SOSV Appoints Avra van der Zee as HAX General Partner

SOSV, a global leader in early-stage deep tech venture capital, has significantly strengthened its leadership team for the HAX industrial technology accelerator with the appointment of Avra van der Zee as a new General Partner. This strategic move underscores SOSV's commitment to scaling hard tech innovations, particularly within the critical sectors of decarbonization, industrial automation, and domestic manufacturing resurgence.

Ms. van der Zee brings a formidable track record in operational leadership and climate tech investment, transitioning from her role as Chief Operating Officer at Elemental Impact. Her expertise is particularly geared towards transforming scientific breakthroughs into market-ready solutions, a crucial capability for the capital-intensive and complex development cycles inherent in deep tech. At Elemental Impact, she was instrumental in overseeing investments and portfolio management, contributing to its growth as a prominent climate investment platform. Her portfolio experience includes companies like Fervo Energy and Artyc, the latter also a SOSV and HAX alumnus.

Prior to her tenure at Elemental Impact, Ms. van der Zee served as COO and General Counsel at JUMP, an early SOSV investment. There, she navigated the company through hypergrowth, culminating in its successful acquisition by Uber for over $200 million. This experience, which involved complex negotiations with municipalities, global supply chain scaling, and team building, provides invaluable insight into the challenges and opportunities facing HAX's portfolio companies. Her board affiliations further highlight her deep sector engagement, including a Director role at green cement innovator BioMason, a position on Novo Holdings' Planetary Health Advisory Group, and Board Chair for biochar startup Made of Air.

The appointment comes as HAX continues its rapid expansion, particularly from its 35,000 square-foot headquarters in Newark, New Jersey. This facility, established through a $50 million co-investment with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) in 2022 and officially opened in 2024 by Governor Tim Murphy, has become a hub for nearly 100 early-stage teams. These ventures are focused on advancing deeply technical products from lab-stage concepts to investable prototypes, leveraging state-of-the-art labs and industrial fabrication equipment. Notable successes include Still Bright and Princeton Critical Minerals, alongside the significant acquisition of optical interconnect switch company Hyperlume late last year, shortly after its $12.5 million seed round.

Ms. van der Zee's operational acumen will be critical as HAX extends its footprint with the upcoming HAX Plasma Forge in Princeton. This new initiative, a $49.5 million project in collaboration with the NJEDA and the Princeton Plasma Physics Labs (PPPL), further solidifies HAX's position at the forefront of hard tech innovation. The global market for industrial automation, a key focus for HAX, is projected to exceed $300 billion by 2027, while the climate tech sector continues to attract record investment, underscoring the strategic importance of SOSV's intensified focus and leadership.

With a leadership team that includes HAX Partners Susan Schofer, PhD (CSO), Ji Ke (CTO), and Andy Gollach, Ms. van der Zee's addition is poised to accelerate the development and market penetration of the next generation of industrial and climate technology companies. Her proven ability to bridge the gap between scientific discovery and commercial deployment is expected to be a significant asset in navigating the complex landscape of deep tech venture building.