SOSV is a venture capital firm that provides pre-seed, seed, venture and growth stage funding to startups in the technology sector.[1][2] The company conducts seed accelerator programs in Asia and the United States of America.[3]

SOSV
Company typePrivate
IndustryVenture capital and private equity
Founded1995
FounderSean O'Sullivan
Headquarters
Number of locations
San Francisco, New York, Cork, London, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Xi’An, Taipei, Tokyo
Number of employees
100+
Websitewww.sosv.com

SOSV was founded in 1995 by Sean O'Sullivan.[4] It is headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey, with operations in Cork, Ireland, and offices in San Francisco, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Taipei, New York City, and Newark.[5][6]

History edit

In July 2018, then governor of New York state Andrew Cuomo announced that the state would invest $25 million in an IndieBio facility in New York City.[5]

In December 2020, TechCrunch's former COO, Ned Desmond joined SOSV as senior operating partner.[7][8]

As of November 2021, SOSV has backed approximately 150 startups that are developing climate technologies, with a focus on the transport, supply chain, logistics, and agriculture sectors.[9][10]

In September 2021, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority announced that the state was investing $25 million to establish a HAX location in Newark, New Jersey.[6]

Investments edit

SOSV invests in startups that specialize in deep tech, including climate and health, as well as enterprise and consumer in emerging markets.[11][12][13] Notable companies within its portfolio include Opentrons, Formlabs, Perfect Day, NotCo, Upside Foods, The EVERY Company, and BitMEX.[14][15][16][10][17][18]

In 2020, SOSV closed its fourth fund totalling $277 million.[19]

In 2021, SOSV closed a $100 million Select Fund.[2]

Programmes edit

SOSV runs the following programmes:

  • dlab (New York) - an accelerator for startups working on decentralized software technology (blockchain).[20]
  • HAX (formerly Haxlr8r, Shenzhen and Newark) - a development program for hardware-based startups at seed and growth stage.[21][6]
  • IndieBio (San Francisco and New York) - a startup development program for startups operating in the life sciences sector.[22][23]
  • Orbit Startups (formerly Chinaccelerator and MOX, Shanghai and Taipei) - focuses on high growth, early stage startups in emerging markets.[24]

References edit

  1. ^ Devitt, Niall. "Bill Liao of SOSventures Discusses Exit Strategies & the Value of Brand Story at #nsclunchnlearn". Bizsugar. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  2. ^ a b Loizos, Connie (June 11, 2021). "SOSV, the global venture firm, just closed a $100 million fund to back its maturing startups". TechCrunch.
  3. ^ Donnelly, Ann (18 July 2013). "Startup Accelerator Programs: What's in it for a startup? What's in it for investors?". O'Mahony Donnelly. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  4. ^ Collins, Dylan. "Founder Interviews: Sean O'Sullivan (SOSventures Avego)". Business Insider. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  5. ^ a b King, Kate (July 19, 2018). "New York Gives $25 Million to Breathe Life Into City's Biotech Scene". Wall Street Journal.
  6. ^ a b c Heater, Brian (September 16, 2021). "SOSV is building a New Jersey HAX facility for industrial, healthcare and climate startups". TechCrunch.
  7. ^ "TechCrunch ex-COO Ned Desmond has joined VC firm SOSV as senior operating partner". Startup News, Networking, and Resources Hub | BEAMSTART. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  8. ^ "The venture firm SOSV has hired former TechCrunch COO Ned Desmond to help grow its startups". TechCrunch. 18 December 2020. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  9. ^ Srivastava, Moulishree (2021-11-14). "3 thoughts on India's climate tech ecosystem from William Bao Bean of SOSV". KrASIA. Retrieved 2022-08-12.
  10. ^ a b Shieber, Jonathan (April 22, 2021). "SOSV's burgeoning climate portfolio is worth nearly $6 billion as planetary health bets pay off". TechCrunch.
  11. ^ Kong, Xavier (7 September 2022). "New SOSV program announces inaugural cohort". Tech in Asia.
  12. ^ Hernbroth, Megan (July 26, 2022). "Generalists head for the hills in Q2". Axios.
  13. ^ Betuel, Emma (January 13, 2022). "Meet the 13 startups in IndieBio's SF cohort, and discover what about each swayed investors". TechCrunch.
  14. ^ Hall, Christine (July 26, 2021). "NotCo gets its horn following $235M round to expand plant-based food products". TechCrunch.
  15. ^ Hall, Christine (December 7, 2021). "The EVERY Co. grabs $175M as it cracks code on animal-free protein products". TechCrunch.
  16. ^ Simonds, Lauren (July 15, 2022). "Gain insight from HAX robotics founders at TC Sessions: Robotics". TechCrunch.
  17. ^ Hall, Christine (April 21, 2022). "UPSIDE Foods bites into $400M to serve up cultivated meat". TechCrunch.
  18. ^ Loizos, Connie (April 25, 2019). "The venture firm SOSV has already raised its biggest fund to date, and it isn't quite closed". TechCrunch.
  19. ^ "Global VC, SOSV secures $277 million in its fourth fund — looks to invest in early-stage deep tech startups". BEAMSTART - Business Community, Resources, & Opportunities. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
  20. ^ Aimuengheuwa, Joan (August 19, 2022). "Apply: Web3, Blockchain Startup? Over $750K Awaits You In dlab Accelerator". TechEconomy Nigeria.
  21. ^ Reynolds, Matt (July 6, 2016). "Inside Shenzhen: The Silicon Valley of hardware". Wired UK.
  22. ^ Gewin, Virginia (2013). "Biotechnology: Independent streak". Nature. 499 (7459). Naturejobs.com: 509–511. doi:10.1038/nj7459-509a. PMID 23894751.
  23. ^ Buhr, Sarah (May 12, 2015). "Biotech Accelerator IndieBio Bumps Funding To $250K Per Startup To Give Founders More Runway". TechCrunch.
  24. ^ Khan, Mutaher (September 5, 2022). "The VC parallels for China and Pakistan". Dawn.com.

External links edit