Tech VC investor profile: SOSV [Princeton, New Jersey]

SOSV is a pioneering global venture capital firm with a bold mission: to support human and planetary health through deep tech innovation. With a portfolio of nearly 1,000 startups operating across 56 countries, SOSV is dedicated to accelerating the growth of visionary founders who aim to make a profound impact on the world. Its core programs, IndieBio and HAX, are based in major innovation hubs like New York City, San Francisco, and Newark, and are supported by offshore design and engineering teams in Pune, India, and Shenzhen, China. Everywhere SOSV operates, its commitment to helping founders go further, faster, remains at the forefront. The Princeton-based company is part of our list of tech venture capital investors. 

The SOSV Investment Focus

SOSV has consistently ranked as one of the most active investors in climate and health technologies, with a #1 ranking for climate tech investments by PitchBook since 2017. SOSV’s top 100 climate tech startups boast a collective valuation of $11.69 billion, with $3.77 billion raised. In health, its top 100 companies are valued at $6.67 billion, with $1.43 billion raised.

Among SOSV’s top climate tech companies are NotCo, a company leveraging AI to design plant-based foods, Prolific Machines, which uses optogenetics for biomanufacturing, and Neptune Robotics, which deploys hull-cleaning robots to reduce maritime emissions. In health tech, standout companies include Prellis, which 3D-prints lymph nodes for drug discovery, and Flow Neuroscience, creators of a headset designed to treat depression. These companies reflect SOSV’s focus on groundbreaking technologies that address urgent global needs.

Recent Funding Highlight

SOSV’s unique multi-stage investment strategy starts at the very beginning of a startup’s journey, as the “First Check in Deep Tech™.” With $1.5 billion in assets under management as of April 2024, SOSV consistently invests in early-stage companies focused on deep tech solutions that address critical challenges related to human health and climate change. The firm plays a key role in bringing transformational startups to life, from pre-seed to Series A and beyond

In April 2024, SOSV announced the close of its largest fund to date, the $306 million SOSV V fund, which will target deep tech startups in human and planetary health. This fund will emphasize the intertwined imperatives of decarbonization and re-industrialization, a reflection of SOSV’s commitment to “reinvent the means of production” for a sustainable future. “This new fund will enable an enormous amount of positive change for humanity,” said Sean O’Sullivan, SOSV’s founding and managing general partner. SOSV’s extensive network of leading family offices, corporations, and institutional partners enables it to magnify its impact, with every $100 million invested by SOSV bringing in $2 billion in followon capital for its portfolio companies.

SOSV Programs: IndieBio and HAX

SOSV’s IndieBio and HAX programs are central to its deep tech strategy. IndieBio focuses on biotechnology and life sciences, while HAX specializes in hardware, robotics, and connected devices. Both programs provide extensive resources for founders, including access to advanced facilities and equipment. In recent years, SOSV has invested more than $30 million in building and upgrading spaces for deep tech startups. New facilities include the expanded IndieBio labs in New York City and San Francisco, as well as the newly relocated HAX headquarters in Newark, New Jersey

These 80,000 square feet of working space offer wet labs, chemistry labs, industrial-grade 3D printers, and machine shops, giving founders the tools they need to develop and de-risk their technologies. Offshore teams in Pune and Shenzhen further bolster product development and engineering capabilities, enabling startups to scale rapidly and effectively.

Image source: SooWan Jang