ATEL Capital Group

From space tech, to biotech, to industrial tech, many startup founders use venture debt to enable them to reach important milestones without diluting their equity. Read some of their success stories: https://lnkd.in/gU6KuKrS

We are excited to have Michael Orlando join ATEL Ventures, Inc. as Vice President. Michael's appointment will enable us to identify and work with more startups on the smart deployment of venture debt. Read more about Michael and his experience here. ?? https://lnkd.in/geMCDX4W

Michigan Governor, Gretchen Whitmer recently joined LuxWall, Inc. CEO, Scott Thomsen to officially open the company's new production facility in Litchfield, MI. The new site is part of a two-phase, $165-million investment that will create 450 new jobs and features automated manufacturing, quality control, office space and laboratories to produce advanced, energy-efficient window products that will be sold in the U.S., Canada, and Europe, helping to mitigate the environmental impact of commercial and residential buildings. Through ATEL Ventures, Inc. we are proud to have played a part in this important step forward for LuxWall, Inc. https://lnkd.in/gm3CjWkE

Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) may sound like something out of science fiction but the technology is very real, with multiple beneficial applications. Through ATEL Ventures, Inc. we are proud to support BCI company Paradromics Inc., which has taken a major step forward with its acceptance into the FDA's Total Product Life Cycle Advisory Program. This program will enable Paradromics to benefit from more timely premarket interactions, earlier identification and mitigation of device development risk and a more efficient premarket review for its Connexus system, which enables communication for people with conditions like ALS, spinal cord injury and stroke. https://lnkd.in/gNpj4Rvb

Astranis Space Technologies is building small and low-cost telecommunications satellites to provide internet access in remote regions of the world, and recently closed a $200M Series D funding round, that will enable the company to develop its next-generation satellite program, Omega. Developing and building satellites is a capital-intensive business, and through ATEL Ventures, Inc. we are proud to have played a part alongside Astranis' investors in enabling the company to pursue its vision, which could bring internet connectivity to many millions of people around the world. https://lnkd.in/gQiiF_hQ

With the notable exception of AI startups, founders in almost every sector are finding it harder and harder to secure venture capital (VC) funding. In a new blog post, ATEL Ventures, Inc. President, Steven Rea explores the current challenges and some of the options open to founders with diminishing runway. https://lnkd.in/gqfp2NyC

Hard tech startups operating in heavily regulated industries face out-sized challenges compared with most other startups. Regulations regarding public health, safety and the environment are there for good reason, but navigating these regulatory landscapes requires substantial resources and time. The smart deployment of venture debt can provide hard tech startups with the financial stability needed to address regulatory challenges effectively by: - Extending runway - Covering operational costs - Mitigating risk - Supporting strategic planning The white paper from ATEL Ventures, Inc., 'Debt as Catalyst: Making Hard Tech Less Hard', explores this and other aspects of venture debt in more detail. https://lnkd.in/gN4ShSAA

Hard tech startups—defined as those working on technology that requires big breakthroughs and has high barriers to entry--face challenges that go beyond the typical hurdles of developing and launching a product. One of the most significant obstacles is navigating complex regulatory environments. In sectors such as biotechnology, energy, and aerospace, stringent regulations can slow down progress, increase costs, and create the kind of uncertainty that can spell the end for startups. Venture debt can play a crucial role in providing the financial stability needed to overcome these challenges. This is one area explored in the recent white paper from ATEL Ventures, Inc., 'Debt as Catalyst: Making Hard Tech Less Hard'. https://lnkd.in/gN4ShSAA

Solugen is a carbon negative molecule factory that replaces petroleum-based products with plant-derived substitutes, such as corn sugar. As demand for petroleum alternatives increases, the company plans to build a new 'bioforge' plant in Minnesota, using a $214M loan from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). This type of capital-intensive business incorporates debt as part of its financing and through ATEL Ventures, Inc. we are proud to have played our part in Solugen's success story to date. https://lnkd.in/gue8kWNX