HAX Accelerator

HAX (formerly HAXLR8R) is a pre-seed, startup development program specializing in hard tech startups and headquartered in Newark, New Jersey. The 35,000-square-foot (3,300 m²) facility houses machine shops and mechanical, chemical, and electronics labs to support founders working on sustainability tech across climate, industrial automation, and human health.^[1][2] Operated by the U.S. venture fund SOSV, HAX also has offices in Pune, Shenzhen, San Francisco, and Tokyo.^[3]

HAX

Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Venture Capital
Founded	2011
Founder	Cyril Ebersweiler Sean O'Sullivan
Headquarters	Newark, New Jersey , United States
Number of locations	5
Services	Investment
Parent	SOSV
Website	www.hax.co

History

Founded in 2011 by Cyril Ebersweiler and Sean O'Sullivan, the first HAX program ran in Shenzhen from March to June 2012.^[4] More than 257 startups have completed the program.^[5]

In September 2021, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) announced a partnership with SOSV to provide $25 million over five years to build the new HAX headquarters in Newark in exchange for launching 100 hard tech startups focused on health tech and "re-industrialization and decarbonization of the U.S."^[6] The new HAX office opened officially on April 30, 2024 at an event featuring New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy.^[7]

Startups accepted into the HAX program receive an initial investment of $250,000 - $500,000 in pre-seed funding from SOSV and join a collaborative residency in Newark supported by staff design and engineering teams.^[8][5] Once HAX companies complete the program, they typically raise series seed and later stage venture rounds, in which SOSV usually participates.^[5]

Companies affiliated with the HAX program include:

• Formlabs, a 3D printing company^[5]
• Opentrons, open-source, lab automation^[9]
• unSpun, 3D weaving technology for apparel for on-demand production^[10]
• Neptune Robotics, robotic ship hull cleaning^[11]
• Flow Neuroscience, addressing depression with transcranial direct-current stimulation^[12]
• Voltstorage, grid-level energy storage based on redox flow storage battery technology^[13]
• Allozymes, platform technology to rapidly develop novel enzymes^[14]
• Smartex, automated AI-based Inspection for circular knitting machines^[15]
• Green Li-ion, lithium-ion battery recycling^[16]
• SepPure Technologies, sustainable chemical separation^[17]
• R-Zero, building monitoring and automated air and surface disinfection^[18]