#48 Will This Space Startup Make It off the Ground?

Hesitation

Investors express significant hesitation about investing in Atomos due to the high capital requirements and early-stage nature of the project. One investor outright declines, citing the project's capital intensity and early stage as major deterrents 1. Vanessa Clark and William Kowalski attempt to reassure the remaining investors by explaining the differences between their spacecraft and traditional rockets, emphasizing the reliability and reusability of their design 2.

Would you like to fly on a plane that's flown once, or would you like to fly on a space tug that has flown hundreds of times and been demonstrated to be reliable?

--- Vanessa Clark

Despite their efforts, the investors remain cautious, questioning the feasibility and risks associated with the project.

   

Fallout

Atomos faces fallout with their lead investor, leading to a scramble to secure new funding. William Kowalski recounts the fallout due to disagreements over corporate structure, which forced them to part ways with their main investor 3. Vanessa Clark highlights their strategy to build value through IP and partnerships, aiming for acquisition by major aerospace companies before launching their spacecraft 4.

We are building value. So all of the IP that we're developing, all of the license agreements, we're securing technology that DARPA, the DoD, and NASA will want in the next five to ten years.

--- Vanessa Clark

This strategy underscores their focus on long-term value creation despite immediate funding challenges.