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Tech Salon 2026: Why Longevity is the Ultimate Business Asset of the Future

At Bertelsmann Representative Office in Berlin where politics and business converge, a special edition of the Tech Salon by Rothschild & Co and Hinterland of Things took place on February 26, 2026. The theme, “The Longevity Opportunity: Between Life Science and a New Asset Lifestyle,” drew family entrepreneurs, investors, and the tech elite to the German capital. At a time when Germany is intensely debating its global competitiveness, this evening offered a fascinating reality check: Longevity is no longer science fiction, it’s the next great technological wave.

The Reality Check: A Market in Massive Upswing

Moderator Anna-Luisa Korte (Director Brand & Content at Founders Foundation) opened the panel with a look at the sector’s incredible momentum: In 2024 alone, global investment in longevity companies surged by over 200% to approximately $8.5 billion. Analysts suggest we have entered the “execution phase” of cellular rejuvenation. But why is this happening now?

Dr. Alexandra Bause, Co-Founder of Apollo Health Ventures, explained the breakthrough from a research perspective:

  • Genetic Discovery: About 30 years ago, foundational research showed that knocking out specific genes could double the lifespan of animals.
  • Market-Ready Medicine: Approximately 15 years ago, the first drugs demonstrated the ability to extend animal lifespans by 20–25%.
  • Demographic Necessity: With a shrinking labor force and declining birth rates, “healthy aging” has become a societal necessity to maintain a productive population.

LONGEVITY AS A WEALTH INSTRUMENT FOR THE MITTELSTAND

For family businesses and family offices, this topic is highly strategic. A recent analysis by J.P. Morgan Private Bank highlighted that an additional ten years of healthy lifespan will fundamentally reshape the financial and succession planning of a family office.

Toan Nguyen, Founder of Jung von Matt NERD and Longevity expert, addressed the cultural layer. He believes we are witnessing a deep desire for control in an era of “polycrisis.” The human body is becoming the “last island of self-efficacy.”

  • The Status Shift: In the past, sleep deprivation was worn as a badge of honor. Today, a high Sleep Score is the ultimate status symbol for high performers.
  • Democratization: AI tools and affordable wearables (starting at $99) are making deep biometric data accessible to the general public.

Investment Strategies: Moonshots and "Shovel Sellers"

Dr. Alexandra Bause shared valuable insights on how investors evaluate risk in this historically binary field. She distinguishes between three primary categories:

  • Moonshots (Cellular Reprogramming): High-risk investments like Altos Labs (backed by Jeff Bezos), working on biological rejuvenation.
  • Gero-protectors (The Pill Category): Research into compounds like Metformin or Rapamycin aimed at slowing the aging process.
  • Infrastructure (“Shovel Sellers”): Longevity clinics and diagnostic platforms that generate the biomarkers needed to make health precisely manageable.


A massive accelerant in this field is AI. Tools like AlphaFold can now decode protein structures in second, a task that previously took research teams decades. This democratization of knowledge allows even non-experts to interpret complex health data using AI interfaces.

Addressing Criticism and Ethics

The panel did not shy away from critical questions. Will longevity create a “biological class society”? Alexandra Bause countered that in the biotech world, therapies are typically covered by insurance for those who need them most. Toan Nguyen also noted the “trickle-down effect”: like the iPhone, the costs of these innovations will drop drastically as they scale to the mass market.

The final Pulse Check

In a final lightning round, the experts provided clear statements:

  • Is the first person to live to 120 already alive today? (Both: Yes).
  • Will longevity prevention be a standard service offered by health insurance companies in 10 years? (Bause: Yes, Nguyen: No)
  • In 15 years, will we track biological age as routinely as we track steps today? (Both: Yes).
  • Should companies provide longevity budgets for their C-suite? (Both: Yes).
  • Would you buy a $150,000 pill today that extends life by 20 years? (Both: No).


The Tech Salon in Berlin made it clear that longevity is far more than “wellness.” It is an ecosystem where science, capital, and lifestyle converge. For the German Mittelstand, this represents a unique opportunity to secure future viability through prevention and technology.