Maximilian Winter, a seventh-generation heir, experienced health struggles that led him to invest in healthcare and life sciences. He aimed to develop better treatments for Lyme disease but was drawn to deeptech startups working on 3D printing organs and using AI for drug discovery. Winter and other family office principals and entrepreneurs pursue investments in pursuit of longer and healthier lives. Longevity startups attracted over $5.2 billion in global investment in 2022, with the goal of extending health span, rather than simply delaying death. However, Winter remains skeptical that scientific discoveries can outpace aging to enable people to live indefinitely. He believes that instead of just prolonging life, it is essential to focus on preventing and treating age-related ailments and chronic diseases.
Winter’s venture capital firm, Harmonix, has made more than 30 investments, including the acquisition of PathologyWatch for $150 million in November 2021. He emphasized the importance of detecting and preventing diseases like cancer to significantly impact lifespan and health span. However, he faces challenges finding portfolio companies aligned with these goals as the US healthcare system favors fiscal incentives for treating illnesses over preventing them.
Additionally, biotech investments carry substantial risks and costs, even for affluent individuals. Kathrin Genovese, founder of KGM, emphasized the industry’s youth and the difficulty in determining genuine opportunities. She pointed out the presence of “snake oil salesmen” targeting high-net-worth investors and the need for extensive due diligence procedures to mitigate these risks. Similarly, real estate entrepreneur Peter Fioretti, a member of R360, recognized the unpredictability and regulatory hurdles in biotech investments and stressed the difficulty of assessing their viability.
Wealthy individuals are incorporating longevity investments into their personal lives. Genovese prioritizes feeling good and aging well, following an exercise and supplement regimen to reduce inflammation associated with age-related diseases. Eric Becker, co-founder of Cresset, and his family invest in ventures like Blue Zone Foods and Newpath Partners, driven by personal experiences such as his daughter’s battle with leukemia. They also participate in preventive health programs like The Human Longevity Institute’s “100+ Experience” to predict future risks of age-related diseases and receive lifestyle tips.
Despite the challenges and uncertainties, these individuals are committed to proactive measures that promote better health and longevity.
