sputnik

We bet on promising startups
before other institutional investors do

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Founders Building the Future

From infrastructure tools to AI-driven products, we back ambitious technical teams solving hard problemss

Sputnik ATX felt like a fast‑track MBA for founders: tight coaching, 1‑on‑1 feedback, and immediate business wins. They connected us with buyers and influencers, acted as an extension of our team, and even lined up follow‑on funding. Best VC partners an entrepreneur could ask for.

Sandy Padala

S20

Sputnik ATX has been one of the best decisions we made. They’re not just an accelerator, they’re true partners who help you level up fast. Apply if you get a chance, you won’t regret it.

Nnamdi Okafor

S24

The program provided valuable startup lessons and made connections with their vast network of entrepreneurs and investors. Highly recommended to all founders and startup teams that are looking to elevate their business to the next level!

Jake Deleon

S21

Sputnik ATX is not just an accelerator. It will change what you know, who you know, and how you think about building a company. It changed our trajectory and set us up for huge success.

Nate Thomas

S21

My co-founder and I found Sputnik ATX to be hands-down the best accelerator. If you have a chance to apply, don’t hesitate!

Dave Hendricks

W19

Sputnik ATX introduced us to the startup ecosystem and provided tremendous support when we first started that we wouldn’t have received elsewhere. Thank you for taking a chance on us!

Alec Nguen

S23

Sputnik ATX gave us the marketing edge we didn’t know we needed. It’s founder-friendly, practical, and helped us grow faster than we imagined

Dhini Nasution

S24

What we do best

We back bold founders outside Silicon Valley and help them go from gritty to great.

Once we invest, you join us in Austin, TX for 13 high-intensity, in-person weeks. It’s our version of startup bootcamp: sales training, traction building, and a cohort of sharp founders pushing each other to win. We call it an accelerator. You’ll call it the moment things started to click.

Every company we back goes through it, but we charge zero fees. We’re your investor, not your landlord. We only win when you do.

“Sputnik” means partner - and we mean it. We show up early, stay hands-on, and go the distance with you.

HOW WE INVEST

Investment

$100,000

Terms

$3mm cap, 30% discount

Format

SAFE Note

Additional Investment Options

up to $400,000

All Sputnik ATX companies in the accelerator program receive investment on our SAFE note. The idea of a “SAFE note” comes from the YC funding model. YC is a great accelerator program, and their note was originally developed to avoid wasting time negotiating valuation when funding large groups of companies in cohorts.

Similarly, the Sputnik ATX SAFE note enables us to focus on adding real value to what you do, and we agree to figure out the value later when you raise additional funds in your next formal funding round.

The Discount:

The SAFE document below states that the "discount rate" is 70%. This is sometimes confusing as we state that our SAFE includes a “30% discount”. 
However; please make sure to read the definition in the SAFE document of "discount price" and how it is calculated.

Discount price = 70% * the Standard Preferred Stock price

Basically, it says 70% because that is the multiplier needed to end up with a 30% discount.

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We make a difference in a big way

Our Formula:

(Nerds + Investment + Training + Mentoring) X Community = Success

‍

Our only economic relationship with startups is that of an investor - we charge zero fees. “Sputnik” translates to partner, and we want to be your companion for success.

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Format

The Sputnik ATX accelerator is an in-person program located in Austin, TX that provides start-up training focused on sales, mentoring, and ongoing support to successful applicants.

Founders in the program get access to office space in our awesome location in downtown Austin. Upon completion of the three-month program, founders will pitch to a group of VCs and have opportunities for follow-on funding.

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We help founders turn their visionary ideas into world-changing products, and the results speak for themselves.

Help Founders

We help founders at their earliest stages.

Improve the Success

We give startups a huge fundraising advantage.

Advantage

We improve the success rate of our startups.

Experience

Our companies have a track record of becoming billion dollar companies.

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We put founders interests first

We don’t take a board seat.

We don’t take years to decide to invest.

We don’t charge fees.

We don't tell you what to do. We only offer advice.

Our formula for success

100⁺

Satisfied
clients

Sputnik is run by startup founders who have built exactly what they wanted when starting and growing a startup.

Access curated playbooks, office hours, and a private founder community at our new downtown Austin HQ - a stylish open space built for founders. Grab unlimited coffee (and cookies), plug in anywhere, and work where startup energy crackles and ideas hang in the air

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Perspectives

Featuring Sputnik ATX’s thoughts on industry shifts, startup playbooks, our investments and more