LSE Generate launch The Long Life Venture Builder programme

LSE Generate has launched The Long Life Venture Builder, a pioneering, mission-driven initiative aiming to tackle challenges and find solutions at the intersection of healthy ageing, sustainability, technology and the future of work.

The project has been launched as a collaborative effort between LSE Generate, six global universities across the US, Iberia, India, Germany, Brazil and Singapore, and the award-winning European innovation agency WithCompany.

The Long Life Venture Builder positions healthy ageing as a vital yet often overlooked dimension of global sustainability. By promoting longevity through prevention, active lifestyles and sustainable health systems, it aims to reduce the material and carbon intensity of healthcare, support low-emission and age-inclusive cities, and enable people to live well. In doing so, the programme directly contributes to the Global School of Sustainability’s (GSoS) mission to advance equitable, resilient, and low-carbon futures.

Designed to embed sustainability principles at every stage of venture development - from ideation and prototyping to long-term scaling - the hybrid programme moves from research through to venture creation, industry collaboration and market readiness.

Acting as strategic partner, the Ashoka Foundation, will support teams throughout and after the programme, leveraging expertise from its global fellow network. Google Cloud will act as the programme’s tech partner.

A standout feature of the Venture Builder is its collaboration with Pine Crest School, where 16-18 year-olds will act as reverse mentors to founders — bringing Gen-Z insight into challenges around ageing, digital inclusion, and social care.

Students will also join a one-week research sprint in Tokyo to study the future of work and ageing societies. Their findings will feed into Ashoka’s AI-powered 'New Longevity Brain' tool, currently in global development.

LJ Silverman from LSE Generate said: "This is a truly global effort to reimagine how we live, work and age well. Through the Long Life Venture Builder, we’re connecting students, researchers and entrepreneurs from six countries to develop ventures that treat longevity as a sustainability issue - blending innovation, empathy and systems thinking to create meaningful, lasting change.”

Eligible students and alumni from LSE and partner universities will be encouraged to submit ventures aligned with the programme themes of healthy ageing, the future of work and sustainable systems innovation. Successful teams will receive up to £3,000 seed funding, strategic guidance from LSE’s Ageing Research Group, expert mentorship, entrepreneurs-in-residence and the LSE academic network.

LSE Generate has also launched The Next Act, a pioneering programme within its 60+ alumni cluster designed to empower those embarking on a new chapter of purpose and innovation later in life. Blending community, creativity and lifelong learning, The Next Act offers tailored training in AI literacy, angel investing and entrepreneurial leadership, alongside a reflective retreat experience focused on reimagining impact beyond traditional careers. Whether participants are founding new ventures, joining startup boards, or mentoring the next generation of changemakers, the programme provides the tools, confidence and community to make their 'next act' both meaningful and future-ready. The waitlist is now open for those interested in staying updated on the cluster.

Find out more about the Long Life Venture Builder here.