Betting on the Longevity Market

Venture capitalists assess the startup landscape for companies serving people 50+.

The numbers are notable. Every day, roughly 10,000 Americans turn 65. By 2030, every Baby Boomer will be over that threshold. The Medicare budget is on track to double from $1 trillion to $2 trillion within a decade. And as much as $84 trillion of Boomer-held wealth is slowly making its way to the next generations. For venture capitalists who have been building portfolios in what they call the “longevity economy,” this is not a distant opportunity — it is arriving right now.

But turning demographic destiny into venture-scale returns has proven far harder than pitch decks suggest. After several years, the investors deepest in this space are candid about what’s working and what isn’t.