innovator, but more importantly, it confirms that what we are doing is valuable and being noticed. I am happy to share that in the last 18 months we’ve issued RFPs for almost $18 billion in assets.  We’ll issue another $15 billion in the next 45 days. It’s almost hard to image our very first RFP Issue, which was a $1 million 401(k) plan.

Hortz: What are your plans for InHub?