SOSV bets plasma will change everything from semiconductors to spacecraft

SOSV, a venture capital firm, is making a significant bet on plasma technology, planning to invest in over 25 plasma-related startups within the next five years. The firm is also launching a new Hax lab in collaboration with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory to foster innovation in this space. Plasma, a state of matter created by compressing fuel until atoms fuse and release energy, holds promise far beyond fusion energy alone. Duncan Turner, SOSV’s general partner, highlights that the best applications of plasma are yet to be discovered, indicating vast untapped potential. Beyond fusion, SOSV has already invested in companies like Yplasma, which utilizes plasma actuators for cooling data center chips and optimizing airflow over wind turbine blades. Plasma’s role in semiconductor manufacturing could lead to breakthroughs in materials and processes, while plasma thrusters offer more fuel-efficient propulsion for spacecraft. Additionally, plasma technology could enable the production of valuable chemicals such as ammonia