Building Up Tech Talent

Neelima Paraskar, founder and CEO of Snap IT, discusses her journey in the tech industry and the challenges of hiring and retaining talent in the IT field. She shares how Snap IT started as a training company to address the lack of affordable and skilled engineers in Kansas City. Neelima also talks about the impact of AI on software development and the changing skills required in the industry. She highlights the importance of certifications and government contracts in growing her business. Neelima offers tips for entrepreneurs, including the value of networking and persistence. Takeaways - Snap IT was founded to address the lack of affordable and skilled engineers in Kansas City. - The company started as a training company but evolved into an IT solutions provider. - Retaining talent is a challenge in the IT industry, especially for small businesses. - AI is changing software development and the skills required in the industry. - Government contracts and certifications have been instrumental in the growth of Snap IT. - Networking and persistence are key for entrepreneurs. Find Startup Hustle Everywhere: https://gigb.co/l/YEh5 This episode is sponsored by Full Scale: https://fullscale.io Visit the SnapIT Solutions website: https://snapit.solutions Learn more about Neelima here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neelimaparasker Sign up for the Startup Hustle newsletter: https://newsletter.startuphustle.xyz Sound Bites: "I wanted to hire talent, which is affordable." "Everybody's a free agent, right?" "We keep them in Snap IT for about three to four months till they become independent." Chapters: 00:00 The Launch of Snap IT 06:36 How to deal with employees who leave 10:28 How to make opportunities for your future workforce 17:01 How AI is changing software development 22:31 Working with a significant other in the IT business 24:52 The real deal in getting government contracts 29:10 Neelima's journey in creating a software company 33:00 Tips for Entrepreneurs