OUR MISSION
​
Akiri Consulting's story began with a clear vision: to empower small businesses and organizations to thrive in the complex environment of government contracting. Our founder and CEO, Katherine Gentic, spent 15 years working with prime USAID partners, where she observed a critical need: inexperienced subcontractors often struggled to navigate intricate federal regulations and contractual obligations, putting them at risk of non-compliance and financial losses.
Since we started in 2019, Akiri has grown from a team of 1 to 20+ consultants, and our scope has broadened to include support to federal government contractors and recipients working with agencies beyond USAID, including HHS, Veterans Affairs, and USDA. Akiri also supports organizations who work with donor agencies, such as the World Bank Group and Gates Foundation.
​
Akiri’s talent pool consists of senior-level experts who specialize in compliance, contracts, grants, procurement, operations, policy, project management and pricing. Collectively, we have worked with small businesses, non-profits, international companies and for-profits. Our experts have a diverse portfolio of experience serving in a variety of leadership roles, and developing both government and donor agency cost proposals that range from $5M to $1B+ in value, and which span cost reimbursable, firm fixed price, and IDIQ/BPA mechanisms. Visit our Meet the Experts page to learn more about our CEO and our most in-demand consultants.
​
On average, our consultants individually have 15 - 30+ years of experience. Our team’s breadth of knowledge provides a unique vantage point of the multitude of practices and policies that different entities use in their businesses. This experience has granted our team the ability to see what works well and what needs improvement, and apply that knowledge to clients’ needs.
On average, our experts individually have 15-30+ years of experience.
What's In A Name?
Akiri Consulting's name is rooted in the Esperanto word "akiri," meaning "acquire," reflecting the company's foundational mission. Initially, Akiri set out to provide essential support to USAID implementing partners navigating the complexities of acquisition instruments. The choice of "akiri" effectively encapsulated the core function of that work, which centered on navigating the Federal Acquisition Regulations.
Furthermore, the use of Esperanto, the international language developed to foster world peace and international understanding, underscores Akiri's commitment to operating within a global context, aligning with our original client base's international development initiatives. Thus, "Akiri" serves as a concise and meaningful representation of the company's origins and its dedication to international acquisition support.