Latest news with #XPRIZE
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Tony Robbins and Peter Diamandis' longevity company Fountain Life raises $18M
Eight years ago, orthopedic surgeon Dr. William Kapp attended a medical conference that changed his professional life. He had gone from a private practice doctor to co-founding a company that built critical care hospitals to then selling that company. It gave him an interest for both sides of healthcare: the medicine and business sides, he told TechCrunch. So he went to the annual conference hosted by famed physician-scientist Dr. Daniel Kraft to learn about new tech that could improve results while lowering costs. Dr. Peter Diamandis, founder and chairman of the XPRIZE Foundation, was on stage that year with Dr. Bob Hariri, a stem-cell pioneer and co-founder of several health techs like genomics company, Human Longevity, Kapp said. They discussed genomics, microbiomics, and new tech that wasn't part of mainstream medicine. Inspired, Kapp went back to his home town of Naples, Florida, and 'started a thing called Longevity Performance Center. The idea was to do early detection and then optimization of people's health,' he said. In March 2020, Diamandis (pictured above) and his buddy Tony Robbins heard of Kapp's center and visited. They had a stem cell startup called Fountain Therapeutics. Conversation soon turned toward a merger, and by October that year, the two companies became Fountain Life. Kapp remained CEO with both Diamandis and Robbins as his co-founders and board members. Today his board also includes Hariri as an adviser; Todd Wanek, CEO of Ashley Furniture Industries, as an investor; and wealthy Indian business mogul B.K. Modi as an investor as well. Fountain Life tells TechCrunch exclusively that it just raised an $18 million series B, led by EOS Ventures, with participation from most of the existing members of the board. Fountain previously raised an $80 million Series A and has raised about $108 million total, Kapp said. Longevity as a subject of serious study by the medical community is a new field. When Kapp (pictured below) first launched his center, 'We didn't know exactly what longevity meant,' he said. But over the last four or five years, much more research has been done. The first principle of longevity, he said, is 'don't die of anything stupid.' Therefore, Fountain Life's centers, of which there are four today, have a heavy focus on prevention screening, looking for illnesses and chronic conditions at their earliest stages when they tend to be asymptomatic. Blood tests and body scans gather data on over 100 biomarkers from liver fat to 'microbiome concentrations,' he said. The second principal is optimization, meaning improving those markers with scientifically validated treatments, he said. And the third principal is 'using the latest regenerative therapies under FDA trials,' to treat illness or achieve optimization. Screening tests may discover, for example, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), which, left untreated, may lead to certain cancers, he said. The solution, if caught early, is to restore microbiome balance with specific, prescribed microbiotics. For Fountain's members, testing is repeated every quarter or so, and patients can track results and ask questions of an AI-powered app called Zori. But it's pricey, Kapp admitted. A full subscription costs $30,000 a year, and $10,000 will cover just the testing process and AI, but not ongoing tests and medical support. Still, Kapp remembers two stories that told him this work was on the right track. The wife of a Robbins fan bought a membership for her husband, and the tests caught early-stage, asymptomatic kidney cancer. The husband is now cancer-free. When global hotelier Sam Nazarian was exploring a partnership with Fountain to put longevity centers in luxury hotels, Nazarian did Fountain's tests and found a brain aneurysm. They successfully treated it, Nazarian has publicly said. Kapp says the new funding will allow the company to open more centers. In addition to Naples; Westchester, New York; Orlando; and Dallas, a center in Houston will open in December. Centers in Los Angeles and Miami are planned for Q2 of 2026. He hopes to solve the affordability issue by working on 'clinic development' where Fountain trains medical facilities on its methodologies. Kapp says that as the tech and expertise become more widely available, this will drive down costs for access. Fountain is not the only doctor-driven longevity testing startup. Famed functional health doctor Mark Hyman has a company called Function Health. It offers a package of about 160 blood tests, with follow-up tests every three to six months, for a $500/year membership (with additional fees for additional blood tests). Its platform similarly analyzes and tracks test results, although it doesn't do full body scans or offer direct access to physicians.
TechCrunch
a day ago
- Business
- TechCrunch
Tony Robbins' and Peter Diamandis' longevity company Fountain Life raises $18M
Eight years ago, orthopedic surgeon Dr. William Kapp attended a medical conference that changed his professional life. He had gone from a private practice doctor to co-founding a company that built critical care hospitals to then selling that company. It gave him an interest for both sides of healthcare: the medicine and business sides, he told TechCrunch. So he went to the annual conference hosted by famed physician-scientist Dr. Daniel Kraft to learn about new tech that could improve results while lowering costs. Dr. Peter Diamandis, founder and chairman of the XPRIZE Foundation, was on stage that year with Dr. Bob Hariri, a stem-cell pioneer and co-founder of several health techs like genomics company, Human Longevity, Kapp said. They discussed genomics, microbiomics, and new tech that wasn't part of mainstream medicine. Inspired, Kapp went back to his home town of Naples, Florida, and 'started a thing called Longevity Performance Center. The idea was to do early detection and then optimization of people's health,' he said. In March 2020, Diamandis (pictured above) and his buddy Tony Robbins heard of Kapp's center and visited. They had a stem cell startup called Fountain Therapeutics. Conversation soon turned toward a merger, and by October that year, the two companies became Fountain Life. Kapp remained CEO with both Diamandis and Robbins as his co-founders and board members. Today his board also includes Hariri as an adviser; Todd Wanek, CEO of Ashley Furniture Industries, as an investor; and wealthy Indian business mogul B.K. Modi as an investor as well. Techcrunch event Tech and VC heavyweights join the Disrupt 2025 agenda Netflix, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital, Elad Gil — just a few of the heavy hitters joining the Disrupt 2025 agenda. They're here to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don't miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech — grab your ticket now and save up to $600+ before prices rise. Tech and VC heavyweights join the Disrupt 2025 agenda Netflix, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital — just a few of the heavy hitters joining the Disrupt 2025 agenda. They're here to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don't miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech — grab your ticket now and save up to $675 before prices rise. San Francisco | REGISTER NOW Fountain Life tells TechCrunch exclusively that it just raised an $18 million series B, led by EOS Ventures, with participation from most of the existing members of the board. Fountain previously raised an $80 million Series A and has raised about $108 million total, Kapp said. Longevity as a subject of serious study by the medical community is a new field. When Kapp (pictured below) first launched his center, 'We didn't know exactly what longevity meant,' he said. But over the last four or five years, much more research has been done. The first principle of longevity, he said, is 'don't die of anything stupid.' Therefore, Fountain Life's centers, of which there are four today, have a heavy focus on prevention screening, looking for illnesses and chronic conditions at their earliest stages when they tend to be asymptomatic. Blood tests and body scans gather data on over 100 biomarkers from liver fat to 'microbiome concentrations,' he said. The second principal is optimization, meaning improving those markers with scientifically validated treatments, he said. And the third principal is 'using the latest regenerative therapies under FDA trials,' to treat illness or achieve optimization. Screening tests may discover, for example, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), which, left untreated, may lead to certain cancers, he said. The solution, if caught early, is to restore microbiome balance with specific, prescribed microbiotics. Dr. William Kapp Image Credits:Fountain Life For Fountain's members, testing is repeated every quarter or so, and patients can track results and ask questions of an AI-powered app called Zori. But it's pricey, Kapp admitted. A full subscription costs $30,000 a year, and $10,000 will cover just the testing process and AI, but not ongoing tests and medical support. Still, Kapp remembers two stories that told him this work was on the right track. The wife of a Robbins fan bought a membership for her husband, and the tests caught early-stage, asymptomatic kidney cancer. The husband is now cancer-free. When global hotelier Sam Nazarian was exploring a partnership with Fountain to put longevity centers in luxury hotels, Nazarian did Fountain's tests and found a brain aneurysm. They successfully treated it, Nazarian has publicly said. Kapp says the new funding will allow the company to open more centers. In addition to Naples; Westchester, New York; Orlando; and Dallas, a center in Houston will open in December. Centers in Los Angeles and Miami are planned for Q2 of 2026. He hopes to solve the affordability issue by working on 'clinic development' where Fountain trains medical facilities on its methodologies. Kapp says that as the tech and expertise become more widely available, this will drive down costs for access. Fountain is not the only doctor-driven longevity testing startup. Famed functional health doctor Mark Hyman has a company called Function Health. It offers a package of about 160 blood tests, with follow-up tests every three to six months, for a $500/year membership (with additional fees for additional blood tests). Its platform similarly analyzes and tracks test results, although it doesn't do full body scans or offer direct access to physicians.
Zawya
28-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Omani climate-tech pioneer ranked among MENA's top 40 sustainable companies
MUSCAT: When Omani engineers and scientists at 44.01 first set out to turn carbon dioxide into stone, few imagined their innovation would earn global recognition and help put Oman on the sustainability map. Today, their journey has reached a new milestone: 44.01 has been named one of the Top 40 Most Sustainable Companies in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The ranking, curated by the CSO Network and Sustain Labs Paris, celebrates organisations that are not only reducing their environmental footprint, but also reshaping the future of business in the region. Companies were evaluated across six pillars — ranging from clean revenue to employee well-being — through 17 key performance indicators that address MENA-specific challenges like water scarcity, climate resilience and social inclusion. For Oman, 44.01 represents more than just a company; it is a symbol of how local innovation can tackle global challenges. The firm developed a unique carbon mineralisation technology that captures CO₂ and permanently stores it in peridotite rock deep underground, achieving up to 91% carbon removal efficiency. This groundbreaking approach has won international acclaim. In 2022, 44.01 received the Earthshot Prize, and earlier this year, it clinched the XPRIZE Carbon Removal Award for its 'Air' category — a recognition that places it alongside some of the world's most promising climate innovators. What makes 44.01 stand out is its holistic approach to sustainability. The company runs its operations entirely on renewables — using solar panels by day and biodiesel made from recycled cooking oil by night. It also avoids using precious drinking water, relying instead on seawater and treated wastewater. Beyond the technical success, 44.01 is creating jobs for Omani engineers and geologists, particularly those transitioning from the fossil fuel industry. This achievement comes at a time when Oman is stepping up its sustainability game. The Muscat Stock Exchange introduced Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting guidelines in 2023, with mandatory disclosures set to start in 2025. The government also unveiled a Sustainable Finance Framework last year, designed to channel investments into clean energy, climate adaptation and economic diversification. The Top 40 list also includes regional giants like Emirates Group, Masdar, TAQA Group and Red Sea Global. But 44.01's inclusion is especially meaningful, as it shows that homegrown Omani companies can compete — and lead — on the international stage.
Time of India
28-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Tesla CEO Elon Musk on jobs that AI can not replace: ‘There will be…'
Tesla CEO Elon Musk believes that while artificial intelligence (AI) is set to transform many industries, some jobs may remain uniquely human. In a response to a question posted by Peter H. Diamandis – Executive Chairman @XPRIZE on X (formerly Twitter), Musk said: 'There will be a premium for human experiences'. Diamandis, in the X post, asked the following question: 'Which jobs will AI not be able to automate?'. Musk's comment highlights a growing concern about the future of work as AI technologies become more advanced. Many experts predict widespread automation could replace jobs in sectors like manufacturing, customer service, and data entry. Although Musk did not list specific roles, it is likely that jobs involving storytelling, art, caregiving, teaching, and other deeply human experiences may retain their importance. Industries such as entertainment, therapy, education, and hospitality could be among those where people remain central. In another news, Musk has once again raised alarms about plummeting global fertility rates, asserting that a 2.7 children per woman average is needed for population stability, higher than previously thought. In a recent post on X, the Tesla CEO responded to claims that women need an average of 2.7 children per woman to maintain population stability, significantly higher than the previously accepted 2.1 replacement rate. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trading CFD dengan Teknologi dan Kecepatan Lebih Baik IC Markets Mendaftar Undo "People who have kids do need to have 3 kids to make up for those who have 0 or 1 kid or population will collapse," Musk wrote, sharing his mathematical calculation for maintaining global population levels. The entrepreneur's latest comments came in response to alarming fertility statistics showing the United States currently at 1.66 children per woman, while countries like Italy and Japan lag even further behind at 1.29 and 1.30 respectively. These figures fall well short of the newly proposed 2.7 threshold, which factors in variables like childlessness rates and gender distribution. Google Search AI Mode launched in India: Does it really make your search smarter?
Daily Maverick
18-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Maverick
Avoiding Day Zero in Gauteng — a comparison with Cape Town's success story
The phrase 'Day Zero' has come to mean that precise moment when a city's water supply is predicted to be depleted, leaving taps dry and local economies in crisis. It entered the global lexicon in 2018 when the City of Cape Town was confronted with an acute water crisis. The actual Day Zero was estimated to be in April that year, with three different dates, depending on the models being used. With a population of more than four million people requiring water, the city's executives were forced to implement strict water reductions on the public and corporations in the city. With these severe water restrictions, the city was able to replenish its water resources and it announced that 'Day Zero' had been averted. That single event captured the attention of the global media, which ran stories in many countries. It has now triggered the XPRIZE after the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative offered a $119-million cash incentive to radically alter the future role of desalination technology solutions. Cape Town managed to avert its Day Zero crisis through an aggressive review and application of innovative policy, supported by intensive communication designed to build consensus, retain social cohesion in times of crisis and change human behaviour. But trust in the government was eroded and is unfortunately still in deficit, as is manifested by the festering issue of sewage discharge into aquatic ecosystems. Analysis of this strategy has shown that water security requires a mix of solutions, with no single silver bullet being viable. A water secure Gauteng These lessons have been fed into the Platform for a Water Secure Gauteng (PWSG), which has been created to avoid Day Zero in the heart of the South African economy. A lot of the energy that fuelled the Day Zero narrative was hype, and the one lesson that I have learnt from three decades in the international water sector is the role of nuance in every water-related problem. In short, things are always different in various geographic locations, so I have become sceptical of simple silver-bullet solutions, often touted by over-enthusiastic solution-providers that seldom understand the complexity of the problem being managed. It therefore becomes instructive to compare the differences and similarities between Cape Town's and Gauteng's Day Zero narratives. Facts are our friends, so let us embrace a few of the most important ones. For starters, both the Western Cape and Gauteng regions are supported by a complex arrangement of institutions, dams, pumps and pipelines, so that is a good point of departure. The Western Cape Water Supply System (WCWSS) stores 890 MCM (million cubic metres), which is two years of average water supply needed for the city of Cape Town and the local economy. There are several dams, including Theewaterskloof, Voëlvlei, Berg River, Wemmershoek, Rockview, Kogelberg and Steenbras Upper and Lower, some of which are interconnected by pipelines, tunnels and distribution networks. The rainfall is naturally a winter event, so storage is needed for the long summer months. Water is cascaded into this system through a series of inter-basin transfers from an adjacent water management area. Now let us compare this with the Integrated Vaal River System that sustains 45% of the South African population and 60% of the national economy. There are a total of 14 major dams, with the most important shown in the diagram, which also indicates the depth of each and the degree of interconnectedness across the whole system. It is managed as a single entity and it has a total storage capacity of 10,554 MCM (million cubic metres), which is about six years of average supply under non-drought conditions. Water is sourced from many different river basins, including the Tugela in KZN and the Malibamat'so in Lesotho. This water is diverted over the Drakensberg Mountains into the Sterkfontein Dam in the case of the Tugela. The energy needed to pump these massive volumes uphill is taken from the Eskom grid as part of a pumped storage scheme needed to put electricity back into the grid during peak energy demand. This problem is solved in the transfer of water from the Katse Dam in Lesotho, where the Muela power plant generates electricity using the constant natural flow of the system. When comparing the two systems, achieving water security in Gauteng is significantly more complex than in Cape Town. This highlights the challenge faced by the respective water boards in each case. Rand Water is one of the largest bulk water suppliers in the world, responsible for guaranteeing water security for almost half the population and two-thirds of the national economy. The challenge in Cape Town is defined by the limited strategic storage of two years. Cape Town is on the coast, so sea water desalination at utility scale (bigger than 50 megalitres per day capacity) is the obvious long-term solution, along with the recovery of water from waste. Both options are part of its strategic plan to achieve water security, with the latter being implemented in a groundwater recharge programme, like the city of Perth. The challenge is restoring public trust and investor confidence damaged by the Day Zero crisis in 2018, but exacerbated by the city's response to public concerns over sewage discharges into aquatic systems such as Milnerton Lagoon. Gauteng's complex challenge The challenge in Gauteng is different and more complex, so Rand Water will be confronted by demands on its decision-making capacity on an unprecedented scale. I have previously written about the sewage challenge (see Understanding the sewage challenge facing Gauteng's water supply), suggesting that Rand Water might have to start considering the recovery of water from waste to achieve two outcomes – mitigate the risk of sewage pollution of the Vaal and augmentation of supply to industrial users that might not need potable water for their processes. Gauteng will also be forced to consider the desalination of acid mine water, and this is where their challenge differs from Cape Town. About 200 megalitres of water can be recovered from acid mine drainage, but the Capex cost will be in the vicinity of R15-billion, with an annual Opex cost of around R2.5-billion. Those are big numbers for a relatively small increase in supply. Furthermore, the disposal of brine is not possible on the Highveld as there is no sea into which it can be discharged. For this reason, desalination is likely to remain non-viable for Rand Water. The good news is that the salinity levels of acid mine water being discharged into rivers is slowly declining, which adds value to the decision not to desalinate. The important take-home message is that maintaining water security in Gauteng will place growing demands on Rand Water in a manner unparalleled by any other water board in South Africa. Its institutional architecture will have to adapt to new business models capable of responding to a set of challenges that will increasingly differ from what it has faced in the past century of its existence. The institutional health of Rand Water will be of increasing importance, so it is in our collective best interest to support it in any way possible. DM
