260: The $500K Confidence Boost: Winning Government Contracts with Zero Capital & One Smart Question

Govcon Giants

Today’s show was brought to you by our sponsor Encore Funding. Have you or someone you know recently been awarded a government contract and cannot secure funding? Encore Funding has your back, with a recently launched Government division they are funding your receivables so you can just focus on the work. Visit encoregov.com for more information on how to get the money you need to continue growing your business.

On this episode of the GovCon Giants Podcast, I sit down with Sylvia Kapushinski, a former war photographer turned federal contractor who went from zero experience and no money to winning a government contract solo. She shares how one video on vendor credit gave her the belief that she could actually do this—and she ran with it. From watching YouTube to attending site visits, building vendor relationships, and digging deep into solicitation details, Sylvia’s story is a masterclass in what happens when you stop self-eliminating and start showing up.

She walks us through how she became the only bidder on a modular building contract, how she leveraged a free SBA line of credit to unlock $500K in bonding, and the exact vendor credit strategies she used to deliver without upfront capital. We even talk about why paying attention to the details most people skip is the reason she outperformed veteran contractors. If you're a solopreneur, feeling intimidated, or unsure of where to start—this episode is your blueprint.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sylwiakapuscinski/

Company Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hj-gov-contracting-corp/

Website: https://www.hjgovcontractingcorp.com/