A Conversation with Becky Nictakis

When Becky Nictakis founded Capitol Funding Solutions, her goal was to create a firm that would approach non-dilutive competitive funding in a way that hadn’t been done before. Three years and over $2.5 billion in secured funding later, her company’s impact is undeniable. Becky’s journey is about more than just success. It’s about persistence, adaptability, and the belief that the right ideas, supported by the right team, can drive real change. In this interview, Becky delves into the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship, and the principles that guide her leadership. 

 

What was the pivotal moment that led you to found Capitol Funding Solutions, and what challenges did you face in starting the company? 

My husband had to step back from a successful career due to health issues, and I realized that I would need to evolve my business. I flew to DC to talk to everyone I knew in the lobbying world about the concept of working with a firm that would specialize solely on non-dilutive competitive funding. The response was positive, so we moved our family to Northern Virginia on my intuition that I could build a successful business.  

My concept was unique in that our focus was solely funding. I had to do a lot of explaining to potential clients and strategic partners that we don’t lobby and are not lawyers. It was fun to start something new and innovative with a focus on finding and winning funds, but I had to learn to sell the value of our services as a new concept rather than saying we are better than the others already in the space. Capital for growth was the most significant hurdle. 

 

What are some of the biggest misconceptions people have about CFS? 

People think we are just grant writers. That we take ideas and plug them into an application. I view our team as partners to our clients. We want to understand the big picture so we can help them develop programs and applications that achieve their goals. 

 

What do you believe are the most important qualities of a successful CEO, and how do you cultivate those qualities in yourself and your team? 

My willingness to try new ideas and accept failure as a part of learning and growing has been important to our development as a company. Identifying people’s strongest skills and putting them in a position to excel and be fulfilled is also a daily driving force. I try every day to encourage everyone on our team to speak up, make suggestions, and approach each day and project like a valued team member with a unique skill set. I love new ideas! 

 

What unique challenges have you faced as a female CEO, and how have you overcome them? 

Capital! It is astounding how difficult it is for women entrepreneurs to raise capital. I hope in the future to get involved in efforts to open capital opportunities for women innovators and business owners. 

 

What motivates you to stay hands-on in your approach to leadership as CFS continues to grow? 

I love what we do for our clients, but the organization that I am building for our employees is every bit as important to me. I want people to feel valued and fulfilled. I want them to have an opportunity to learn and grow professionally. I ask our team to work hard when it is busy, so it is important to me that they take vacations and that we provide flexibility. It is a fun group, and I like each of them as individuals. When I get busy with external responsibilities, I miss working more closely with them. 

 

In your experience, what are some of the key qualities and skills that are important for success in the non-dilutive competitive funding industry?  

Creativity is a core value of our team and key to us finding funding opportunities where others may not. Our writing/project management team has an unwavering commitment to detail, which is key to technical proficiency and project execution. My favorite attribute of our team is that they are all inquisitive learners. I think that interest in new ideas, people, and places feeds our engagement with clients and the ability to tell their stories well. 

 

What does achieving over $2 billion in competitive funding mean to you? 

$2 billion is a big, fun number. What is more gratifying to me is how that equates to impact. That $2 billion+ was invested in new manufacturing facilities, programs for entrepreneurs, public park improvements, and infrastructure for safer transit and intermodal supply chain solutions. Playing a small part in projects that directly impact people’s lives is a lucky way to make a living. 

 

You’ve worked with a diverse range of organizations to help them secure funding. Is there a particular success story that stands out to you? 

That feels like picking a favorite child. Some wins are special because I adore the clients. Other wins are meaningful because the project is innovative or particularly impactful. Aside from individual wins, I take a lot of pleasure from our partnership with West Monroe, Louisiana. They have a female mayor and city manager whose drive and energy are inspiring. They consistently out-kick their coverage. 

 

What values from your upbringing in New Jersey have shaped your professional journey? 

When I get mad, I have a friend who says, “Careful, your Jersey is showing.”  I think that my grit and determination are a direct result of that Jersey upbringing. I do not like when people tell me something can’t be done. It feels like a challenge to prove them wrong. 

 

How do you balance the demands of your career with your personal life and responsibilities, and what role has your support system played in your success? 

This is a tough one. I have a lot of responsibilities related to family health issues and I worry every day about the balls that I am dropping. One of our writers once told me when I was working in a hospital waiting room that our team is like the Avengers. I think about that often, and I feel so fortunate to work with this amazing group of superheroes who give me more grace than I deserve. I can also always count on my kids for encouragement, a laugh, and a helping hand. They are compassionate and kind, and I am lucky to have them. I work odd hours sometimes, and I have learned to work from anywhere. 

 

What women in history or your personal life have influenced your leadership style and values? 

My daughters are my biggest driving force. They are 18 and 19. They are my biggest cheerleaders, and they remind me that you don’t have to trade kindness for success. The young women on my team give me hope for the future. I love to see them grow into their roles, and they remind me how important it is to be given the opportunity to contribute meaningfully. My mom was and is a teacher, and she taught me that everyone has different gifts and that leadership is seeing those gifts and providing a chance to let them shine.  

Outside of my personal sphere, I am inspired by innovative entrepreneurs like Sara Blakely, Danielle Weisberg, Carly Zakin, and Reese Witherspoon. They are smart and driven but not afraid to have fun. They don’t hide the things many women feel compelled to minimize to fit into a male-dominated business world. They champion women’s issues, are proud moms, and are not afraid to have a personal style that reflects their personalities. 

 

What do you hope your children learn from watching your career and leadership journey? 

I hope my kids were watching every time that I failed and kept moving forward because I don’t care how great you are, you are going to fail at things big and small. It is just part of life and part of achieving success. The “overnight success” stories often start with years of work and failure that no one sees. More than anything, I hope I have modeled hard work and kindness. 

 

What legacy do you hope to leave for women leaders and entrepreneurs who follow in your footsteps? 

Honestly, I think more about the legacy I leave for my team. Do they feel valued and respected? Do they have the opportunity to achieve their goals outside of work and have fulfilling lives and relationships? Are they learning and growing? I don’t expect to change the world, but I hope I make their lives better.  

 

As a woman in leadership, what advice would you give to young women aspiring to make an impact in traditionally male-dominated fields like politics or finance? 

Be yourself. I am an intuitive person. I make a lot of decisions based on how I feel. Some people equate that characteristic as feminine and not businesslike. Whether that is my gut or my heart, it has served me well. It took me a long time to accept that I am not more analytical and numbers-driven, but authenticity is always the best approach. 

 

Any last thoughts you want to share? 

I would be remiss not to call out the men I value so greatly who go out of their way to give women an equal chance to be heard and to lead. We have a client, Martin O’Neill from Cabot Corporation, and a strategic partner, Ben Steinberg, at Venn Strategies, who are real champions for women. And I was lucky enough to have a dad who never believed I should have anything but an equal seat at the table, so it never occurred to me that I shouldn’t either.