Atoomico, the recently created investment arm of the financial consultancy Kreedit, has one million euros of its own resources to invest in startups from diverse sectors, but with a special interest in business projects based on blockchain, according to Jordi Solé, executive director of Kreedit and director of Atoomico. "We want to invest tickets of between 25,000 and 100,000 euros in each emerging company. The idea is to invest in 4 or 5 startups each year," he specifies. At the moment, the venture builder is studying its participation in two emerging company projects. One develops its activity in the restaurant sector (dark kitchens) and another in renewable energies.
In addition to the available resources, Kreedit expects to increase its investment capacity with contributions from external investors, mainly national business angels, who are interested in diversifying their investment portfolio through financing companies in the pre-seed or seed phase.
Atoomico is not a typical fund, since one of the differentiating factors is that it has Kreedit's experience in seeking financing in the form of debt, an alternative that is very difficult for an emerging company, but which allows its founders to minimize the dilution of their capital, explains its director. In this sense, Jordi Solé states that "for many startups it is more costly to bring in investors through financing rounds than to seek resources through credits or other debt instruments." "Debt financing must be repaid in a specific time and with a determined interest, and, on the other hand, an investor usually seeks to multiply their investment and leave the company after a while, in addition to the fact that the entry of many investors ends up diluting the capital of the startup's founders, so their decision-making power decreases," he adds.
Atoomico is studying participating in a dark kitchens company and a renewable energy companyAccording to the director of Atoomico, "a startup will not be more successful because of the number and volume of funding rounds it manages to close, because what makes a company successful is that it is well managed, stable, generates employment...". "Entrepreneurs must become aware of all the financing options that the market offers them ---which are many!, he emphasizes--- and choose those that suit them at all times," insists Solé.
In addition, points out the director of the investment arm, the Atoomico project is not limited only to technology companies or startups, as is often the case with similar incubators: "We are open to boosting companies in traditional sectors with innovative ideas and the possibility of rapid growth", and giving a second chance to other firms "that have some viability problem seeking financing through debt and getting involved in management," assures Solé. In this way, "from Kreedit we have promoted restaurants, renewable energy companies, real estate companies, machinery manufacturing companies and fashion accessories companies; as well as e-commerce, insurtech and eSports companies, among others," says the director.
For the project started with Atoomico at the end of 2021, Kreedit has a team of external professionals, among whom are Chema Chaqués, entrepreneur and headhunter; Josep Margalef, entrepreneur and mentor; and Jordi Altimira, entrepreneur and business angel. Their task will be complemented by the Kreedit team who, since its creation in 2010, have secured financing for 1,300 companies, mainly from Catalonia, worth 300 million.