Ramp Aims to Secure U.S. Government as Client Following Viral DOGE Tweet

Expense management startup Ramp is in the spotlight as it seeks to participate in a charge card pilot program initiated by the U.S. government’s General Services Administration (GSA). This potential collaboration could significantly impact government spending practices and enhance financial efficiency.

Overview of the SmartPay Program

The SmartPay program, managed by the GSA, represents a substantial $700 billion initiative aimed at streamlining government expenses. Reports suggest that the charge card pilot program, which Ramp is vying for, could be worth up to $25 million according to ProPublica.

Ramp’s Lobbying Efforts

Ramp has been actively seeking the GSA’s attention since January, prior to the inauguration of President Trump. In a blog post titled The Efficiency Formula, co-founder and CEO Eric Glyman, along with investor Kyle Harrison, outlined strategies to reduce inefficient spending within government operations.

Connections to Influential Figures

The post appeared to resonate with the government efficiency agenda, which was later formalized as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Ramp’s connections extend into the realms of high-profile investors, including:

• Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund
• Keith Rabois of Khosla Ventures
• Joshua Kushner’s Thrive Capital
• Joe Lonsdale of 8VC
• Jeb Bush, former governor of Florida

Ramp’s Competitive Edge

According to Lindsay McKinley, Ramp’s head of communications, the company is currently participating in a standard procurement process for the SmartPay pilot program. She emphasized, “Ramp’s technology has prevented billions of dollars in wasted spend across the economy, and if chosen, we’ll bring those same results to the American taxpayer.”

Features of Ramp’s Technology

Ramp positions itself as a cost-effective solution for corporations, offering various spend management tools that help enforce compliance with established policies. The federal government has numerous policies regarding employee spending, making Ramp’s service particularly relevant.

McKinley noted that the company discovered a public post on X (formerly Twitter) shared by the DOGE on February 18, which highlighted that the U.S. government currently manages approximately 4.6 million active credit cards/accounts that processed around 90 million unique transactions totaling $40 billion in fiscal year 2024.

Current Status and Future Prospects

Following the introduction from a former customer, Ramp is now part of a standard Request for Information (RFI) process with the GSA. However, McKinley stated, “We have no indication of whether we’ll be selected.”

In March, Ramp achieved a remarkable milestone by doubling its valuation to $13 billion after a successful $150 million secondary share sale. Since its inception in 2019, the startup has raised over $1 billion in equity financing and secured $700 million in committed debt funding.

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