Laura Deming
Laura Deming | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1994 New Zealand |
| Occupation | Venture capitalist |
| Known for | Life extension, longevity research, The Longevity Fund, age1 venture capital fund |
Laura Deming (born in 1994) is a venture capitalist with a focus on life extension, utilizing biological research to address the challenges of aging.
Education
Raised in New Zealand by her parents John and Tabitha Deming, Laura was homeschooled alongside her brother Trey, independently studying topics such as calculus, probability, statistics, French literature, and history. Her fascination with the biology of aging began at age 8, and by 12 she was working in Cynthia Kenyon’s laboratory at the University of California, San Francisco, renowned for genetically extending the lifespan of C. elegans. At 14, Deming was admitted to MIT to pursue physics but chose to leave to accept the $100,000 Thiel Fellowship, which enabled her to start a venture capital firm dedicated to longevity research. She was among two women selected for the initial 2011 Thiel Fellows cohort.
Career
Deming established and serves as a partner at The Longevity Fund, a venture capital firm concentrating on aging and life extension technologies. The fund secured $4 million for its initial round and expanded to $22 million by its second fundraising in 2017. Its portfolio includes companies like Unity Biotechnology, which focuses on senolytic therapies for age-related conditions, along with Navitor Pharmaceuticals and Metacrine.
In 2018, she initiated the AGE1 accelerator program, a four-month initiative designed to support startups advancing longevity science. The inaugural group produced six graduating companies, including Fauna Bio, which applies hibernation biology insights to improve recovery from heart attacks and strokes. That same year, Deming began advising Pioneer, an investment fund dedicated to discovering global talent working on longevity innovations.
By 2023, Deming collaborated with Alex Colville to create age1, an advanced venture capital fund building upon the achievements of The Longevity Fund. With $55 million in capital raised, age1 focuses on early-stage ventures pioneering significant progress in aging and lifespan extension science. Colville is noted for his leadership in innovation and efforts toward regulatory reform in aging-related therapeutics.
Deming holds the view that biological immortality is attainable through scientific advancement and has expressed that ending aging "is much nearer than many realize." Her accomplishments have earned her a spot on Forbes "30 Under 30" list and featured roles such as in National Geographic's documentary "The Age of Ageing." Additionally, she has presented at the 2012 Singularity Summit and the 2013 TEDMED event.