Solar Loans Are Broken — Atmos Has The Fix

The FinTech Reboot Solar Has Been Waiting For What happens when local banks finally start playing ball in solar lending? Ravi Mikkelsen is here to tell us. In this “Where Are They Now” episode, we reconnect with Ravi Mikkelsen, the co-founder and CEO of Atmos Financial, who first joined SunCast in 2021. Since then, the solar financing world has been flipped on its head—rising interest rates, shifting policies, and a return to leases have left installers and homeowners alike with questions and headaches. Ravi has been quietly building an answer in the form of a fintech platform that bridges the gap between traditional banking and solar projects. If you’ve ever wondered why solar loans still feel so complicated—or what it would take to truly democratize clean energy finance—this is your episode. 🔹 Why solar loans are getting more expensive—even as hardware costs fall 🔹 How dealer fees can wipe out the homeowner’s tax credit benefit 🔹 The return of leases—and what that says about market conditions 🔹 Why Atmos is moving out of deposits and doubling down on lending Tune in to hear how Atmos is powering the next wave of solar finance by making it easier, cheaper, and more transparent—for everyone involved. If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/. Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America! SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar. You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors. Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com. Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/ You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on: Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus