You are reviewing the technical requirements for a regional defense contract, and you reach the section demanding a complete schematic of your data architecture. You have to make a...
As a contract owner and procurement lead in the public sector, and frequent speaker on public procurement, I’ve met hundreds of small and medium-sized businesses with incredible services and products. Despite their quality, most of them hit the same wall: the public procurement process is too complex.
Whether due to a lack of resources, knowledge, or time, many SMBs struggle to even participate , let alone win. And unfortunately, many have simply given up trying. The result? A monopolized procurement market, where only large players with dedicated bid teams have a real chance of winning.
This is a systemic issue , and one that affects us all. When competition is stifled, public institutions miss out on innovation, value, and better services.
How BidPal Found Its Founding Team
Johan Wedenius
CEO
Procurement expert in the public sector and speaker on procurement issues.
Manager at the City of Stockholm, with responsibility for procurement and contract management.
In early 2023, I , Johan Wedenius , attended a lecture on AI. Later that same day, it hit me:
AI could be the solution to help SMBs establish themselves in the procurement market
John Murray
QCS
Former CPO for Swedish nuclear power, hydropower and wind power. Procurement guru, author and frequent speaker on procurement issues, CEO Procurement Systems of Sweden AB. Driving value-based procurement.
I scribbled down the core of my idea, and the next week, I shared it with my good friend , and public procurement guru , John Murray. With over 30 years of combined experience, it didn’t take long for us to realize the potential. This could be a gamechanger for SMBs. The vision to democratize the procurement market was born, and just like that, BidPal.ai had its first co-founder and its QCS (Quality Control Specialist).
The next big step was finding the right CTO , someone who could help us turn our vision into a real, working product. John and I had the experience, but we needed someone to build the digital bridge. Unlike how quickly John came onboard, finding our CTO took time. But as you say: good things come to those who wait. And that couldn’t be more true.
Jason Hishmeh
CTO
Entrepreneur, CTO, & Investor. Has scaled multiple startups from zero to multi-millions in ARR. Tech leadership experience at numerous Fortune 500 companies. Author of “The 6 Startup Stages”.
Through a business contact, I was introduced to Jason Hishmeh. He was the first person outside of John who truly understood the vision , not just as a business model, but as a mission to support SMBs. What I didn’t know then was that I’d gain more than just a CTO , I found a business partner like no other.
Jonas Breding
CSA
Board member & Investor, Tenured C-level leader with passion for helping companies compete and grow globally. Several board positions in Tech and Finance. Public speaker on digitalization & E-com.
As development kicked off, we started looking for the final piece of the puzzle. Our ambition was never limited to Sweden. The challenges of public procurement are global , and our vision is to empower SMBs everywhere to grow through public contracts. That’s when Jonas Breding joined us as BidPal’s.ai CSA, Chief Strategy Advisor. With his international experience, deep understanding of SMBs, and global perspective, Jonas completed the founding team.
I couldn’t be more proud of the team we’ve built. We share the same belief: that small and medium-sized businesses deserve a real shot at public procurement. And with this team, I’m convinced we’ll make BidPal.ai a world-leading solution.
What Comes Next
Building BidPal.ai isn’t just about creating smart software , it’s about removing barriers and leveling the playing field for the businesses that drive our economies forward. We’re combining deep domain expertise with cutting-edge AI to make bidding easier, faster, and more accessible for the companies that have traditionally been left out.
But this is only the beginning.
As we continue developing the platform, our focus remains crystal clear: to empower SMBs to compete and thrive in the public procurement space , locally, nationally, and globally. We know the road ahead won’t be easy, but we’re not just building a product. We’re building a movement.
Because when procurement is fair and inclusive, everyone wins.
If you’re an SMB owner, procurement professional, or simply someone who believes in innovation and equal opportunity , we’d love for you to join us on this journey.
Let’s change the procurement game. Together.
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