Sputnik ATX

Sputnik ATX is an Austin-based venture capital fund and accelerator that invests in early-stage startups, especially those solving real-world problems. Founded in 2017 by Joe Merrill and Dr. Oksana Malysheva, Sputnik ATX combines capital with a hands-on 13-week accelerator program focused on product-market fit, sales, and scaling. Their primary investment strategy targets early-stage startups, providing an initial $100,000 investment with opportunities for follow-on funding up to $400,000. Sputnik ATX stands out for its focus on diverse talent, with a significant portion of its portfolio led by women and minority founders. They pride themselves on discovering founders from unexpected places, driven by personal experiences to tackle large markets. Notable alumni have gone on to secure additional funding from top-tier VCs such as Andreessen Horowitz and Kleiner Perkins. Their portfolio spans industries like fintech, AI, healthcare, and sustainability, highlighting their broad investment thesis. With a rigorous selection process, less than 0.5% of applicants make it into Sputnik ATX's highly competitive cohorts, which run twice a year. Their investment team brings extensive expertise, with over $5 billion in transaction experience. Startups that participate in the program benefit not only from capital but also from an invaluable network of mentors and investors.