Fundraising Strategy for Lifespan Extension
Attracting high-net-worth individuals to finance maximal lifespan extension projects requires a strategic approach rather than a set of advices, so... enjoy executing!
Table of Contents
0. Preamble - creation and delivery of value in lifespan extension
1. Strategy - how to convince HNWI in funding lifespan extension projects
2. Deployment - how to start fundraising function?
0. Preamble: Creation and Delivery of Value in Lifespan Extension
This information will already be familiar to anyone who has researched the opportunity to extend their lifespan for some time. Those who wish can proceed directly to Section 1.
However, I reiterate these basics here to establish a common foundation.
At present, there are no available interventions that reliably lead to a significant or multiple increase in maximum lifespan beyond the human species' natural limit. There are even none of them in clinical trials. There is no proven method to extend human life beyond the lifespan of consensus-verified supercentenarians, nor is there a consensus on what might trigger escape velocity.
Nevertheless, there are strategies being developed, which can be grouped into mutually exclusive categories.
Cluster 1. Direct Research
D-1. Biostasis. Slowing down biological processes in humans rapidly and indefinitely using cryogenic temperatures and/or clinical preservation. The goal is to preserve individuals facing imminent death until life-extending technologies become available to them.
D-2. Cybernetics. Transferring consciousness to a digital platform by using brain-computer interfaces or synthetic brain tissue prosthetics. This involves gradually replacing natural neurons with artificial ones capable of supporting consciousness.
D-3. Bioengineering. Extending lifespan by addressing the causes of death or disease without replacing body parts or uploading consciousness. This involves analyzing the body's systems at various life stages using classical methods and AI to develop a theoretical model of health and aging. Potential therapeutic approaches focus on both the aging process itself (if it exists) and various signs of aging. Therapies may range from small molecules and combined gene therapies to AI-driven personalized treatments. This category also includes the development of a unified theory of aging, human health models, and a consensus on biomarkers.
D-4. Replacement. Replacing aging body parts with young ones. This includes growing and transplanting organs, transplanting organs grown outside the body using the host's cells, rejuvenating organs outside the body, xenotransplantation, and transplanting a head onto a cloned, brainless body.
Each of these areas requires extensive research to reduce uncertainty and eventually develop life-extending technologies that can be made available to the public at an affordable price. Since no such technologies are currently in clinical trials, we cannot expect them to emerge within the next 10 years.
Traditional venture financing, which focuses primarily on capital growth and quick exit strategies, is not well-suited for life extension biotech. The funding cycle, before any profits materialize (aside from potential increases in company valuation), could span decades.
Cluster 2. Social Strategies
There is a widely held yet debatable belief that the probability of discovering a strategy to achieve longevity escape velocity (LEV) depends on the number of researchers in the field and the quality and speed of their work. This suggests that societal strategies, even for those who are not directly involved in research, can significantly increase the likelihood of reaching LEV.
S1 - Increasing Funding in the Field (This article focuses on this strategy)
Attracting large-scale private capital to both direct and social strategies - targeting billions of dollars.
Attracting small private investments, such as angel rounds, for early-stage support.
Securing government funding for fundamental research by building a strong lobbying case.
S2 - Reducing regulatory barriers to life extension
Recognizing aging as a legitimate target for clinical trials and drug development (currently only addressed through age-related diseases), given the lack of a consensual definition for aging diagnostics.
Simplifying regulations around replacement experiments (human cloning, ex-vivo perfusion, neural interfaces, etc.).
Easing clinical trials and market delivery for neural interfaces.
Granting special legal status to cryopreserved patients.
S3 - Improving tools
Expanding the availability and volume of human data related to aging, including health indicators, disease biomarkers, and mortality.
Enhancing data quality.
Developing open computational models based on this data.
S4 - Raising awareness in the field
Cultural: Promoting life extension ideas through philosophy, art, and media to make public discourse in intellectual, governmental, and commercial circles more receptive.
Educational: Spreading awareness and knowledge about the potential of life extension
S5 - Improving coordination
Standardizing data and biological sample collection
Building communities and networks within the field
Developing collaboration tools
Leaders across all these social strategies are constantly seeking financial opportunities, yet many still struggle to secure adequate funding. In some cases, sustainable business models can be established (e.g., for communities, educational initiatives, or cultural efforts, in some drug discovery and biotechnological cases).
However, according to a report by the Longevity Biotech Fellowship, the lack of funding is considered the second most significant challenge in the field.
Now that we have established the context, let’s address the core issue: how can funding in the life extension field be increased?
1. How to Attract Private Capital into Life Extension?
In this section, we focus on the theoretical framework and the current system, without delving into the process of implementing such a system.
Private Capital is Already Entering the Field
Major private companies have the capitalization and revenue potential to significantly boost fundamental research in life extension. Additionally, there are several notable examples of private individuals funding efforts related to aging and longevity:
Arc Institute received $650 million in private sponsorship, enabling research on genetics and complex diseases across 8 laboratories over 8 years. Sponsors include Vitalik Buterin, Patrick and John Collison, the Ron Conway family, Crankstart, Elad Gil and Jennifer Huang Gil, Daniel Gross, Dustin Moskovitz and Cari Tuna, Hemant and Jessica Taneja, Matt Berger, Craig Falls, Rob Granieri, James McClave, and Adam Winkel from Jane Street. While not directly focused on life extension, much of their work is closely related.
Calico Life Sciences has raised over $3.5 billion for research into aging and related diseases.
Altos Labs, backed by Jeff Bezos and Yuri Milner, has secured $3 billion for cellular rejuvenation research.
Sam Altman invested $180 million in Retro Biosciences, which aims to extend human lifespan by 10 years.
Centarix is another example to include, they have over $100M in funding.
There are also smaller, yet impactful, cases:
Centaura began researching the potential for creating an artificial human chromosome with $16 million in funding. Vitaly Ponomarev invested his own money without expecting a return, and the project is led by Juan Carlos Belmonte.
Cradle, founded by Laura Deming, raised $48 million for research in cryonics.
By learning from the successes and failures of these examples, it is possible to significantly increase funding for the life extension field.
Main strategy
So, to simplify we can formulate the strategy like this:
Deeply understand sponsor motivations:
Identify their views and beliefs about life extension, and understand what differentiates those who invest from those who don’t.Segment sponsors into groups (A, B, C, D):
Categorize sponsors based on the type of marketing intervention that will resonate most with them.Build a strong credible brand.
You must have a clean e2e roadmap of how are you going to solve the problem.
Your message should inspire trust and a willingness to cooperate among key industry players and brands, avoiding rejection.
Also key researchers and organisations must become familiar with it.
Retention for Group A
Maintain strong relationships with Group A sponsors and expand their investment volume over time.
Conversion for investors Group B
Establish contact and convince them to sponsor key activities.
Warmup for Group C
Capture interest and nurture those who are open to life extension, but have yet to dive deeply into the topic.
Consider environmental resistance
Recognize the individuals influencing the decision-making process, as they can either accelerate or block deals.
Always be closing
Ensure that deals benefit both the sponsor and the researchers, leading to a successful outcome.
Achieve financial sustainability
Sustain your activities through combination of sponsorships and commercial funding.
To succeed, the organisation should:
Accumulate experience: Continuously learn from each engagement.
Build reputation: Strengthen your standing in the field.
Iteratively improve: Refine methods and practices over time.
Evaluating the Usefulness of a Fundraising System for Lifespan Extension Strategies
🎯 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Total Funds Raised for Lifespan Extension Strategies.
Absolute amount of capital secured specifically for lifespan extension research and initiatives.
Fundraising Efficiency Ratio
Formula: Total Funds Raised / Total Investment in the Fundraising System
This measures the return on investment (ROI) of the fundraising system itself.
📈 Intermediate Indicators
Investor Engagement
Number of Investors Contacted: A raw count of potential investors approached.
Conversion Rate: Percentage of contacted investors who have committed funds.
Activist Involvement
Number of Activists Involved: Measures community engagement and grassroots support.
Activist Contributions: Qualitative assessment of activist input, such as advocacy, networking, and fundraising support.
Public Relations and Awareness
Number of Publications by Opinion Leaders: Tracks the volume and quality of media coverage and endorsements from influential figures.
Media Reach: Quantitative measure of the audience size reached through these publications.
1.1. Deep understanding of the motivation of sponsors
If we want to craft messages that deeply resonates with high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) by aligning with their mindset and values. This requires in-depth interviews and a nuanced understanding of current state of their mind.
Here we will use the combination of BUYER PERSONA interviewe, product interview (YC demonstrates a lot of how to take them) and motivational interviews where we explore beliefs behind ideas.
Motivation
Understanding why existing sponsors fund (or not) lifespan extension is crucial. We don't need to align their language with our rhetoric fully, but grasping their core motivations helps in tailoring strategies to maximize engagement.
Sponsor Classification
Define and categorize sponsors based on their attitudes, beliefs, and behavior.
Sponsor Qualification
Evaluate each sponsor's fit and potential approach. Part of the next step.
Classification Criteria
I highlight in bold the answers that are desirable for us.
1. Attitude Towards Aging and Death
Accepting death / Neutral to death / Uncomfortable to death / Rejecting death
Accepting aging / Neutral to aging / Uncomfortable to aging / Rejecting aging (usually requires changing how people plan for themselves, including pension, etc.)
2. Perception of Problem solvability
The problem is not solvable / The problem is not solvable in this generation / The problem can be solved in this generation / The problem will be solved easily
3. Perception of Responsibility
No one will solve the problem / I will solve the problem myself within the framework of a commercial company / We will solve the problem together, my contribution will be significant
4. Attitude Towards the Solution
Inspiring task / Neutral task / Annoying task / Disgusting task
Forced / Unexpected / Planned
Urgent / Problem can be postponed for some time / Not urgent
I do it for myself / for family / for business / for public - the more - the better
4. Depth of understanding:
How long is in the field
Doesn’t know about strategies / Knows about strategies / Knows about State of The Art in strategies
5. Psychographic classification
If we look deeper into the reasons for the attitude to the problem, we will probably find more basic psychological clusters:
Technology enthusiast - Neutral - Technology skeptic
Risk-oriented - Moderate - Risk-negative
Activist-passive-indifferent
Collectivist - individualist
Longtermist-Midtermist-Shorttermist - ideas beyond the generation, ideas within the generation, immediate ideas and low-hanging fruit
6. Previous funding behaviour
Investment history. A person who is already used to investing or has begun to identify himself with an investor is more likely to invest again.
Sponsorship history. A person who is already used to sponsoring is more likely to sponsor again.
7. Demographic classification
Age, Gender, Family Status: Target messaging based on personal relevance. Examples:
Women nearing 40 may respond better to messages about reproductive lifespan than space exploration.
Someone over 60 may prefer investments in biostasis
Person, who loves video games may prefer a cybernetic strategy over biogerontology
8. Income Level Classification
Income up to $300k per year
Income from $300k to $1 million per year
HNWI (High Net Worth Individual) - Individuals with liquid assets from $1 million to $5 million
VHNWI (Very High Net Worth Individual) - Individuals with liquid assets from $5 million to $30 million
UHNW (Ultra High Net Worth Individual) - Individuals with liquid assets from $30 million and above
Billionaire - Individuals with liquid assets from $1 billion
9. Income Source Classification
A topic that requires research - investors from which industries are most active with Lifespan Extension? So far, it seems that these are:
Crypto
Finance
AI
GameDev
Biotech.
Focusing within the topic allows you to more accurately hit Opinion Leaders, and people, who influence decision making process of HNWI, but at the same time there is a risk that the topic has already been heavily populated (i.e. top investors and sponsors have made their bets).
10. Self Identity Classification
Attachment to body / Attachment to personality / Attachment to a soul
Positive to modifications / Neutral to modifications / Negative to modifications
11. Social Identity Classification
Expectations on how lifespan extension ideas will attach to resonate with built brand:
Raising social status / Neutral to social status / Decreasing social status Connected to emotional fear of losing authority which is subconsciously close to fear of death and, as long as you go from innovators to laggards is increasing.
Solidarity with loved ones, who are no longer around or who have not embraced the life extension paradigm.
Belief in the non-necessity of decent interventions in one’s body – many people hope they can somehow avoid the pain of bodily interventions, but life extension, especially its more invasive approaches, suggests that this is unlikely to be avoided.
All these levels will cause discomfort from:
Changing attitudes toward what once evoked disgust, which we now want to be accepted and preferred.
Changing the paradigm of thinking, thinking habits, and habits in general.
Changing interactions with loved ones.
From the fear of being excluded from the broader group and, worse, from possibly having to change one’s mind back in the future.
Quality Check
To check the quality of the classification, let's imagine people on 2 sides of this spectrum:
Persona 1: Passive and Resigned
Beliefs: Accepts death, indifferent towards aging, believes no one can solve the problem.
Motivation: Only engages reactively when directly impacted by a health issue.
Self-Perception: Views self as average or uniquely disconnected; has no proactive health strategies.
Understanding: Unaware or skeptical of lifespan extension strategies; conflates healthy living with maximum lifespan extension.
Behavior: No proactive steps; no long-term planning; detached from community efforts.
Persona 2: Proactive and Engaged
Beliefs: Rejects death, actively combats aging, sees problem as solvable within their lifetime.
Motivation: Driven by personal, familial, societal, and business impacts; finds the task inspiring and urgent.
Self-Perception: Identifies as part of a community working against death; sees themselves as a key contributor.
Understanding: Informed about state-of-the-art strategies; understands the distinction between health span and lifespan.
Behavior: Engages in long-term planning, proactive in health decisions, active in relevant communities.
Application of Classification
Strategic Insights:
Engagement Potential: If a sponsor aligns closely with Persona 1, engagement is likely a poor investment of resources. These individuals require a fundamental shift in perspective, which can be time-consuming and yield low returns.
Optimal Targets: Sponsors resembling Persona 2 are ideal candidates. Their proactive stance, deep understanding, and broad motivation align closely with our objectives, making them easier to engage and convert.
Bridging the Gap: For sponsors falling in between, identifying their core hesitations and aligning our messaging to address those specific gaps can help move them closer to Persona 2’s mindset.
Resource Allocation: Allocate resources proportionally to the psychographic distance from Persona 2. Invest heavily in those close to the ideal persona, use tailored strategies for those in the middle, and deprioritize those too far off.
1.2 From Classification to Qualification
Sponsors’ alignment with lifespan extension (LEV) projects varies based on their prior involvement and beliefs. Our goal is to identify and prioritize clusters for targeted engagement.
Main axis for defining clusters would be behaviour in funding life extension projects
Cluster A: Active Funders
Profile: Individuals or organisations already funding LEV projects.
Strategy: Direct engagement. If public, approach them directly; if private, connect through intermediaries or those they currently fund.
Focus: Strengthen relationships, propose specific projects, and leverage their network to reach similar profiles.
Cluster B: Potential Funders
Profile: Individuals with a history of funding innovative or high-risk projects (e.g., biotech, philanthropy), and that are following the topic. They are within the influence of life extension opinion leaders.
Strategy: Leverage their public footprint to craft tailored proposals. Focus on aligning LEV projects with their previous successful investments.
Focus: Address their expectations for project success and potential impact. Highlight synergies with their past ventures and the innovative potential of LEV.
Cluster C: Warm-Up Required
Profile: Individuals with interest in innovation but distant from LEV concepts. They may have funded tangentially related areas but require a significant shift in perspective.
Strategy: Use long-term engagement through a robust PR strategy and content funnel. Gradually introduce LEV concepts and benefits, emphasizing personal and societal impact.
Focus: Build familiarity and credibility over time. Aim to move them to Cluster B through consistent messaging and evidence of success in related areas.
Cluster D: Low Priority
Profile: Individuals unlikely to support LEV due to deep-seated beliefs, lack of interest, or substantial resistance.
Strategy: Minimal engagement. Redirect resources to more promising clusters.
Focus: Avoid direct persuasion efforts. Instead, use broad awareness campaigns to incrementally shift public opinion and indirectly influence this group.
Actionable Insights
Focus on Clusters A and B for immediate funding opportunities. Prioritize these groups for direct outreach, customized proposals, and relationship-building.
Develop a content and PR strategy for Cluster C. Use thought leadership, success stories, and educational content to nurture interest over time.
Minimize efforts on Cluster D. Maintain broad outreach to potentially influence future perceptions but do not allocate significant resources here.
Next Steps: Refer to subsequent chapters for detailed communication strategies and persuasive techniques tailored to each cluster.
1.3 Importance of Building a Brand and How to Create One
Why Build a Brand?
For Community Engagement:
Reputation Validation: A strong brand helps pass background checks and builds trust among peers and collaborators.
Resource Access: Facilitates entry to analytics, data, and connections within the market.
Funding and Support: Attracts funds from community members, companies, and current sponsors.
Expert Collaboration: Engages specialists who are passionate about the cause.
Investor Relationships: Encourages existing sponsors to increase their investment and attracts new ones.
For Broader Outreach:
Cross-Industry Connections: Enables introductions to major sponsors and investors from other sectors.
Topic Expansion: Transitions external players to engage with the topic of life extension.
Measurable Branding Goals
Number of influential contacts (opinion leaders) aware of and willing to engage with the brand.
Quantity and quality of investor contacts received through introductions made by industry players.
Number of invitations for collaboration and communication
Credibility as an Intermediate Result of Brand Building
Credibility drives the behavior and decisions of potential partners. It is crucial to establish a trustworthy brand that resonates with the target audience.
Standard Components of Credibility
Honesty and Impartiality. Maintain transparency and objectivity in communications and actions to build trust.
Expertise. Demonstrate deep knowledge and relevant experience in the field of life extension.
Strategic and Consistent Messaging. Deliver clear, focused messages aligned with the brand’s goals and values.
In our case, credibility also involves careful handling of radical topics, bioethics, empathy to projects, that are not in life extension, etc.
Refined Rational Brand Message
To position the organization effectively in the radical life extension space, it’s crucial to maintain a clear and uncompromising focus. Diluting the message with less ambitious goals, such as addressing age-related diseases, will weaken the brand and its core mission.
Balancing this sharp focus while maintaining credibility and avoiding marginalization requires careful reputation management. Given the high stakes and emotional weight of the radical life extension field—akin to decisions in health, real estate, or personal relationships—investments and commitments naturally involve longer decision-making cycles. Building trust and credibility is therefore paramount.
Core of the Brand
Clarity of the goal
Clearly communicate the ultimate objective, whether it’s immortality or combating aging. While current products may address immediate needs, the overarching goal must always be transparent to partners and investors.Clear End2End roadmap
When we’re proposing the strategy it must go from point here and now to the point, where funder is “consuming the product”, even if this journey will take decades and contains uncertainity. Uncertainty is not an excuse, it’s part of the reality, that must be controlled by planning.
Articulate a step-by-step strategy that connects the present state to the final outcome, even if it spans decades. The roadmap should be detailed, measurable, and grounded in realistic constraints.
Regular updates showcasing progress will sustain interest and demonstrate effectiveness, turning uncertainty into manageable variables.
Good example here is plan about Mars Colonisation, proposed by Elon Musk, that was including both commercial and scientific tracks and connecting the dots from now to colony on the Mars.
Being realistic about current state
Demonstrate a deep, evidence-based understanding of the current scientific landscape. Collaborate with respected experts to validate findings, ensuring all communications are factually accurate and nuanced. Facts and numbers should not be distorted.Positioning via partnerships and endorsements
Secure endorsements from prominent PhDs and Nobel laureates to validate the organization’s vision and communications, enhancing credibility and authority.
Leadership
Establish a strong, recognizable leadership voice through a CEO or equivalent figurehead to represent the organization’s mission and values.
Visuals
Utilize a clean, Scandinavian-inspired design that is both professional and credible.
Avoid hype and focus on clear, compelling infographics and visuals that align with reputable examples: Arc Institute, a16zcrypto, a16z/StateOfCrypto, Centaura).
Showcase technologies as practical, achievable tools rather than distant, futuristic concepts.
Technologies should be visually presented not as an end in themselves. Instead, position them as means to enhance life, maintain connections, and continue personal and collective journeys.
Tone of Voice
Avoid jargon, sensationalism, and over-promising. Use precise, evidence-based language that reflects steady, tangible progress rather than aspirational leaps.
Best option is to use back the exact wordings that we discover during the interviews.
Moderately optimistic
Communicate a future vision that is hopeful yet realistic. Avoid extremes; overly optimistic messages can diminish urgency, while overly pessimistic ones may seem off-putting or “toxic.”
Neutral Stance
Avoid taking a moral position or judging others' choices. Our role is to explore and offer insights objectively, discussing societal challenges with nuance and distinguishing between systemic issues and individual behaviors. Present options neutrally, respecting diverse perspectives without imposing any viewpoint.Stable messages.
Keep the core message consistent, acknowledging alternative topics as important without immediate deviation. The focus should be on steering the overarching narrative effectively.
Alignment with expectations and responsive branding:
Use insights from discovery interviews to align brand messaging with stakeholder expectations. Adapt language and themes to resonate with identified patterns and preferences.
Emotional Safety, Warmth, and Respectful Attitude
When engaging with transhumanism leaders or scientists, there’s a risk of encountering condescension or toxicity due to perceived differences in knowledge. This creates a negative experience, especially for HNWIs who are accustomed to respectful and supportive interactions.
Key Principles for Positive Communication
Create a Safe Space:
Ensure that sponsors and investors feel comfortable expressing their views without fear of judgment or criticism.
Respectful Engagement:
Listen attentively to the sponsor’s current thoughts, feelings, and motivations.
Respond with respect, starting by showing that you understand their perspective and affirming their right to hold a different opinion.
Offer your insights thoughtfully, without imposing your views. Allow them to compare your ideas with their own and make decisions on their own timeline.
Supportive Dialogue:
Encourage ongoing dialogue, where opinions can evolve naturally. Show patience and openness to continued discussion.
Honor commitments and remain consistent in communication, reinforcing trust and credibility.
Avoid Focus on Negativity:
Refrain from fixating on potential disagreements or errors. Instead, provide constructive guidance that fosters understanding and mutual respect.
By prioritizing these principles, we can create a positive, collaborative environment that respects diverse viewpoints and fosters productive engagement.
It’s also important to keep promises and being consistent.
Handling Radical Topics with Care
Topics like head transplants, full-body cyborgization, or growing brainless clones for organ harvesting can evoke fear or disgust. These should be approached with caution.
If such topics are included in communication, they should be clearly labeled as extreme solutions that are challenging to empathize with. Aim to present them in a way that fosters understanding and empathy, rather than alienation or shock.
Emotional Brand Message
In attracting funding for lifespan extension, the emotional message is crucial, as it must address complex psychological barriers to paradigm shifts. These shifts demand significant neuroplasticity and can trigger resistance or anxiety.
To overcome these barriers, we must strategically align our messaging along key axes (as defined in 1.1) and build a content strategy around them to reduce perceived risks and foster engagement.
Strategies for Reducing Emotional Barriers
that’s not a complete list, but we have to start with something
Reducing the Fear of Social Exclusion
Highlight the high social status and credibility of involved organizations, researchers and opinion leaders to affirm that supporting lifespan extension is a prestigious and accepted endeavor.
Enhancing Belief in Lifespan Extension
Showcase the latest scientific advancements to make the concept of extending life more tangible and believable.
Motivating Action
Emphasize the urgent need for the individual’s contribution, presenting a vision where lifespan extension is achievable but not guaranteed without active support.
Navigating Differences in Beliefs
Offer strategies for managing stress related to differing viewpoints among loved ones, framing involvement as a personal choice rather than a divisive stance.
Transforming Perceptions of Radical Strategies
Shift the focus from the intervention itself to the positive emotional outcomes it enables, such as prolonged connection with loved ones. Minimize the perceived negatives by addressing concerns directly and empathetically.
Easing the Transition to an Eternal Life Paradigm
Gradually introduce the concept of extended lifespan, integrating it with current life philosophies to reduce cognitive dissonance.
Facilitating Strategy Adoption
Align the proposed strategies with the individual’s existing life goals and values, making the shift feel like a natural progression rather than a radical change.
Balanced Optimism:
Avoid “cruel optimism,” where unrealistic promises lead to disappointment. Focus on achievable goals without suggesting individuals sacrifice their current security for unproven possibilities.Communicate in Multiple Formats:
Use both visual and textual elements to convey the emotional message, ensuring it resonates consciously and subconsciously “between the lines”.
This approach ensures a well-rounded emotional strategy that respects the audience’s existing beliefs while guiding them toward a transformative vision for the future.
Brand Carriers and Messaging Strategy
Core Brand Carriers
Basic Messages. Establish clear, foundational messages that communicate the brand’s vision and mission across all platforms. It’s important to cover strategies, FAQs, hard topics, differentiations, etc.
Social Profiles. Use social media channels to share updates, engage with the community, and enhance visibility. Profiles must demonstrate that your skin is in the game.
Search Results. Optimize online presence to ensure positive, relevant search results that reinforce brand credibility.
Surveys and Visual Representations. Use data from surveys to create engaging visual content that highlights public perception and impact.
Analytical Presentations and Reports. Develop high-impact presentations and reports, such as “State of Life Extension,” to capture attention and drive discussion, similar to LBF plan and a16z’s State of Crypto influence in their respective fields.
News and Progress Updates.
Regularly release news and progress updates to demonstrate continuous advancements and maintain momentum.
Technological Product Videos
Create videos that showcase technological developments as realistic and achievable products, avoiding speculative or overly futuristic presentations.
For example BrainBridge’s video, even though it’s scientifically wrong, gained 500k views in less then 3 months.
Researcher and Team Videos:
Highlight the people behind the science through interviews and team features to humanize the research and build trust.
Visionary Videos:
Present visions of a feasible future, framing them as practical and achievable projects. Avoid science fiction tones to keep expectations grounded and relatable.
Real-Time Analytics Website
Maintain a website with real-time or regularly updated analytics to provide transparency and showcase progress.
Equity Allocation to Key Opinion Leaders:
Allocate equity to trusted Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) to leverage their influence and attract high-net-worth individuals.
People as Brand Carriers
Leveraging charismatic individuals as brand carriers can significantly amplify the brand’s reach and impact. In tech evangelism, personal brands often carry more influence and relatability than corporate entities.
We know a lot about single person brand, so let’s also discuss multi-personal brand strategy a bit. Develop a collective brand identity by associating the organization with multiple influential figures. Successful examples include:
OpenAI and a16z (Andreessen Horowitz): Represented by a network of high-profile individuals, creating a dynamic and influential presence.
TED: Allows multiple voices under a cohesive brand, enabling widespread engagement through a diverse range of speakers and franchise opportunities.
Consider how the organization can be represented by a collective of thought leaders, researchers, and innovators.
Create platforms where these individuals can share their insights, reinforcing the brand through their personal credibility and reach.
By integrating these brand carriers and leveraging both individual and collective strengths, the organization can effectively communicate its mission, build trust, and attract high-net-worth individuals to support its vision.
1.4 Retention: Engaging HNWIs to Increase Continued Funding (Group A)
How to Connect
Target Identified Sponsors. Begin with HNWIs who have publicly invested in longevity projects. Use resources like CrunchBase and advanced Boolean searches, or gather recommendations from within the community.
Find direct intros. Increase conversion rates by leveraging personal introductions through mutual contacts or key opinion leaders in the field.
Strengthen Brand Positioning. Build a compelling brand presence (as outlined earlier) to attract key influencers and sponsors proactively.
Engage with Impactful Information. Share compelling data and narratives that resonate with their values and objectives, encouraging them to reach out to you first.
Outreach Messaging. Position your message as an invitation to contribute to a study on longevity sponsor motivations or participate directly in a strategic initiative.
Why They Will Respond
Credible Social Proof, as mentioned
Recommendations from Peers, as mentioned
Value Their Opinion. Show genuine interest in their perspectives and experiences.
Personal Investment.Appeal to their personal interest in extending their lifespan and contributing to impactful projects.
PR Opportunities. Offer to publicize their involvement (if they are comfortable), highlighting their contributions and influence.
Amplified Impact Without Extra Funding. Show how their endorsement can attract additional funding, making a broader impact without requiring further personal investment.
What to Do Next
Conduct In-Depth Interviews. Explore their satisfaction with previous investments and understand their ideal project profile.
Understand Their Motivation. Identify the key drivers and barriers to their continued support.
Classify Further. Evaluate based on:
Awareness of continued funding importance.
Expectations for quick results.
Clarity of their strategy and preferred areas.
Current and future capacity to fund.
How to Develop Relationships
Keep Promises
Honor commitments regarding privacy, publication, and other preferences to build trust and credibility.
Maintain Brand Presence
Continue brand-building activities through the channels they frequent, ensuring consistent and strategic visibility.
Tailor Recommendations
Propose projects and research that align with their preferred strategies. Facilitate impactful transactions and manage expectations realistically.
Regular Communication:
Maintain regular touchpoints to update them on progress and emerging opportunities, reinforcing their engagement and commitment.
Extra Note. Based on discussions with HNWIs, there is often minimal difference in opinions between those who have funded life extension projects (Group A) and those who have strong opinions but haven’t yet funded (Group B). This indicates that tailored messaging and engagement strategies can effectively transition individuals from B to A.
1.5 Conversion. How to Convert following HNWI into funding
How to Find and Contact Them
Targeting Group B Individuals:
These individuals are typically aware of life extension concepts through Opinion Leaders but have not yet committed funding
They are often engaged in private networks, business clubs, events.
Creating Information Triggers:
Develop impactful content that Opinion Leaders can amplify to capture their attention.
Use this exposure to engage them through subscriptions or direct outreach, gradually warming them up with targeted communication.
Leveraging Trusted Networks:
Maximize conversion by securing introductions from mutual contacts or leveraging endorsements from trusted figures in the community.
Why They Aren’t Investing
This question should be asked only about B-investors, actually.
Complexity of Starting a Company
Experienced entrepreneurs may avoid founding companies in this field due to the complexities involved and prefer to invest in others who are better suited.
Skepticism of Uncertain Plans
HNWIs are often wary of projects that don't effectively manage uncertainty. They prefer investing in larger, well-defined plans with a clear pathway to success over multiple smaller, high-risk single-shot ventures.
Emotional and Cognitive Barriers:
Conflicted feelings or lack of alignment between personal expectations and available projects.
Difficulty in assessing the impact or viability of a life extension project.
Misalignment between communication timing and their financial decision-making cycles.
Resistance influenced by decision-makers or emotional reluctance.
Mismatch of the amount of money that they can provide and the size of the round
They don’t believe in the value of their contribution
Influence of Negative Experiences
Previous unsatisfactory investments in the field - from them and from other people - can create hesitation to commit further. So iteratively shaping their expectations, they’ll probably come up to the idea, that they prefer to finance someone, who will be able to produce the product, that they can consume, while they are still alive.
Strategies to Overcome Barriers
Understand Their Motivation and Barriers
Conduct in-depth interviews to explore their opinions, expectations, and concerns regarding current projects and the broader field.
Identify specific factors that prevent them from investing and adapt strategies to address these issues.
Tailored Messaging
Customize communication to reflect their unique perspectives, emphasizing empathy and understanding.
Highlight how their support can drive projects that are both scientifically robust and aligned with their personal values.
Leveraging Trusted Contacts
Use a hierarchy of message sources for maximum impact:
Best: Personal message from a trusted contact.
Good: Private message from an influential Opinion Leader.
Effective: Public endorsement by an Opinion Leader.
Supporting: Direct message referencing someone they trust.
Acknowledging Non-Donor Status:
Respect their current position as non-donors, addressing potential doubts and concerns openly to create a safe and comfortable dialogue.
Gathering and Utilizing Data:
If direct engagement fails, use collected data to refine messaging and strategy.
Request recommendations from trusted sources to identify new potential contacts.
Conversion Tactics
Initiating Dialogue via a non-sales agenda
Use the opportunity to understand their stance on life extension, preferred strategies, and perceived barriers without pushing for immediate commitment.
Tailoring Proposals
Once motivations and gaps are understood, present specific projects or investment opportunities that align with their expectations and strategic vision.
Ongoing Engagement
Maintain consistent, respectful communication to build trust over time. Reinforce their importance and potential impact in driving the life extension agenda forward.
By focusing on understanding and addressing the specific concerns of Group B individuals, you can effectively transition them into active supporters and retain their involvement long-term.
1.6 Warm-Up Strategy for Group C
Group C consists of individuals who are not yet engaged in life extension but are uncomfortable with the idea of death. They are challenging to convert but represent a significant potential audience. The goal is to transition them into active followers of life extension thought leaders (Group B) and eventually to committed funders (Group A).
Key Differences Between Groups
Group C vs. Group B:
Group B: Actively follows opinion leaders in lifespan extension.
Group C: Has potential interest in life extension but lacks direct engagement or affiliation with life extension communities.
Group C vs. Group D:
Group C: Feels discomfort with the idea of death and aging, indicating potential openness to life extension.
Group D: Accepts death as inevitable, experiencing only passive sadness rather than active distress, making conversion unlikely.
Conversion Strategy for Group C to Group B
Leverage the Diffusion of Innovations Framework:
Focus on Innovators (2.5%) and Early Adopters (13.5%) within Group C, who are predisposed to supporting radical ideas and can influence broader segments.
We can target channels frequented by these segments, such as tech and futurism communities, but prioritize those passionate about creating, not just consuming innovations.
Effective Social networks usage
Nothing special, classic marketing practice. Contrary to common myths, HNWIs and even UHNWIs are active on platforms like Telegram, Twitter, Instagram. We can encourage initial engagement by prompting them to follow life extension opinion leaders.
Grab Attention: We can strong, relevant hooks that speak to their existing discomfort with aging and death.
Raise Interest: Highlight scientific progress and breakthroughs in lifespan extension. Surveys like those used by Vitalism and Say Forever have shown that well-crafted questions can shift perceptions about lifespan extension. Use similar approaches to educate and influence Group C. However, HNWI group is more attentive to their time, so maybe videos should work better then surveys.
Stimulate Action: Encourage subscriptions or follows to opinion leaders, converting them into early-stage supporters (earlyborn Group B).
Gradual Identity Transformation:
By creating a habit of consuming content about life extension, you influence their self-perception and values. Over time, this can shift their identity from passive to active supporters.
Retain Engagement: Provide regular, value-driven updates that reinforce their interest and deepen their understanding.
Foster Interaction: Create opportunities for dialogue, such as surveys or events, to solidify their involvement and commitment.
Final Note
Converting Group C to Group B is fundamentally a marketing challenge that involves guiding them from passive awareness to active engagement. By employing classic marketing techniques—selecting the right channels, crafting impactful messages, and building retention—you can transition life extension from a philosophical discussion to an actionable commitment for this group.
1.7 Key Decision Influencers
High-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) often rely on various decision influencers when considering investments in life extension projects. These influencers can have both positive and negative impacts, so it is essential to strategically engage them.
Classification of Key Decision Influencers
Close and Loved Ones:
As Limiters: Loved ones can dissuade HNWIs from investments due to lack of understanding or skepticism, even if the proposed investment amount is minimal.
As Amplifiers: Personal experiences with loss or health crises can increase interest in life extension and anti-aging efforts. Understanding this dynamic is key to leveraging their influence positively.
Cultural Context Influence: Their opinions are often shaped by local culture and societal norms. Targeted literature, films, and media in relevant languages can help create a favorable cultural narrative around life extension, either amplifying support or reducing resistance. However, that’s not part of this article, and it requires separate study.
Doctors, Health Check-Up Specialists, and Health Consultants:
HNWIs prioritize their health and consult regularly with top medical professionals, whose opinions can significantly impact investment decisions.
Approach: Provide these professionals with up-to-date, peer-reviewed information on life extension and the top 10 causes of death. This positions your organization as a reliable source, potentially aligning their views with your goals.
Opinion Leaders (Supporters and Skeptics):
These individuals see themselves as experts and influence HNWIs through their public or private opinions.
Approach: Engage them with well-researched, credible information. Invite even skeptics to review reports and offer critiques. This opens a channel for dialogue, helping to refine your strategic approach and potentially convert critics into supporters.
Finance Sector Workers:
Professionals involved in transactions with HNWIs typically avoid contradicting consensus opinions to maintain relationships.
Approach: Include financial data such as biotech stock trends and investment evaluations in your communications. This helps align their professional interests with the benefits of supporting life extension investments, reducing resistance to transactions.
What can we do for Key Decision Influencers
Targeted Information Triggers:
All the messages we are using, may hit them, but it’s especially important to have engaging materials.
Create content such as the "State of Life Extension" report, offering regular updates on scientific progress and investment opportunities.
Share this content through trusted opinion leaders to reach both influencers and HNWIs.
Minimal Persuasive Package:
Develop a comprehensive data room for HNWIs that includes:
Detailed transaction information.
State reports on life extension science.
Suggested materials to share with their influencers, ensuring they have access to the same data.
Tailored Messaging for Skeptical Opinion Leaders:
Offer opportunities for media exposure and professional recognition.
Invite them to contribute to reports or engage in debates, giving them a platform to voice their perspectives without risk.
Leverage Personal and Professional Interests:
For doctors and health consultants, provide curated, time-saving resources to keep them informed about the latest research.
For opinion leaders, emphasize the opportunity to influence an emerging field and enhance their personal brand.
Engagement and Follow-Through:
Maintain consistent communication, respecting each influencer's preferred channels and messaging style.
Honor commitments regarding privacy and publication to build long-term trust and credibility.
1.8 Sustainable Operations of Fundraising Team
Building an effective fundraising system for life extension projects requires an adaptive approach, as opinions and market conditions are dynamic and constantly shifting. A permanent team is essential to retain experience and incorporate market feedback through ongoing iterations.
Team Culture Requirements
Field Enthusiasts:
The team should be composed of individuals passionate about life extension to maintain motivation and alignment with the mission.
Lean Character:
Focus on cost-effective strategies and efficient use of resources to ensure sustainability.
Financial Incentives:
Provide competitive financial incentives to ensure team members can sustain their commitment and deliver high performance over the long term.
Team Structure and Roles
Direct Communication Specialists:
Skilled in engaging with opinion leaders and sponsors, capable of conducting meetings and discussions in a manner that resonates with high-level stakeholders.
PR Specialists:
Experts in crafting and optimizing messages to predict and influence public perception, ensuring that communications have the desired impact.
Media Analytics Specialists:
Proficient in using algorithmic methods to identify and analyze Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs), ensuring targeted outreach and engagement.
Design and Infographics Specialist:
Adept at transforming complex data into compelling presentations and visuals, enhancing the appeal and clarity of the information shared with stakeholders.
Project Manager:
Responsible for coordinating team activities, managing timelines, and ensuring that all projects align with strategic goals and deadlines. He’ll also communicate with partners and outsourcers
Intro Requirements
Ambassadors and Networkers:
Individuals with extensive networks who may not be known for personal achievements but have valuable connections among HNWIs.
Personal Connections:
A sufficient number of well-connected individuals is crucial to open doors and facilitate introductions to potential sponsors and influencers.
Iterative Approach
Implement an iterative approach rather than a rigid, waterfall model, incorporating feedback loops to refine strategies based on market responses and evolving dynamics.
2. Deployment Stages
1. Assembling a Team of Volunteer Surveyors
Initial Interviews:
Begin with core team members (including yourself) conducting interviews with HNWIs. In the future, expand the team to include volunteers and professionals passionate about life extension.Recruitment:
Attract individuals seeking opportunities to contribute to life extension strategies, either as volunteers or through professional roles.
2. Establishing Credibility
Building a Minimal Trustworthy Brand:
To increase the likelihood of successful contact, ensure the contacting entity has a credible brand. Options include leveraging established organizations like Vitalism, LBF, Tomorrow Bio, or developing a unique brand identity—or using a combination of all.Respectful Outreach:
Avoid presenting any sales pitch to HNWIs introduced through intermediaries without obtaining explicit consent from the contact-holder.
3. Data Collection and Analysis
Conducting In-Depth Interviews:
Use structured interviews to explore the motivations and concerns of HNWIs, gathering insights that can inform analytical and informational content.Building Analytical Products:
Develop products based on interview findings to reinforce the brand’s connection with the target audience.Prominent Sponsor List Compilation:
Start creating a list of major sponsors and investors for outreach after establishing the brand.Approaching Prominent Financial Providers:
Once the team is confident, reach out to major donors directly or through appropriate channels, even without prior introductions.
4. Publishing and Sharing Insights
Dissemination of Findings:
Publish the most compelling survey results to engage the community and attract more HNWIs. Insights that are transformative or revealing can significantly boost engagement.Engagement with Existing Projects:
Share detailed findings with teams from funded projects, using the argument that this data can help them attract future sponsors. This can also open channels to their current sponsors.
5. Partnering for the State of Life Extension Report
Collaborating with Funds and Research Groups:
Many funds and research groups need to develop their own brands and have their own analysts. Partner with these entities to use their data and create a comprehensive report.Report Development and Promotion:
Use the combined resources to package their analytics into a cohesive report and promote it through both your and their networks. This collaboration is expected to yield positive conversion rates.
6. Establishing Regular Analysis
Securing Regular Funding:
With the increasing volume of connections and project depth, secure funding for the State of Life Extension report, if not already achieved during earlier stages.Leveraging Informational Events:
Use the report and related events to engage with 80-100% of Opinion Leaders in the longevity field, as high-quality, consolidated content is currently lacking.Annual Updates:
Provide regular updates (at least once a year) to maintain engagement, reconnect with existing contacts, and attract new investors and stakeholders.
7. Generating Additional Communication Products
RLE Forums in Financial Hubs:
Organize Radical Life Extension forums in key financial centers like London, Dubai, New York, San Francisco, Zurich, Paris, and Hong Kong. These events can further amplify the impact of the State of Life Extension report.Expanded Communication Initiatives:
Use the report as a core communication tool, complemented by targeted forums, to enhance visibility and foster deeper engagement with the HNWI community.
This structured deployment strategy will enable effective outreach, engagement, and conversion of high-net-worth individuals, while building a sustainable foundation for future growth in the life extension sector.