SOSV Silicon Valley Grant

About this grant

SOSV is the world's most active deep tech venture capital firm investing at pre-seed stage across multiple locations including San Francisco, New York, and Newark. Each year, SOSV makes approximately 60 pre-seed investments of up to $550,000 each, as well as another 150 follow-on investments in deep tech companies. Pre-seed founders join SOSV's General Partner-led teams at offices and labs for intensive, customized work designed to dramatically speed up product development, commercial strategy, regulatory advances, corporate connections and fund-raising. SOSV maintains 85,000 square feet of lab and office space across multiple locations with specialized facilities including bio-safety labs (BSL1 and BSL2), chemical labs, mechatronics, analytics, and electrical engineering, with staff experts available to help. The firm focuses on deep tech for human and planetary health across sectors including physical AI, therapeutics, energy, and critical minerals. SOSV portfolio companies have raised $7.5 billion collectively from 2021-2025, with founders hailing from 82 countries operating in 58 countries. The firm provides ongoing support through follow-on investments at least through Series B, network access to 2,700+ co-investors and 7,500 investors in network, and lifetime cohort benefits including the free SOSV RETVRN program to help founders understand exit strategies.

Eligibility

SOSV invests in deep tech startups at the pre-seed stage. The firm accepts applications from founders worldwide, with specific programs targeting different geographic regions and technical focuses. Applicants should have innovative technology in sectors including physical AI, therapeutics, energy, critical minerals, healthcare, engineering biology, and other deep tech domains. No specific geographic restrictions are stated, as SOSV's portfolio includes companies from 82 countries. The firm welcomes founders across the full breadth of deep tech and maintains teams in multiple locations (San Francisco, New York City, Newark, with specialists in Pune, Shenzhen, and Tokyo) to serve founders globally.

How it's scored

The page does not provide specific scoring criteria or evaluation weightings. It emphasizes SOSV's General Partners' deep experience as investors, entrepreneurs, operators, scientists and engineers who evaluate companies. The firm operates as three teams, one at each location, each ready for founders across the full breadth of deep tech. Evaluation appears focused on the founders' innovation potential, technology viability, and alignment with SOSV's focus on deep tech for human and planetary health.

Key requirements

• ✓Deep technology focus across biotech, hardware, climate-tech, or related sectors
• ✓Founder-led team capable of relocating to San Francisco for six-month residency
• ✓Pre-seed stage company with viable founding team and technology concept

Recent past awardees

Knowing who's won the last rounds tells you whether you're in the strike zone.

• Avalo.AI
• unspun
• Ten63
• NotCo
• Novoloop
• OpenTrons
• Upside Foods
• Cradlewise

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does SOSV offer?

SOSV Silicon Valley offers up to $550K.

Who can apply for SOSV Silicon Valley?

Eligibility covers organisations in US, GLOBAL; startup. See the eligibility criteria above for the full conditions.

Relevant sectors

About this sector

Climate software and data funding supports emissions accounting, climate risk analytics, Earth observation, digital MRV and tools for planners. It is offered as innovation grants, public contracts for data services and support from technology programmes. Buyers generally look for data quality, interoperability and evidence that users rely on the tool.