Beyond Grants: How Federal Credit is Rewriting Startup Finance

When most entrepreneurs think of federal funding, they picture grants or SBIR awards. But Eric Robinson, of Baker Botts, reveals how the Office of Strategic Capital (OSC) is rewriting the playbook: a $200B program that provides direct loans and guarantees to companies critical to national security.

In this conversation, recorded live at Fed Supernova 2025, Eric contrasts OSC with In-Q-Tel and other defense innovation players, showing why its credit-first model resonates with Congress and generates outsized leverage beyond its reserves. Through case studies like MP Materials—and a look ahead at potential equity authority—he outlines how startups and investors can position themselves to benefit from this once-in-a-generation shift in government-backed finance.

Stay updated with the latest from Austinpreneur at https://capitalfactory.com/online/