Frequently Asked Questions

SLED stands for State, Local, and Education—the public-sector landscape that includes state and local government, K–12 school systems, higher education institutions, and the agencies and leaders who serve them. e.Republic focuses exclusively on the SLED market, helping both public- and private-sector organizations navigate its unique challenges, opportunities, and decision-making environments.

New to public-sector markets? Our free 10 Laws of Government Sales & Marketing eBook is a practical primer on how SLED buying works.

e.Republic’s proprietary market intelligence comprises original research, data analysis, practitioner perspectives, and on-the-ground intelligence spanning the SLED industry. These insights are delivered through reports, surveys, editorial content, events, advisory councils, and our Industry Navigator and Industry Insider platforms, helping leaders understand trends, recognize opportunities, benchmark progress, and make more informed decisions.

We work with many types of organizations that have a role to play in SLED:

• Public-sector organizations, including state and local governments and agencies, as well as K-12 and higher education institutions
• Private-sector organizations, including technology providers, solution vendors, consultancies, and service firms that serve the public sector

Our role is to connect, inform, and elevate both audiences, always with the goal of improving public-sector outcomes. Playing a role in bringing about more effective government and stronger communities is not only our mission, it is also our great honor.

Industry Navigator delivers market intelligence, data-driven analysis, and strategic insights designed to help private-sector teams better understand public-sector budgets, procurement signals, policy shifts, and emerging priorities.

Industry Insider is e.Republic’s executive intelligence and engagement platform for private-sector leaders serving the public sector. It provides access to curated insights, peer communities, exclusive briefings, and opportunities to engage more deeply with public-sector priorities, trends, and decision-makers. Industry Insider is currently available in California and Texas.

Together, Industry Navigator and Industry Insider support more informed strategy, stronger engagement, and long-term growth in the SLED market.

Events—including conferences, summits, and virtual programs—are designed to convene leaders around timely topics on a specific date. Our In-Person Events & Summits offer valuable opportunities for learning and networking in a defined moment.

Councils, by contrast, are ongoing, invitation-only membership programs built for continuity. They bring together senior public-sector leaders and industry participants for sustained dialogue, shared learning, and collaboration over time. Councils are shaped by long-standing relationships with public-sector leaders and supported by ongoing programming, research, and peer exchange throughout the year. This approach fosters deeper trust, more candid conversations, and insight that evolves alongside real-world priorities.

Council participation is aligned to specific roles or focus areas. If you’re interested in learning more or exploring whether a council is a fit, we invite you to start a conversation through the relevant program page.

• Higher Education IT Strategy Leadership Council
• Higher Education Artificial Intelligence Council
• K-12 Education Leadership Council

Each e.Republic event is designed with a distinct audience, focus, and outcome in mind. Certain events are role-specific (e.g., state CIOs or education leaders); additional events are topic-driven (e.g., AI, cybersecurity, data, digital transformation); and some events have a regional focus, while others are national in scope across our full portfolio of e.Republic events.

What they all share is a commitment to providing:

• Opportunities to network and cultivate meaningful, enduring connections
• Practitioner-led content
• Peer learning and collaboration
• Real-world use cases and actionable insights

We help private-sector organizations engage responsibly and effectively with public-sector audiences by elevating education over promotion. Through councils, communities, research, content, and events, we create trusted environments where public-sector leaders can explore challenges, share experiences, and evaluate solutions grounded in real-world needs.

Unlike transactional or one-time engagements, many of our programs are designed for sustained interaction over time. This continuity enables private-sector participants to contribute expertise, understand evolving priorities, and build credibility through meaningful, insight-driven engagement. Through a variety of programs that help the private sector better understand the true challenges and priorities shaping the agenda of public sector leaders and decision-makers, including events, we provide opportunities for both sectors to come together to identify partnership opportunities, find the best solutions to support digital transformation, and share expertise.

Public-sector leaders from state and local government and education engage with e.Republic in many ways, including:

• Attending or speaking at events
• Serving on event advisory boards to ensure our gatherings reflect their current priorities and challenges
• Participating in councils, surveys, or research initiatives
• Contributing perspectives through editorial or peer discussions

Most of our public-sector engagement is complementary, designed to support knowledge sharing, professional growth, and community connection.

Yes. Education is a core part of the SLED market and an important focus area of e.Republic. We work extensively with K–12 school systems, districts, higher education institutions, and education agencies, providing expert content and independent media coverage on topics such as digital transformation, cybersecurity, equity, data, and workforce readiness.

Private-sector organizations can sponsor our In-Person Events & Summits through a variety of engagement models, including thought leadership, speaking opportunities, brand visibility, and targeted audience engagement. With membership-based recurring sponsorships, you gain year-round engagement and sustained visibility through Councils & Communities. Sponsorships are designed to ensure solution providers have meaningful opportunities to engage with and learn from public-sector leaders as well as share their own expertise and relevant solutions to help address today’s most pressing government and education challenges.

Yes. Both sites offer a range of digital advertising and content opportunities designed to reach public-sector leaders in a trusted editorial environment. Options include display advertising, sponsored content, newsletters, and more. For more information, refer to the GovTech Media Kit and the Governing Media Kit.

Yes. e.Republic works with private-sector organizations to develop research-driven, editorially credible thought leadership content, such as whitepapers and case studies, that address real public-sector challenges. These assets are designed to inform—not promote—and align with editorial standards and audience expectations while supporting broader engagement and demand-generation goals through our Demand Generation Services.