Understanding longevity

Though often used interchangeably, life expectancy, lifespan, and longevity have distinct meanings. Life expectancy represents the average number of years a person is expected to live, based on demographic factors such as birth year, geographic location, and lifestyle. It essentially represents the average lifespan of a population. Longevity, however, refers not just to living longer but to sustaining health, vitality, and independence as people age, encapsulating concepts like health span – the period of life spent in good health without chronic disease or disability.

The global population is on a demographic trajectory that underscores the importance of longevity-focused innovations. By 2050, the world’s population is expected to reach 9.7 billion, with people aged 65 and older projected to double, creating a world where the elderly population nearly equals the number of children under 12. Although medical advancements have driven increases in life expectancy, these gains often mean more years spent in ill health, placing greater strain on healthcare systems, economies, and social structures.

The availability of specialised healthcare facilities and practitioners is limited, and a heavy reliance on expatriate labour further strains the system, leading to rising healthcare costs. This creates a financial burden on countries, which worsens economic challenges. Moreover, most industries, aside from pharmaceutical companies, stand to lose from a population that is sick and unable to work or spend.

As societies adapt to this new reality, the longevity sector has emerged as a promising field, aiming to address not only the length of life but the quality of those additional years.

Investors’ perspective

Driven by these demographic trends, investors have shown a strong interest in longevity startups, with funding for the sector increasing by 75% in 2023 alone. Traditionally, many investment funds categorise startups in this field into three main segments: therapeutics targeting age-related diseases, personalisation and diagnostics, and longevity infrastructure builders. While drug development remains a cornerstone of the industry, it is a highly specialised area. Therefore, I prefer to keep a focus on the latter two.

1. Personalisation and diagnostics

Startups in this group focus on preventative diagnostics and personalised treatment regimens for age-related diseases, which could enable early intervention and customised care.

• Preventative diagnostics: these companies develop tools to detect diseases at the earliest stages, helping to extend healthspan. GlycanAge, a UK-based biotech startup, for instance, has developed a diagnostic test to determine biological age based on biomarkers associated with glycans – complex carbohydrate molecules that play a role in immune function. By closing seed funding in February with $4.2 million, GlycanAge seeks to use this technology to predict diseases, create interventions, and personalise healthcare.
• Personalised medicine: personalised medicine aims to tailor treatment approaches for individual patients. This model extends to supplements, which are increasingly recognised not just as preventive tools but as essential components in managing aging and health. Personalised supplementation can address deficiencies, boost cellular health, and optimise functions crucial for vitality

One of the examples is Ahara, a personalised nutrition platform co-founded by physician-nutritionist Dr Melina Jampolis and tech entrepreneur Julie Wainwright. Ahara uses biomarker data and multiple inputs, including lifestyle and health goals, to generate individualised nutrition recommendations. The startup launched in 2023 with over $10.25 million in seed funding, led by Greycroft and backed by other investors such as Headline and SHAKTI. Ahara’s cutting-edge approach reflects the growing demand for personalised, data-driven supplement solutions to promote healthspan and longevity. 

2. Infrastructure builders

The second group of startups focuses on building infrastructure to support the growth of the longevity sector, covering physical and digital resources.

• Analog infrastructure: These refer to innovative concepts for longevity clinics, ideally decentralised, and telemedicine business models that offer respective services. For instance, Chemistry42, a platform developed by Insilico Medicine. It integrates generative AI technologies with the expertise of medicinal and computational chemistry, focusing on accelerating the development of novel molecules taking into account specific properties and providing users with flexibility to define desired outcomes in drug discovery. Since its launch in 2020, Chemistry42 has been utilised by over 20 pharmaceutical companies

Insilico Medicine has raised a significant amount of capital to further enhance its capabilities. In its Series D round in 2022, the company raised $60 million, bringing its total funding to $366 million. This funding will be used to support the development of its AI-driven platforms, including Chemistry42, which is already integrated into multiple industry programs like those of UCB.

• Digital longevity ecosystem enablers: This group primarily consists of educational platforms, resources for patients and media outlets dedicated to longevity. Longevity.Technology, for example, is a media outlet that connects researchers, insurers, and policymakers. To date it secured funding from three institutional investors, including Nesta, emphasising the demand for reliable information and resources on longevity

The longevity sector represents a substantial opportunity for investors due to its potential to address global demographic challenges. With high demand for healthcare innovations that improve both lifespan and health span, the interest from venture capital, private, and public investors is expected to continue rising. Startups in the longevity space are uniquely positioned to tackle some of the most pressing challenges of our century. From improving quality of life for an aging population to reducing the economic burden on healthcare systems. As a result, longevity investments are not only financially promising but also socially impactful, potentially reshaping the future of global health and wellness.

For more startup news, check out the other articles on the website, and subscribe to the magazine for free. Listen to The Cereal Entrepreneur podcast for more interviews with entrepreneurs and big-hitters in the startup ecosystem.