Edward Lando | Getting From Seed to Series A in Longevity Biotech @ LBF + Longevity Workshop 2024

Summary

The speaker, without a formal background in the field, discusses their experience as an angel investor in various industries, including longevity and age-related diseases. They question why more money isn't directed towards solving these critical issues and propose that it's a marketing challenge. They suggest that with increased awareness, successful examples, and reframing the narrative around longevity, more significant investments can be attracted. The speaker also highlights the importance of government funding and patient capital for such long-term projects, offering insights into the potential of the longevity market as an investment opportunity.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker lacks a formal background in the space but has been investing for about 10 years and is actively involved in various companies.
• 🤔 There is a perceived marketing problem in attracting more investment towards aging and age-related diseases, despite their importance.
• 💰 The speaker expresses surprise at wealthy individuals choosing to spend on luxuries rather than investing in solutions to significant health issues.
• 🚀 The speaker suggests that with more success stories, people will become more interested in longevity and health solutions.
• 📈 There is a time horizon problem for venture capital firms with typical fund life cycles of 7 to 12 years, which may not align with the long-term nature of health and longevity research.
• 🌟 The involvement of eccentric billionaires and government funding can help kickstart industries that require long-term investments, like space and electric vehicles.
• 💡 The speaker proposes reframing the marketing of longevity to make it more appealing and understandable to a broader audience.
• 🏥 The speaker highlights the potential of early-stage research and the need for support to transform academic work into viable companies.
• 💼 The idea of a longevity index or ETF is discussed as a way to allow more people to invest in the space without needing to pick individual companies.
• 🌐 The speaker believes that a paradigm shift is needed to move longevity and health solutions from the fringes to the mainstream.

Q & A

What is the main issue the speaker believes is preventing more investment in aging and age-related diseases?

The speaker believes it is a marketing problem, as many wealthy individuals are not aware of the potential of investing in longevity and age-related disease research.

Why does the speaker think wealthy individuals often choose to spend their money on luxury items rather than investing in important causes?

The speaker suggests that wealthy individuals may not fully understand the impact and potential returns of investing in longevity research compared to traditional luxury investments.

What is the speaker's view on the current state of marketing for longevity and age-related disease research?

The speaker views the current marketing as insufficient, with the field still being considered fringe and not yet mainstream, which hinders investment.

What examples does the speaker provide of successful fundraising in the medical field?

The speaker mentions the significant donation to the Penn School of Medicine by the paraments and the increase in high-value gifts for cancer research and education.

What does the speaker suggest as a solution to the marketing problem in the longevity field?

The speaker suggests reframing the marketing approach, creating consumer brands, and showcasing success stories to make longevity research more appealing and understandable to potential investors.

Why does the speaker think there is a time horizon problem for venture capital investments in longevity research?

The speaker believes that the typical venture capital fund lifecycle of 7 to 12 years is too short for the long-term returns needed from longevity research investments.

What parallels does the speaker draw between the longevity field and other industries that require significant capital and time?

The speaker compares the longevity field to space exploration and electric vehicles, which also require substantial capital and time to yield returns but have seen success with the involvement of eccentric billionaires.

What role does the speaker see for government funding in longevity research?

The speaker views government funding as crucial for supporting longevity research, especially during the early stages before the market proves itself and attracts private investment.

What is the 'Fellowship idea' mentioned by the speaker and how does it relate to longevity research?

The 'Fellowship idea' is a proposal to fund early-stage research in universities and help transform academic work into viable companies, specifically in the field of longevity.

How does the speaker propose to make longevity research more accessible to a broader range of investors?

The speaker suggests the idea of creating an index or an ETF-like structure that would allow smaller investors to participate in longevity research without needing to be accredited investors.