William 'Will' Paddock

ATMOS.AI, the the vintage-2022 Nashville startup driven by Vanderbilt Owen GSM grads Max Mona and Adam Jace was sold in 2023 on undisclosed terms to 16-year-old WAP Sustainability Inc., a consulting firm co-founded by Nashville-based Managing Director Will Paddock and Chattanooga-based Director of Operations Brad McAllister.

Paddock, a 40-year-old Ohio native, told Venture Nashville late this afternoon that the Atmos acquisition squarely fit his plan for building or buying further "technology enablement" businesses with talented teams.

WAP had previously done at least two other deals, acquiring Coldstream, based in British Columbia; and, Tristream Engineering, based in Michigan.

He acknowledged that it is not certain, but very likely that WAP will make one or more additional buys, yet this year.

He also made clear that he's not wearing the mantle of an M&A consolidator. Rather, he's looking continually to add value to his existing 16-year-old platform, which has been widely recognized for its work with more than 500 clients (Apple, Google, 3M, et al), globally, as well as by standout ratings among rapidly growing enterprises.

VNC began covering WAP Sustainability in 2012, when Paddock was 28. See all coverage.

VNC had sought for several weeks to verify the status of the much-heralded startup, which, among other laurels, had won a berth in the Founder program of VU Wond'ry Innovation Center.

Yesterday, WAP Sustainability made it official with a press release here.

Atmos, originally dubbed ESG Impact, offered proprietary SaaS and other support for environmental, social, governance (ESG) and related sustainability management.

As we reported in May 2022, Atmos had to that point raised at least $1.2MM in financing and it had focused its sales efforts among middle-market enterprises.

Mona, a Maryland native now 26, yesterday told VNC he remains an advisor to WAP and said several of Atmos's FTE's had joined with WAP, in the course of the deal.

Paddock

Coach Mona

Mona is also now head coach of the Vanderbilt University Hockey club.

He said he continues mulling future career and entrepreneurial scenarios, with continuing emphasis on sustainable climate technology options.

Paddock is also an adjunct professor at Lipscomb University Institute for Sustainable Practice, as well as a principal in Boulder-based Green Energy GPO, according to his LinkedIn. VNC

. last edited Feb. 16, 2024 1731