Atento Capital

Atento Capital Research Investment Thesis Atento Capital is a distinctive venture capital firm with an explicit dual mandate to generate top-tier venture returns while driving economic development and job creation in underinvested regions, particularly Tulsa, Oklahoma. The firm invests in high-potential early-stage companies, with particular emphasis on science-based startups and founders from Latin America. Named "Atento" (meaning "attentive" in Spanish), the firm's geographic and demographic focus reflects an intentional strategy to unlock overlooked talent and innovation in the heartland and across emerging markets globally. Backed solely by the George Kaiser Family Foundation—a multibillion-dollar philanthropic organization—Atento operates with flexibility other venture firms cannot match. The foundation's long-term commitment to Tulsa's ecosystem development (dating to Tulsa Remote and other initiatives) provides Atento with patient capital and strategic alignment on impact metrics alongside financial returns. Investment Focus & Thesis Atento Capital invests across a diversified set of sectors, focusing on: Primary Sectors: Enterprise Software (B2B SaaS, vertical SaaS) Developer Tools and Infrastructure Healthcare and Life Sciences (including biotech, digital health, medtech) Climate and Sustainability EdTech and workforce development Geographic & Founder Focus: Early-stage founders in underrepresented regions (Midwest, South, emerging markets) Latin American talent and science-based startups (GridX program) Women-led and minority-led companies Founders building solutions for underserved markets Investment Approach: The firm acts as both a capital provider and strategic ecosystem connector. Beyond initial investment, Atento provides expertise in: Navigation of growth challenges and sustainable business model development Access to capital networks and co-investors Operational guidance and strategic partnerships Ecosystem-building support (recruitment to Tulsa through relocation programs) Connection to global talent networks and supply chain resources Stage Focus Atento invests primarily in: Pre-Seed to Series A : $500K-$1M typical pre-seed investments Seed : $1M-$2M typical range Series A : Selective participation in follow-ons for existing portfolio The firm is flexible on check sizes and has demonstrated ability to lead rounds as well as participate alongside other venture investors. Recent activity shows strong deployment from their $100M fund (closed 2023). Check Size Typical range : $500K - $2M per investment Pre-seed : $500K-$1M for founders with strong vision and traction Seed : $1M-$2M for teams with working products and initial customers Series A : Selective, typically following on from earlier investments Lead Tendency Leads or Co-Leads : Atento demonstrates strong tendency to lead or co-lead rounds within their portfolio. They have led multiple seed and early Series A rounds as evidenced by portfolio company announcements. Recent Activity Atento Capital has been actively deploying from their $100M fund (closed 2023) with particular focus on: 2024-2025 Notable Investments & Activities: December 2024 : Hosted 11 South American deep tech startups in transformative 5-week GridX to Tulsa program, with goal of recruiting founders to relocate 2024 : Participations in Respond Flow ($2.5M round), BioEutectics ($2.1M biotech round) 2023 : Led $1.3M in SquadTrip (travel tech platform for professionals) Ongoing : Heavy activity in GridX to Tulsa program recruiting Latin American science and biotech founders 2025 Roadshow : GRIDX conducting roadshow to connect Latin American biotech startups with US capital (announced May 2025) Fund Status : Actively deploying with strong momentum. Recent expansion of GridX initiatives suggests increased focus on Latin America sourcing alongside domestic Midwest strategy. Portfolio Overview Atento has invested in 66 companies and 35 venture/growth funds across multiple sectors and stages. Portfolio Sectors (from website analysis): Healthcare and medtech Sustainability and clean tech Consumer health and wellness Enterprise/productivity software Biotech and life sciences Travel/logistics HR and workforce tech Food and beverage Technology and infrastructure Portfolio Characteristics: Strong diversity of founders (women-led, minority-led, and immigrant founder representation) Geographic diversity (Tulsa-relocation success, Latin American founders) Focus on companies with social impact alongside financial returns Sector diversity reflecting both market opportunity and founder origin patterns Team Founder & General Partner: Michael Basch - Former VP of operations at international logistics firm, moved to Tulsa in 2018 to found Atento; deep expertise in supply chain, international commerce, and ecosystem development Investment & Operations Team: Marcos Bazzana - Senior Investment Associate Tatyana Slavova - Investment Associate Chris Hartshorn - Chief Financial Officer Lauren Roberts - Senior Analyst, Finance & Strategy Chelsea Showalter - Strategic Advisor The team combines financial management expertise with strong founder empathy and operational knowledge. Michael Basch's background in international supply chain and operations, combined with his intentional relocation to Tulsa, reflects the firm's authentic commitment to Heartland economic development. Decision Process & Investment Philosophy Structure : Partnership-led with CFO and analyst support. Michael Basch makes final investment decisions with team input and strategic alignment to GKFF mandate. Decision Timeline : Typical 2-4 week decision timeline for pre-seed/seed investments. Flexible based on founder strength and market opportunity. Warm Introductions : Preferred, particularly for external deal flow. Ecosystem participants (mentors, other founders, portfolio companies) can make warm intros. Investor Involvement : Hands-on post-investment mentorship and strategic guidance. Board observer or advisory roles common in seed+ investments. Active connection to Tulsa ecosystem and relocation support programs. Geographic & Demographic Focus Primary Markets: Tulsa, Oklahoma : Headquarters and primary relocation target Midwest US : Focus on overlooked opportunities in underinvested regions Latin America : Rapidly expanding focus, particularly Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina for science/biotech founders Emerging Markets : Strategic global sourcing through networks and programs Demographic Focus: Women founders Minority founders Immigrant founders (particularly from Latin America) Founders from underrepresented geographies Notable Program Initiatives GridX to Tulsa : Transformative 3.5-5 week intensive program bringing exceptional science-based founders from Latin America to: Connect with top US investors and mentors Network with fellow founders Experience Tulsa ecosystem firsthand Explore relocation opportunities Access to capital networks for follow-on rounds Tulsa Ecosystem Initiatives : Atento's founder Michael Basch co-created or participated in launching: Tulsa Remote - Program attracting remote workers to relocate to Tulsa Atlas School - 12-week intensive software engineering education Build in Tulsa - Comprehensive startup support 412 Angels - Angel investment network InTulsa - Recruiting and relocation support Tulsa Innovation Labs - Startup acceleration Tulsa Responds - Emergency response and resilience Tulsa Service Year - Service-oriented fellowship program These initiatives reflect Atento's holistic city-building philosophy: venture capital is part of a broader strategy to make Tulsa a magnet for talent and innovation. Competitive Position Distinctive Positioning: Only pure-play single-LP venture firm (backed entirely by George Kaiser Family Foundation) Explicit geographic decentralization (Tulsa HQ vs. San Francisco/NYC) Dual-mandate alignment (returns + economic development impact) Patient capital structure Hands-on founder support and ecosystem infrastructure Competitive Advantages: Unique position to move founders to/support in Tulsa with ecosystem backing Genuine founder empathy Patient capital enables focus on long-term impact Non-zero-sum approach to founder networks and ecosystem building