It seems like everyone is talking about “longevity” - from Silicon Valley tech bros to ageing dictators in off-mic utterances. Some people are going to extreme lengths to live longer. Calico Labs, an Alphabet-owned company, is deploying $3.5bn into researching the biology of ageing.
It would be a mistake to assume that longevity is all that the elderly want. Life should be about quality, not just quantity. It’s about living the good and most fulfilled life.
There are many positive developments which have increased the quality of life for our elders.
Moreover, our elders are far healthier and more active than previous generations. But they are also more isolated and distanced from their families, prompting loneliness and a wider disconnection with society and the workplace.
While many of those who use the term “longevity” bring factors such as well-being and happiness into the equation, the label still falls short because of its emphasis on a long life. This is why I emphasise a much broader focus on the good life.
Loneliness and isolation are huge challenges for many of our seniors. In an op-ed for the World Health Organisation (WHO), Belgian physician Etienne Krug cites that 25% of older people worldwide experience social isolation and loneliness, at similar rates across all regions.
In fact, two substantial reports, both from 2025, one by the WHO and another by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, highlight the importance of the topic, especially for younger men and older people.
Remarkably, progress to combat loneliness is especially evident in countries with ageing populations like Japan, which, since 2021, has created a Minister for Social Isolation and Loneliness. The UK created the world’s first “Loneliness Minister” in 2018.
One of the driving forces behind our platform is to encourage agetech entrepreneurship and a broad agenda. It’s about entrepreneurs focused on the good life, and they can really make a difference.