SOSV: Deep Tech Before It Was Cool

SOSV wasn’t always a billion-dollar fund—it began as a scrappy experiment. Ten years ago, the team was writing $50K checks. Today, it’s a global operation with $1.5B under management, backing 60+ new startups annually and running two specialized programs:

• HAX for hard tech (robotics, industrial, mobility)
• IndieBio for biotech, food, health, and sustainability

Their formula? Hands-on acceleration + deep labs + strategic follow-on capital.

“We’re not just investors—we’re builders. We have scientists and engineers on staff to help startups go from prototype to product faster.”

The Global Deep Tech Playbook

Ben’s career spans Asia (Japan, Korea, China), Silicon Valley, and Europe. While SOSV is a US-based fund, its hard tech accelerator HAX was originally launched in Shenzhen and has since relocated to Newark, NJ. Its biotech program IndieBio began in San Francisco and later expanded to New York City. Today, ~50% of SOSV’s portfolio is US-based, with the rest spread across Europe, Asia (notably Singapore), and LATAM.

The Vertical Thesis: Climate, Health & Industrial

SOSV focuses on:

• Climate Tech: From Neptune Robotics cleaning ship hulls to AI-powered food formulation
• Health Tech: With over 100 investments, including 20+ in women’s health
• Biomanufacturing: Startups using biology to produce materials, pharma, food, and solvents sustainably

Matchmaking at Scale: Building Events That Actually Work

Frustrated with event inefficiencies, Ben built his own internal toolset—combining spreadsheets, Python scripts, and LLMs—to run high-efficiency online matchmaking events. These have drawn thousands of VCs and startups, focusing on niche verticals like:

• Biomanufacturing
• Women’s Health
• Climate Tech (with over 1500 participants and 800 investors)

“If it takes me more than an hour to do a repetitive task, I’ll just build a tool to automate it.”

And yes—SOSV has invested in eight startups discovered through these very matchmaking events.

Investing Beyond the Obvious

SOSV is known for spotting winners in categories others overlook. Their portfolio spans everything from plant-based AI-designed food (NotCo) to microbe-based mining. As Ben puts it:

“We’re not afraid to invest in the things that don’t have a category yet.”

Why Founders Should Get on Stage

Ben spoke at over 300 events—but not for ego. As a self-described "trained shy person," it was a way to build visibility without cold outreach. For founders, the lesson is the same:

“It takes three signals to make a tiger. If people hear about you on stage, in media, and from someone they trust—they believe.”

In other words, visibility builds credibility.

Learn More

SOSV – Early-stage investor in deep tech and biotech

Hello Tomorrow – Global Summit for science and deep tech innovation

Be sure to follow Sesamers on Instagram, LinkedIn, and X for more cool stories from the people we catch during the best Tech events!