We chat with Ben Joffe, Senior Partner at SOSV, one of the world’s most prolific early-stage deep tech investors. Live from Hello Tomorrow 2025, the conversation explores the rise of deep tech funding, SOSV’s unique accelerator-first model, and the growing role of AI in biotech, food systems, climate innovation, and beyond. Ben shares his thoughts on building founder-investor matchmaking systems, why speaking at events is a strategic advantage, and how "vibe coding" and custom-built tools are giving VC firms an edge in dealflow.
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:
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.”
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.
SOSV focuses on:
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:
“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.
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.”
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.
SOSV – Early-stage investor in deep tech and biotech
Hello Tomorrow – Global Summit for science and deep tech innovation