Maria O'Brien

As Senior Operating Partner at SOSV, Maria O'Brien leads the firm's legal team in Cork, Ireland. She oversees all legal matters for the firm, including reviewing, coordinating, and managing over 150 program and follow-on investments annually. Maria provides counsel to SOSV General Partners on investments and partnerships and actively mentors SOSV startups and entrepreneurs on various corporate and commercial matters. She holds a law degree from University College Cork and is a member of the Law Society of Ireland and an associate of the Irish Tax Institute. Prior to joining SOSV in 2015, Maria worked in private practice as a commercial solicitor. SOSV is a global venture capital firm investing in early-stage companies across various sectors, including technology, healthcare, and energy. The firm operates multiple startup development programs, such as HAX, IndieBio, Chinaccelerator, MOX, and dlab, providing comprehensive support to entrepreneurs from inception through growth stages. SOSV's investment approach emphasizes deep tech startups, focusing on sectors like health and climate tech. Under Maria's leadership, the legal team at SOSV ensures compliance and strategic guidance for the firm's diverse portfolio, contributing to the successful scaling of numerous startups worldwide. Her expertise in corporate and commercial law plays a pivotal role in navigating complex legal landscapes, facilitating SOSV's mission to foster innovation and entrepreneurship globally.

Innovative business models, Scalable solutions, Strong founding teams, Global market potential, Technological differentiation, Sustainable competitive advantage, Clear exit strategies, Regulatory compliance, Intellectual property protection, Financial transparency