John Ho, Partner at Anzu Partners on Investing In Industrial Technologies
This is the second episode of SOSV’s new podcast ‘Deep Tech: From Lab to Market’ where Founders and Investors share how ‘deep tech’ innovation can go from lab to market. It is available on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and other platforms. Subscribe on Twitter at @LabToMarket.
About John Ho and Anzu Partners
John Ho is a Partner at Anzu Partners, a US-based $190 million venture capital and private equity fund focused on breakthrough industrial technologies. John is a Computer Science and Electrical Engineering PhD from MIT, and long-time Bostonian, who worked in industry and management consulting.
Note: SOSV is also a fan of industrial technologies, via both our hardware program, HAX, and life sciences one, IndieBio. We notably invested in companies in manufacturing, inspection, chemical processes. Find more in our portfolio and this post on HAX’s investment themes in a post-Covid world.
Episode Overview
In this episode, John talks about:
- Their focus on industrial tech,
- Why they found appealing opportunities there thanks to the hollowing out of R&D within Fortune 500 companies.
- Their approach to deal flow — notably via their partners and LPs — technical due diligence, and market evaluation.
- How they support their portfolio with strategic advice and operational experience, and how they help look at adjacencies to find new markets.
- Their belief in the value of geographic diversity. Innovation happens beyond Boston and the Valley!
- He also dives into how Anzu supports its portfolio toward value creation milestones and capital efficiency to provide both runway and optionality.
- Finally, he shares his thoughts on how the coronavirus epidemic is affecting deep tech.
References Mentioned
- Nuburu: first high-power blue laser for metal cutting, welding, and additive manufacturing. Location: Centennial, CO.
- Axsun Technologies: develops and manufactures industry-leading optical coherence tomography (OCT) and near-infrared (NIR) MEMS-based optical engines for medical imaging, industrial analysis, and telecommunications. Location: Billerica, MA.
- Nature’s Toolbox, Inc. (NTx): NTx develops a cell-free process to produce biologics of high purity, stability, and low cost. The firm has the world’s first fully recombinant cell-free system based on thermophile strains and using continuous flow bioreactors. Location: Santa Fe, NM.
- Liquid Instruments: Develops the Moku:Lab, a software-reconfigurable device for real-time signal processing that brings a new level of flexibility in the lab, in the field, or on the production line. Location: Australia / United States.
Subscribe
- Podcast: Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, etc.
- Twitter: LabToMarket.
