cover of episode Ep 106: Zac Bookman on Advice for DOGE & Building OpenGov into a $1.8 Billion GovTech Leader

Ep 106: Zac Bookman on Advice for DOGE & Building OpenGov into a $1.8 Billion GovTech Leader

2025/1/23
logo of podcast Joe Lonsdale: American Optimist

Joe Lonsdale: American Optimist

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Zac Bookman: 我与Joe Lonsdale共同创立了OpenGov,旨在提高政府效率和透明度。公司早期经历了资金短缺和战略方向的调整,最终选择专注于构建核心记录系统,并通过收购其他公司来扩展业务。在阿富汗和墨西哥的反腐败经历让我深刻认识到政府效率的重要性,也为OpenGov的创立奠定了基础。OpenGov的成功收购策略是基于产品质量而非营收或客户规模,这体现了我们对产品和服务的极致追求。OpenGov的核心价值观是建立信任、做正确的事情,并为更大的利益服务,这与其他政府科技公司的做法截然不同。我对AI技术在政府领域的应用充满信心,相信AI可以极大地提高政府效率,改善公众服务体验,但同时需要注重信任和透明度,确保AI技术得到合理应用。政府服务需要因地制宜,根据不同社区的需求和特点提供个性化的解决方案。我对美国政府的未来发展持乐观态度,我相信政府效率的提升将带来更好的社会治理和生活质量。横跨美国的骑行经历让我对美国的多样性和活力有了更深刻的认识,也增强了我对美国未来的信心。全国各地涌现出众多充满活力和创造力的企业家和创新者,这让我对美国未来的发展充满信心。OpenGov的成功并非偶然,它源于我们对使命的坚定信念和对产品的极致追求。 Joe Lonsdale: OpenGov成功地将政府服务变得更酷、更高效,并对数百万人的生活产生了积极影响,证明了商业成功与社会责任可以兼得。OpenGov的早期发展并非一帆风顺,也经历了资金短缺和战略调整,但最终取得了成功。我对AI技术在政府领域的应用前景充满期待,相信AI可以帮助政府更好地服务于民众。

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In 2012, Zac Bookman and I set out to bring efficiency and transparency to state and local governments using the best of Silicon Valley technology. Some said we were naive; others laughed when we tried to raise money from them. Over a decade later, OpenGov is a govtech leader, recently acquired by Cox Enterprises for $1.8 billion. And now, government efficiency, namely DOGE, is all the rage!

What does it take to bring government out of the stone ages and into the cloud? And how can DOGE and the new administration seize upon this cultural and political sea change? We discuss this and more with OpenGov co-founder and CEO Zac Bookman. A litigator by training, Zac fought corruption as a Fulbright fellow in Mexico and as an advisor to General McMaster in Afghanistan. As we launched OpenGov, Zac was recruiting candidates on his cell phone from NATO HQ — reflective of his intense work ethic and leadership.

We start with Zac's entrepreneurial journey and key lessons from Afghanistan, before diving into the make-or-break moments in building OpenGov. We also discuss his remarkable M&A track record and strategy of buying tiny govtech companies and helping them scale. Next, we explore Zac's advice for DOGE and how to effect meaningful and lasting change within government. Finally, Zac outlines how OpenGov is harnessing AI and the new possibilities for more functional and responsive governments around the country.

00:00 Episode intro

01:45 Zac's story

07:10 Fighting corruption in Afghanistan

11:30 The origins of OpenGov

19:35 Make-or-break moments

26:35 Understanding how local government works

28:10 Zac's unique M&A strategy

32:24 Advice for DOGE

37:35 Pivoting OpenGov to AI first

44:45 Biking across America & optimism

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blog.joelonsdale.com)