HAX

HAX - Hands-On Venture Capital for Hard Tech Investment Thesis HAX is a specialized pre-seed venture capital program focused exclusively on hard tech startups solving humanity's biggest challenges in climate, industrial automation, and human health. HAX believes that the most transformative solutions come from founders deeply rooted in science and engineering who are building breakthrough technologies in the physical world. As part of SOSV, a global venture capital firm with $1.5 billion in assets under management, HAX provides not just capital but hands-on engineering support, world-class fabrication infrastructure, and access to a global network of manufacturers and experts. Sector Focus HAX invests across multiple hard tech sectors with particular emphasis on: Climate Tech & Sustainability : Companies addressing decarbonization, energy transition, critical minerals, and sustainable manufacturing Industrial Automation & Robotics : Physical AI, robotic systems, automation for industrial processes Human Health : Therapeutics, diagnostics, medical devices, women's health, neurotech Materials & Manufacturing : Novel materials, sustainable production processes, circular economy Energy : Clean energy solutions, energy infrastructure, marine fuel alternatives IoT & Sensors : Industrial IoT, sensor networks, connectivity technologies Recent Deep Tech 100 portfolio trends show HAX's focus: 45 companies in Deep Tech 100, 41 in Physical AI, 40 female-founded companies, 38 in energy, 9 in materials, and 6 in critical minerals. Stage Focus HAX exclusively invests at the pre-seed stage: Primary focus : Pre-seed startups with initial prototype and customer insight Typical timing : Companies with proof-of-concept, technical team, vision for global impact Follow-on strategy : SOSV continues supporting companies through Series A and beyond as part of the broader multi-stage venture ecosystem Check Size & Investment Package HAX provides a standardized investment package: Initial investment : $550,000 per company Program duration : 4-month intensive program (though structured as perpetual access) Access to facilities : 35,000 square feet of state-of-the-art fabrication space in Newark Additional support : Engineering expertise, design consultation, manufacturing partnerships Program & Infrastructure HAX operates the world's first and most active pre-seed hard tech program with exceptional hands-on support: Newark Facility (Primary Hub) 35,000 square feet of fabrication and lab space Opened 2022 with $25M state of New Jersey investment Fabrication capabilities: manual metal work, CNC machining, laser cutting, water-jet cutting Equipment labs for rapid iteration and prototyping Global Network Shenzhen: Manufacturing expertise and supply chain access Pune: Design and engineering support Tokyo: Regional hub for Asia-Pacific founders Mentor Network Curated global community of engineers, designers, entrepreneurs Access to manufacturers, suppliers, and industry experts Alumni network: 440+ HAX startups with $11B aggregate valuation Recent Activity & Fund Status HAX is actively deploying as part of SOSV's broader investment strategy: Portfolio scale : 440+ HAX alumni startups Recent activity : 2024 cohort (HAX Seed 2024) with 11 newly accepted startups Fund status : Actively deploying (part of SOSV Fund V) Latest investments (2025-2026) : XFuel ($20M marine fuel), Still Bright (critical minerals), YPlasma (plasma energy), Level Zero Health (women's health diagnostics) Notable 2025 announcement : HAX Plasma Forge in Princeton, NJ—a $25M strategic innovation center combining Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory research with SOSV investment for plasma technology startups Portfolio Highlights Exit Examples Unspun (Series A+, led by DCVC and Lowercarbon Capital) - sustainable clothing manufacturing Neptune Robotics - automated marine hull cleaning (Series A+, female-founded) R-Zero - UV-C disinfection technologies Active Portfolio Trends Notable recent beneficiary: unspun ($57M raised including SOSV) for sustainable apparel manufacturing Deep Tech 100 representation: 45+ companies across multiple cohorts Female founders: 40 companies (strong emphasis on diversity) 69 Seed-stage companies, 48 Pre-Seed companies in portfolio (many progressed from HAX) Team Leadership Duncan Turner : General Partner SOSV & Managing Director HAX - Former professional in hard tech, led creation of Newark facility Cyril Ebersweiler : General Partner SOSV & Managing Director HAX - Deep technical expertise in scaling hard tech Susan Schofer : Partner & Chief Science Officer - Brings deep scientific credibility Ji Ke : Partner & CTO - Technical leadership for engineering initiatives Andrew Gollach : Partner - Investment and portfolio support Operations Team 15+ engineers, designers, workshop managers, and operations staff Mechanical engineers: Charles Peter (Director), Manvendra Kumar (Senior), Tyler Shi, Sam Liao Electronic engineering leadership: Michael Moon (Director) Workshop managers in Newark, Pune, and Shenzhen operations Safety and lab management specialists Decision Process & Involvement Partnership model : Duncan Turner and Cyril Ebersweiler co-lead investment decisions Decision timeline : Continuous rolling applications (no fixed closing dates) Warm introduction preference : Not required but beneficial for portfolio alignment Typical involvement : Hands-on engagement during 4-month program; board observer or advisor role post-program Follow-on strategy : SOSV partnership ecosystem for Series A and beyond through co-investors Founder Preferences HAX actively seeks: Scientists and engineers with deep technical expertise or advanced degrees (44% of SOSV founders hold PhDs) Fresh-from-university founders deeply convinced their idea can change the world Diverse backgrounds : 32% female founders, 79 nationalities represented, 59 countries of operation Technical co-founders : Ability to build, test, and iterate rapidly Domain expertise : Founders solving problems they deeply understand from research or industry experience Global mindset : Comfort with international manufacturing, supply chains, and markets Geographic & Sector Anti-Thesis HAX explicitly avoids: Software-only or pure SaaS plays (prefers physics-based innovation) Consumer hardware without manufacturing vision Companies that don't require hands-on fabrication support Non-technical founding teams Geographic Focus Primarily US-based with global reach: Primary : United States (94 portfolio companies, focus on Newark, Bay Area) Secondary : Canada (17), United Kingdom (17), Singapore (10) Active outreach : Germany (5), Austria, China, France, India, Portugal, and 18+ other countries Global network : 24/7 innovation engine with staff in Pune (India), Shenzhen (China), Tokyo (Japan) Notable Recent News (2025-2026) February 2026 : Announcing Deep Tech Live series with Dr. Barbara Burger ("Godmother of Energy Investing") January 2026 : XFuel portfolio company raises $20M for low-carbon marine fuel December 2025 : Trump Project Vault highlights critical minerals focus—multiple HAX startups identified as key beneficiaries Fall 2025 : HAX Plasma Forge announced in Princeton, NJ—$25M commitment combining PPPL research with SOSV investment 2025 : Newark facility achieving regional momentum—50+ startups in first few years, 160+ jobs created, $60M+ raised by portfolio Key Operational Differentiators Hands-on fabrication support : Unlike traditional pre-seed funds, HAX founders literally build in their facility Manufacturing partnerships : Direct access to global supply chains and contract manufacturers through Pune and Shenzhen teams Continuous engagement : Founders treated as extension of HAX team during and after program SOSV follow-on access : Pre-seed is just the beginning; alumni benefit from SOSV's 1000+ co-investor network Founder community : Legacy of alumni support and peer mentorship across 440+ companies Research integration : Partnerships with universities and research institutions (PPPL plasma initiative example) Fund Structure & Multi-Stage Approach As part of SOSV: 60 pre-seed investments yearly across SOSV programs (HAX + IndieBio) $550K initial check with deep program support 150+ follow-on investments annually through SOSV fund ecosystem Fund V currently deploying with focus on human and planetary health Multi-stage capability : From pre-seed through growth, with 1000+ co-investors in network Capital Deployment & Raising Performance Portfolio raising : HAX alumni raised $3.5B in total fundraising SOSV total invested : $225M+ into HAX startups plus earlier programs 2021-2024 achievement : SOSV portfolio raised $6.5B with SOSV in 579 follow-on rounds Current focus : Actively deploying with emphasis on climate tech, critical minerals, and energy transition Competitive Positioning HAX differentiates itself as: Only dedicated pre-seed hard tech program with fabrication labs and engineering team Most active deep tech investor : 60 pre-seed checks annually (SOSV claim) Global manufacturing reach : Shenzhen and Pune operations enable supply chain shortcuts Brand visibility : SOSV Deep Tech 100 and Climate Tech Summit provide portfolio leverage Evergreen support : Unlike traditional accelerators, HAX relationships persist across multiple funding rounds