Sourcing Complex Stuff with Less Price Focus - Harry Wilde from Cotiss

In this episode of The Procurement Software Podcast, James Meads sits down in person with Harry Wilde, co-founder of COTISS, a source-to-contract platform purpose-built for regulated industries. Recorded live at the Wolfpack Summit in New York, it’s a rare face-to-face conversation packed with insight, humour, and honest reflections on building procurement tech for complex sourcing needs. They unpack how COTISS helps procurement teams running high-stakes, non-price-driven RFPs—think airports buying hovercrafts or telcos procuring fibre optic cable, by simplifying evaluation, driving internal engagement, and replacing spreadsheets with intuitive tools. Sourcing Complex Stuff with Less Price Focus The conversation also explores how Harry and his co-founders spotted a global gap in the market, mid-sized, heavily regulated organisations still stuck with Excel and email, and decided to build a tool that balances ease of use with just enough customisation. Other topics covered include: Why big, “gnarly” RFPs demand more than just basic e-sourcing toolsWhat good procurement planning should look likeHow AI should be applied to solve real problems—not just add hypeCOTUS’s US go-to-market strategy and learnings from New ZealandWhy fast implementation cycles matter for small procurement teams A must-listen for procurement leaders, founders, and anyone navigating sourcing in complex, regulated environments. Timestamps: [01:20] Guest introduction: Harry Wilde [04:30] Sourcing in regulated industries [07:10] What makes COTISS different [10:20] Founding story & background [14:30] Expanding into the US market [18:10] Best practice sourcing process [22:00] Evaluation tools & impact [26:10] AI use in sourcing tools [30:00] Implementation & where to learn more And that wraps up another episode of The Procurement Software Podcast! Thanks again for listening, and do please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify. Every one helps! We'll be back at the same time next month, so see you there. If you want to learn more about Procurement Software, check out the useful links below.  Stay in touch! Connect with Harry Wilde on LinkedInCheck out COTISSDownload our Tech Map for EnterpriseDownload our Tech Map for Mid-MarketDownload our Tech Map for SMEsFind your perfect procurement tech solution in our Software Finder appSign up for the Procurement Software NewsletterBook an Intro Call and let’s talk all things Digital Procurement!Connect with James on LinkedIn