11/17/2025
"For us, longevity is prolonging health span, not lifespan. Lifespan is just a consequence. You need a life worth living longer to begin with."
In part 3 of The Biotech Startups Podcast conversation with LongeVC Managing Partner, Sergey Jakimov, a central theme is redefining longevity investing through a science-first, patient-centered lens.
In this episode, we cover:
– Why LongeVC chose a disease-by-disease approach over "curing aging," and how that pragmatic strategy led to 20 companies with zero write-offs in 3.5 years
– How Sergey's personal experience with a rare neurodegenerative condition at 28 shifted his investment philosophy to prioritize patient outcomes over financial returns
– The challenge of translating aging biology into FDA-approved therapies, and why longevity companies must learn to speak the regulator's language
– Building a fund with scientific excellence at its core—from Nobel Prize winners on the advisory board to allocating all management fees toward team expertise instead of partner salaries
– Expanding beyond human health with AniVC for animal aging research, and launching the Longevity Science Foundation to support fundamental aging biology before it becomes investable
It's a powerful conversation about mission-driven investing, personal stakes in biotech, and building a platform where good science naturally leads to good returns.
Head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify for this episode and more stories only a biotech exec can tell!
