Amanda Eakin

Chief of Staff

2025

Principal

2024 - 2024

Since 2017 we invested in 70+ pre-seed companies globally and grew the value of the portfolio 3X in 6 years. Sputnik ATX VC invested on the thesis that determined and talented founders from anywhere, given the tools and training, can build category-defining companies.

Senior Associate

2019 - 2024

Influenced investment decisions for $13M across 70+ startups. Co-developed 2 early-stage startup programs focused on go-to-market and scale. Facilitated successful fundraises with valuations between $8M and $45M. Built Sputnik ATX into a competitive startup program with <0.5% acceptance rate while maintaining a diverse portfolio with 80%+ women and POC founders.

Marketing Director

2017 - 2019

Founding employee #1 of Sputnik ATX VC. I love experimentation + distilling complex ideas down to simple and compelling ones. Designed and implemented product narrative and go-to-market strategy for Sputnik ATX's accelerator program. Through existing platforms, events, email, social media, events, and partnerships, drove 60% YOY growth in applicants.

Board Member

2023 - 2024

The Austin Swing Syndicate (501(c)(3) nonprofit) holds one of the longest running and best attended weekly swing dances in the country. Since 1999 our Thursday night dance at the Texas Federation of Women’s Clubs (or as we call it, The Fed) consistently draws 200 people each week. Our goal is to grow this supportive and welcoming environment and share our appreciation for vintage jazz through dance with the community at large. Learn more at https://austinswingsyndicate.org/every-thursday-at-the-fed/

Digital Marketing Specialist

2017 - 2017

Email marketing, graphic design for logos and web pages, and Facebook advertising.

Producer

2016 - 2016

Writer and Producer for The Daily Texan science & tech podcast feature stories on Longhorn Lab Report. Episodes came out every week. The Daily Texan is the largest and most award-winning college publication in the nation.

Reporter

2016 - 2016

Science & Tech writer at The Daily Texan

Undergraduate Research Assistant

2013 - 2013

Investigation of MAPK inhibitors and eEF-2K functions. Learned: polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, chemical assays with radioactive substances