Mainebiz

V O L . X X X I N O. X X V N OV E M B E R 3 , 2 0 2 5 32 O N T H E R E C O R D B Y R E N E E C O R D E S B Y R E N E E C O R D E S ainebiz: What is Ateklo? Justin Hafner: Ateklo is a com- pany that creates companies. Just like a traditional tech company produces and sells products, our products hap- pen to be startups. Specifically, we turn frontier scientific researchers into entrepreneurs who impact industries through venture creation. MB: What gap are you trying to fill in Maine's startup ecosystem? JF: e same commercialization gap we uncovered nationally is visible in Maine. ere is support for startups once they exist, but very little that de- risks and catalyzes the inception stage of new ventures. Ateklo intervenes further upstream than incubators and accelerators. is allows us to de-risk a venture before its formal creation at the source of initial ideation. We build a strong foundation from Day Zero, ultimately improving exit timeframe and growth probability. MB: How does your approach differ from that of a traditional venture capital investor? JH: Traditional venture capital waits for companies to form and de-risk themselves before invest- ing. We don't wait, we originate the companies directly at the source of innovation, assemble a team and build from the ground up. at lets us control risk earlier and, from a financial standpoint, create the con- ditions for outsized returns com- pared to traditional VC. MB: How are you matching industry needs with startups that can meet those needs? JH: We source problems directly from industry partners, primarily Fortune 1000 technology companies and map them against our focus areas. Instead of waiting for founders to appear, we identify graduate researchers with the expertise to solve those problems and then co-create a new venture around both the talent and the need simulta- neously. is gets us to what we call "problem-founder-market-solution fit" much earlier than existing models. MB: What types of companies will you be investing in and what's your geographic focus? JH: We're focused on building and investing in "deep tech" companies. While we started in Maine, our model is built to scale into other regions. e goal is to build a global ecosystem of talent, expertise and industry partners so our companies are competitive at every stage of growth. P H O T O / J I M N E U G E R Justin Hafner is the co-founder and CEO of Ateklo, which he describes as a "company that creates companies." P R O U D LY S E RV I N G C E N T R A L , C OA S TA L , A N D S O U T H E R N M A I N E S I N C E 1 9 4 3 . With over 80 years of industry leadership, we're committed to building value that's verified—projects rooted in sustainability, driven by collaboration, and focused on creating lasting benefits for the communities we serve. S C A N TO V I E W O U R P R OJ E C T S . Get in touch at hebertconstruction.com Innovative and functional spaces that drive business success. C O M M E R C I A L Learning environments that inspire growth and academic excellence. E D U C AT I O N A L Facilities that prioritize patient care and advanced medical services. H E A LT H C A R E Multi-unit properties that foster connection and support modern living. H O U S I N G Spaces that bring people together and enhance local quality of life. C O M M U N I T Y Justin Hafner, founder and former CEO of digital health startup Kinotek, aims to make an even bigger splash in the startup world as the co-founder and CEO of a company called Ateklo Inc. Mainebiz caught up with the Portland-based entrepreneur to find out more about his new venture with Richard Corey, who leads the VEMI Lab at the University of Maine in Orono. M

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