One Company Can Shape the Course of Human Events

Interview with Sean O'Sullivan (United States) 

Founder and CEO of SOSV, a venture capital firm with investments in nearly a thousand startups in 60 countries focused on human and planetary health.

"With Deeptech we can address planetary human health issues."

Why do we need to support startups?

Startups are the energy and the innovation behind our new economies. If you want to create a brand new world, one that is fairer, more capable and improves the quality of life of human beings, you can do it in public policy or, perhaps, looking for a large corporation; but the impact that an individual or a few founders can have starting a company can really shape the course of human events. There is a disproportionate capacity in entrepreneurs, in scientists, in the pioneers, that make it possible for society to move forward.

What about deeptech in particular?

In deeptech we can address the human and planetary health problems that we all suffer from, real problems. Entrepreneurs can help and it is within our reach to solve those problems so that there is less suffering in the world in terms of human health, as well as our survival as a species living in a sustainable economy and in a sustainable way.

You convey an optimistic message. Do we have hope?

Yes, I think we have hope. Humanity is continually reinventing itself. Two hundred years ago, man had not traveled faster than a horse. A hundred years ago, with the power of the petrochemical industry, we achieved that massive energy that allowed the population to grow to what it is today, a billion people, a billion lives on the planet, but that has caused a lot of pressure on our environment. It's this reinvention of everything today, from the seas being planted and enable crops to grow and produce more, to the energy sources, which are now clean energy sources, that can help innovate how we deliver a just society in the future.

What do you see as the role of innovation labs like IDB Lab?

I think there is a capacity development issue in many countries, where entrepreneurship is not considered seriously. And I think IDB Lab can help develop entrepreneurship, working in conjuction with everything from universities to existing large scale businesses. That can encourage more people to involve themselves in creating new products and creating better opportunities.

Learn more about inspiring stories like Sean O'Sullivan's, which remind us of the transformative power of startups and deeptech in solving global problems. Join us at the next edition of IDB Lab Forum 2024 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from October 31 to November 1. For more details, visit: IDBLabForum.org