Is the Longevity Industry Selling Health or Health Anxiety? | Biomarkers

Why are women's healthcare startups overlooked by venture capital? Can the longevity industry back up its promises? And what does Bryan Johnson's million-dollar-a-year approach to living longer mean for everyone else? In this episode, Maja Baines speaks with Jean Roubas, Health Investment Director at 50 Partners, about the clash between financial returns and progress in healthcare. After his healthtech startup failed, Jean began supporting companies tackling medical problems. They explore why medicine has historically focused on the male body and why women's health still needs more attention. Can femtech companies improve care for thousands of patients even if they never become unicorns? Can venture capital make room for businesses that need years, not months, to deliver results? Jean explains the 50 Partners model: experienced entrepreneurs invest expertise, networks and time in startups rather than relying on funding alone. He also questions a VC system that chases explosive growth and moves on quickly when companies cannot deliver it. Then comes longevity. From blood biomarkers and biological age to expensive wellness tests, how much is supported by clinical evidence? Maja asks about Bryan Johnson's Immortals program, described in their conversation as costing $1 million a year. Jean considers whether experiments aimed at living longer can benefit ordinary patients, and whether longevity is selling healthier lives or unnecessary anxiety. The conversation also covers healthcare innovation in France versus the US, Europe's aging population, cancer treatment, prevention, and the personal cost of startup failure. If you're interested in healthtech, biotech, startup investing, longevity science or the future of healthcare, this conversation challenges what progress should mean. What matters more: a company that grows fast, or one that helps more people? Share your view in the comments. #HealthTech #Healthcare #Longevity #VentureCapital #Femtech #Startups #Biohacking The Trust Moat explores why trust is the last durable competitive advantage — and the founders, investors, and builders who understand it. 📩 Get every episode and essay in your inbox — subscribe to The Trust Moat newsletter: https://majapbaines.substack.com/ CHAPTERS 00:00 - Introduction & The True North Star in Health Tech 01:28 - From Biomedical Engineering to Operating Rooms 03:24 - Founding Data for Life: Lessons from Failure 06:10 - The Problem with Continuous Cardiac Monitoring 08:29 - The #1 Founder Mistake: Falling in Love with the Product 09:52 - How 50 Partners Dissects Traditional VC Models 12:17 - Patient-First Impact vs. Hyperscaling Startups 16:32 - Defining Better Care for the Greater Number 18:18 - Why 50 Partners Passes on Longevity & Biomarker Startups 21:13 - The Lack of Clinical Proof Behind Popular Longevity Trends 24:16 - US vs. European Healthcare Economies & Incentives 28:24 - Addressing Europe's Aging Population & Infrastructure Gaps 32:27 - Navigating France's Subsidies & Public Healthcare System 36:06 - Expanding from France to the US Market 37:26 - Analyzing Extreme Longevity Hype & Bryan Johnson’s Blueprint 41:40 - Portfolio Startups Driving Real Clinical Impact 47:01 - Preventive Care Models: What the West Can Learn from Japan 50:12 - Hard Lessons on Founder Burnout & Dealing with Failure 53:20 - Redefining Speed & Purpose in Venture Capital 55:46 - Final Thoughts & Conclusion Follow Jean: LinkedIn –   / jeanroubas   Find out more about 50 Partners Health: https://en.50partners.fr/programmes/s... Listen to The Trust Moat: 🎧 Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/1aLHebA... 🎧 Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... 🎧 Amazon Music – https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/d02... Connect with Maja: LinkedIn –   / zmajapbaines   X – https://x.com/lazarevic_p?s=11 Instagram –   / majaperovicbaines_mbm   Listen to Artifakt Podcast Maja hosts, in Serbian    / @artifakt_podcast   SEO strategy done by HappySeal Agency https://happysealagency.com 👍 Found this useful? Hit LIKE and SUBSCRIBE, and drop a comment with the AI + safety topic you want us to cover next.