Founding partner of LongeVC
LongeVC is a $35 million early-stage investment fund. Our average ticket size ranges from $500k to $1.5 million, and we focus on Seed and Series A investment rounds.
Longevity investments made
We are proud to back companies across two tracks – therapeutic and diagnostic. In therapeutics, we spend most of our time in immuno-oncology, epigenetics, neurodegenerative diseases and rejuvenation. In diagnostics, we focus on early detection and personalized treatment of age-related conditions. That said, we also tend to look at the longevity infrastructure builders – services, clinics, and web resources. Our portfolio includes:
AOA Dx: Boston-based startup developing liquid biopsy tests for life-saving early ovarian cancer detection. We joined their funding round in April 2022.
PreComb Therapeutics: Swiss startup pioneering personalised cancer treatments with AI-powered tumour twins and testing protocols. We joined their Pre-Series A raise in October 2022.
Turn Biotechnology: Stanford university spinout creating mRNA medicines for cell reprogramming. We joined their founding round in April 2022.
First Longevity: Leading longevity media outlet and ecosystem builder. We invested in February 2022.
Longenesis: Latvian startup empowering patient engagement with data sharing and discovery platforms. We invested in October 2022 and will be a part of their upcoming Series A.
Why do you invest in longevity?
First – and most importantly – we will all experience aging, which means longevity has the most mainstream appeal possible. You can see this in action with aging-related diseases especially. Breakthroughs there will save lives and improve the health of billions of people. Second, it’s exciting to invest in and help build a future where “aging” won’t have the same negative consequences. We’re redefining what human life looks like. Third, longevity is a diverse field, which is ideal for early-stage investors. We’ve invested in companies designing better treatment options, pursuing AI-powered drug discovery, developing physician education and more.
I became interested in longevity VC after founding several deep tech startups and working with early-stage pharma. I helped pre-IND companies raise and formulate their clinical trial strategies and IP protection. As a founder, my VCs were game-changing – they introduced us to industry stakeholders, delivered valuable business opportunities, and provided critical regulatory guidance. This support can decide whether a project ever reaches major milestones like human trials. Longevity and aging founders will need this support as their sector becomes more mainstream – not just to scale, but to adjust to changing regulatory environments and properly manage risk.
What areas of longevity are you most excited about?
To tell you the truth, I’m excited about all things longevity. These discoveries will change our lives.
First, I look forward to the matrix of applications and science that will help doctors diagnose diseases earlier. We need better ways to spot illnesses before they become serious. Blood tests, biomarker monitoring and gene mapping are promising. It’s not “traditional” longevity, but preventing early deaths is important to living longer.
Second, epigenetic reprogramming (transient and partial, although the latter is much more understudied) is extremely promising.
We are also paying close attention to mental health. If we live longer, these added years need to be physically and mentally healthy. People with treatment-resistant conditions and complex diagnoses are out there waiting for solutions. We need technology-driven approaches to help these patients live better lives.
As an added bonus: viewing mental health as part of longevity also unlocks more understanding of brain function. For neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, new insights into brain health can make all the difference in delivering a cure.
If you could change one thing about the longevity industry, what would it be?
The longevity industry isn’t very accessible. There has been tremendous longevity progress in the past two years, but the general public needs to understand what this progress means. Resources should target individuals and their healthcare providers and share how they can integrate longevity practices now and in the future.
VCs should also play a more active role in the market. I discussed the power of VC investments earlier, and their impact is especially important for newer fields like longevity. Many investment bodies take a “closed-door” approach to their deals. I’m unsure if this is insecurity about losing deal flow or being too public, but it doesn’t help anyone. Startups and investors should be open and honest about the state of the industry.
Here’s a quick suggestion. VCs should share longevity definitions, their industry map, and how to evaluate for potential impact. When they start these conversations, they raise awareness and encourage exploration. We are working toward a common goal, and we can’t lose sight of the sector’s mission in the process.
What is your personal longevity regime?
Keeping healthy is very important to me; I run long-distance several times a week, combining it with a bodyweight exercise routine. The cardiovascular benefits are great, of course, but vigorous exercise can also mimic the effects of immunosuppressants with very few side effects, which I need due to specific health conditions. I also do not use alcohol and don’t smoke – two super simple steps anyone can take that make a world of difference. I do not use specific longevity supplements and prefer regularly scheduled screenings instead.
