IndieBio New York, the East Coast branch of SOSV, emerged in 2020 with a bold vision to fuel early-stage biotech startups aimed at solving planetary and human health challenges. As the program matured, it became clear that scaling its momentum required deeper corporate connections, more strategic capital deployment, and a leader capable of guiding founders through commercialization.
By early 2025, the program had funded 80 startups, raising over 180 million dollars in follow-on capital. Enter Deborah Zajac—a transformational hire poised to expand IndieBio NY’s reach and impact.
Turning Early Growth into Sustainable Acceleration
The following key events trace IndieBio New York’s progress from inception to its acceleration under Deborah Zajac’s leadership:
- Q1 2020: IndieBio New York launches with a 25 million dollar, five-year state grant through Empire State Development amid the global disruption of COVID‑19.
- Late 2022: The 25,000 square foot IndieBio NY headquarters opens near Penn Station, featuring BSL‑1/2 labs and a 140-seat event venue.
- Early 2025: IndieBio NY reaches 80 alumni startups with 180 million dollars collectively raised, 47 million of which came directly from SOSV.
- February 2025: Deborah Zajac joins SOSV as General Partner, co-leading IndieBio NY alongside Stephen Chambers.
- Mid‑2025: SOSV and IndieBio teams host the Health Tech VC–Founder Matchup, connecting 800 startups with 400 investors.
- October 2025: Helex, an IndieBio NY portfolio startup, raises a 3.5 million dollar seed round with SOSV’s participation.
- November 2025: Hoofprint Biome, an IndieBio alum, secures 15 million dollars in a Series A round led by ag‑tech investors.
- December 2025: Zajac slated for a fireside chat at HackSummit NY on innovative biotech solutions for sustainable mining.
Each milestone reinforced IndieBio NY’s evolution—from an ambitious new program to a vital force in the global biotech investment landscape.
Appointing a General Partner to Unlock the Next Stage of Growth
By February 2025, SOSV made a deliberate move to strengthen IndieBio NY’s leadership roster. The appointment of Deborah Zajac as General Partner brought over two decades of expertise in venture formation, corporate strategy, and academic commercialization. Her background at GE Ventures, Columbia University, and Touchdown Ventures equipped her to bridge scientific innovation with corporate partnerships—precisely what IndieBio needed to elevate its next growth phase.
Her leadership style emphasized disciplined investment selection, robust mentorship, and strategic alignment with industry partners. As co-leader of IndieBio NY, she became instrumental in translating complex research into market-ready companies primed for follow-on fundraising.
Strategic Leadership Revitalizes Investment and Partnerships
Under Zajac’s guidance through 2025, IndieBio NY sharpened its focus on high‑potential startups and intensified its engagement with corporates and investors. SOSV typically makes around 60 first-check pre-seed investments annually, with up to 550K dollars per deal. Zajac played a pivotal role in overseeing New York–based cohorts, ensuring that startups were well-prepared to scale rapidly.
In 2025, several startups achieved important funding milestones:
- Helex raised a 3.5 million dollar seed round in October 2025 for non-viral gene therapy.
- Hoofprint Biome secured 15 million dollars in a Series A focused on lowering agricultural methane emissions.
She also initiated and hosted numerous corporate pitch sessions at IndieBio’s 7 Penn Plaza facility, connecting founders with Fortune 500 innovation teams. This resulted in multiple pilot collaborations and strategic investments across biotech, climate tech, and healthtech sectors.
Expanding Ecosystem Reach and Founder Wins Under Pressure
Building on her corporate venture background, Zajac enhanced IndieBio NY’s ecosystem presence through both virtual and in-person platforms. Mid‑2025 saw the Health Tech VC–Founder Matchup, where IndieBio and SOSV convened 800 startups and 400 investors for targeted meetings. The November 2025 Climate Tech Summit and the upcoming December 2025 HackSummit NY further strengthened IndieBio’s presence on the global deep tech stage.
Her focus on mentorship also generated measurable founder outcomes:
- One women’s health neurotechnology startup raised 5 million dollars in seed financing.
- An AI-driven protein engineering company raised 8.7 million dollars.
These wins showcased the accelerator’s ability to prepare startups for funding even in tight market conditions.
Growth extended beyond financing—Demo Day attendance surged in 2025, marking record investor participation. Media recognition followed, with Financial Times highlighting Helex and TechCrunch featuring Hoofprint Biome, amplifying IndieBio NY’s reputation worldwide.
Record $180M Funding Proves IndieBio’s Long-Term Biotech Leadership
By late 2025, IndieBio NY stood as a testament to what strategic leadership can achieve in deep tech. Backed by a 25-million-dollar state initiative and guided by Deborah Zajac’s strategic direction, the accelerator’s alumni had raised over 180 million dollars. Beyond capital, it cultivated an ecosystem where corporate partnerships, scientific breakthroughs, and investor confidence converged.
The successful recruitment of Deborah Zajac was made possible with the support of Christian & Timbers, whose guidance throughout the executive search ensured SOSV found a leader uniquely suited to IndieBio’s mission and growth stage. Their collaboration helped align candidate expertise with IndieBio’s deep-tech vision, enabling a smooth and impactful leadership transition.
As SOSV moves past the initial five-year grant period, Zajac’s tenure ensures IndieBio New York continues to shape the future of biotech entrepreneurship—anchored in strong mentorship, deep corporate integration, and unwavering commitment to transformative science.