Chris Sosnowski, Founder & CEO of Waterly, attended a lot of the webinars offered by CivStart and learned how to network more effectively in varying situations. The webinars gave him the right tools to enter the national marketplace, demonstrating better ways to engage the marketplace of ideas in governments. Several webinars offered by CivStart’s preferred legal partners, Wilson-Sonsini, played a crucial role in getting Waterly's legal house in order.

The program instilled confidence. Chris notes, "Everything was valuable, but the primary value CivStart gave me was energy." The startup journey, often lonely and challenging, found a boost from the CivStart team and network’s passion, and drive. More concretely, the program provided exposure through demo days in DC, where valuable feedback from key stakeholders shaped Waterly's product and direction. The visibility gained through CivStart led to exposure in GovTech Top 100, and Waterly's inclusion for three consecutive years speaks volumes about its impact.

Finally, connection to other founders helped Chris grow as a founder and someone pitching in the local government space. This network helped him navigate complex issues, understand where founders were doing well, and also what to avoid in how a founder approaches local government officials.

CivStart's role in introducing Waterly to the wider govtech community, providing guidance, and instilling the confidence to navigate challenges has been pivotal to its success.