Who Founded the Longevity Fund? The Story of Laura Deming
The founder of the Longevity Fund is Laura Deming, a venture capitalist and scientist. Deming's interest in longevity began at a young age, leading her to leave academia and enter venture capital.
The Early Career of a Longevity Pioneer
Deming's interest in aging started early. By 12, she worked in Dr. Cynthia Kenyon's lab at UCSF. She enrolled at MIT at 14 but left at 17 after receiving a Thiel Fellowship to start her venture.
The Genesis of The Longevity Fund
Deming founded the Longevity Fund in 2011, focusing on early-stage longevity biotech companies. Its mission is to invest in advancements extending healthy lives, including therapeutics and gene editing.
Deming's Investment Philosophy and Strategy
The Longevity Fund's strategy combines scientific understanding with a focus on entrepreneurial talent in early-stage companies. They aim to support young biotech founders.
Beyond the Longevity Fund: Related Ventures
Deming has co-founded age1 in 2023, which focuses on longevity science breakthroughs. She advised Pioneer, supporting individuals globally on longevity projects. Deming is also CEO and co-founder of Cradle, a startup pursuing human whole-body reversible cryopreservation.
Comparing Longevity Fund with other VC Models
The Longevity Fund focuses on early-stage longevity biotech. This differs from Traditional Healthcare VC, which has a broader focus, and Longevity Venture Partners, which focuses on post-acute care and related technologies. The table below outlines these differences:
| Feature | The Longevity Fund (and affiliated funds) | Traditional Healthcare VC | Longevity Venture Partners (different entity) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Focus | Exclusively on early-stage longevity and aging biology, viewing aging as a disease to be treated. | Broader healthcare spectrum, including medical devices, therapeutics for specific diseases, and healthcare services. | Focus on post-acute care and related technologies, founded by Stephen Rosedale and Ronald Wilheim. |
| Investment Stage | Primarily early-stage, backing high-risk, high-potential startups. | Varies widely, from early-stage to later-stage growth equity. | Focus on technologies that can transform current healthcare services. |
| Founder Profile | Scientist and investor who dropped out of MIT after receiving a Thiel Fellowship. | Often led by seasoned investors with extensive biotech or finance backgrounds. | Founded by seasoned healthcare industry professionals. |
| Core Thesis | Aging is a solvable problem through biological research and technological intervention. | Solving specific diseases or improving existing treatments within defined medical fields. | Improving the quality of life and delivery of care for an aging population, using technology as a vehicle. |
The Impact and Future of Longevity Investing
Laura Deming and the Longevity Fund were pioneers in establishing a dedicated longevity investment firm. The fund has helped grow the industry, with portfolio companies raising significant funding. This success has attracted more investment, accelerating research. Deming's vision continues to shape the field. For more detailed information on Deming's current work, visit {Link: the Cradle website https://www.cradlehq.com/}.
Conclusion
Laura Deming founded the Longevity Fund, launched at 17 with a Thiel Fellowship. Her dedication to combating age-related diseases translated into an investment vehicle that helped catalyze the longevity biotech industry. Through her work, Deming remains a force in healthy aging and life extension.
