Longevity Bio & Molecular Nano Fast Grants

Empowering Scientific Innovation

Foresight Institute is dedicated to advancing transformative technologies without the constraints of institutional limitations.

Through our Fast Grants program, we provide small fast-grants to visionary scientists and entrepreneurs working on groundbreaking innovations in biotechnology and nanotechnology. These grants are designed to quickly support and launch new ideas and projects, acting as a financial launchpad that de-risks early-stage projects often overlooked by legacy funders.

By breaking free from traditional constraints, we enable scientists to test and build revolutionary ideas that could reshape our future.

Why Fast Grants?

Traditional funding mechanisms often overlook early-stage, high-potential projects. We’re inspired by the Fast Grants model pioneered by Impetus Grants to change this reality:

High funding demand: An increasing number of projects within the Foresight community are seeking funding, making individualized matchmaking with funders less sustainable.
Low launch costs: Many projects require as little as $10,000 to begin, yet often fall outside the strict topical and operational criteria of traditional funders.
Need for rapid unblocking: Timely action is crucial to beginning new projects, yet many grant application processes are delayed by lengthy procedures and bureaucracy.

These grants are shaped by foundational research roadmaps: Convergent Research’s Gap Map across both categories, the Amaranth Bottlenecks of Aging Roadmap and the LBF Roadmap guiding our work in biotechnology, and the Positional Assembly Roadmap informing our focus in nanotechnology.

Longevity Biotechnology

Advancing biotechnology to achieve Longevity Escape Velocity (LEV), or in other words, improving life expectancy at a faster rate than people are aging. Healthcare that is focused on preventing and reversing aging would not only diminish the pains of age-related disease, but also extend healthy lives as long as the individual desires. We consider functional cryonics to be an alternative path to this goal.

Areas we fund include but are not limited to:

AI R&D: Accelerating scientific discovery, research, and lab work through the application of AI, Digital Twin models, and automation tools
ECM: Maintaining or improving extra cellular matrix health for healthy aging
Exosomes: Exosomes for tissue repair, drug delivery, and other longevity interventions
Gene Therapy: Developing scalable gene therapy vectors and pioneering novel delivery vehicles.
Healthcare 3.0: Advancing biomarker analysis and scalable personal longevity approaches
Reversible Biostasis: Pioneering new approaches to reversible biological preservation
Replacement: Developing organ, brain, 3D organoid technology, and whole body replacement approaches

Molecular Nanotechnology

Advancing molecular machines to achieve Molecular Manufacturing, in which we can build macro-scale objects with atomic precision to unlock novel, wasteless, cheap means of production. Molecular nanotechnology-built devices, tools, and machines could be used to heal the biosphere, regenerate humans, create an abundant economy, and pave the material way to affordable space exploration.

Areas we fund include but are not limited to:

AI R&D: Accelerating scientific discovery, research, and lab work through the application of AI and automation tools
Design and Simulation: Developing cutting-edge modeling software for molecular systems
Construction and Assembly: Paths for integrating various DNA, protein, STM/AFM or other approaches toward molecular functional nanomachines or molecular 3D printers
Actuation and Control: Approaches for generating motion and controlling functional nanomachines
Toward Near-Term Profitability: Promising near-term applications in chip manufacturing, climate, energy, health, materials, Nano Modular Electronics, etc that pave a financially viable way for acceleration progress on long-term progress

Advisors

Longevity Biotechnology

Molecular Nanotechnology

FAQ

How does the application process work?

Fill out the form at the top of this page to apply.

Applications are reviewed once per quarter, with deadlines of:

March 31st
June 30th
September 30th
December 31st

We work to keep the review process efficient and minimal. If required, we may follow up with questions or arrange a brief screening call.

How do we evaluate projects?

Projects are evaluated by Foresight staff and, when appropriate, external advisors. We focus on initiatives where a small grant of around $10,000 can effectively derisk an idea, kickstart a project, or explore a new path to impact.

We typically encourage open sharing of results, unless confidentiality is required. Our focus is on high-risk, high-reward projects that, while speculative, hold the potential to make significant advancements. We are also interested in proposals that map and scope novel, undervalued opportunities within a given field.

How long will a decision take?

We aim to make decisions within two weeks after the application deadline. However, timelines may vary based on project specifics or other factors. If there are any delays or additional steps required, we’ll inform you promptly.

Further questions or feedback?

Please reach out to [email protected].

Donors

In addition to our private contributors, we would like to thank the following sponsors for making this grant possible.

Gaming the Future: The Book!