FAV QUOTE: “Hold on to all the zeros, because when you make one, it goes in front of all those zeros.” CELEB CRUSH: Bradley Cooper. PEOPLE DON’T KNOW: I’m very introverted
Simon Sakhai
Building a future of longevity
EMBRACING THE OUTSIDER WITHIN. From a young age, Simon Sakhai always felt like an outsider. Growing up LGBTQ in a conservative New York suburb, he often felt disconnected from any particular community. This sense of not belonging became a defining characteristic of his life, which he now considers his most powerful asset. “For better or worse, to this day I’ve never felt like I fit in. It’s forced me to really think for myself,” Simon reflects. This perspective has carried him through a unique and varied career that spans art and science, as well as a fascination and embracing of the unknown.
Simon is the founder of Jung+, a company aiming to make longevity science accessible to the masses. Jung+ translates the latest scientific advancements in aging research into products and technologies designed to decelerate aging and extend a healthy lifespan. “The company’s mission is to make top-tier longevity care accessible for all, not just billionaires,” Simon explains.
Simon’s journey to founding Jung+ takes many unexpected twists and turns, beginning with his college education at the City University of New York, where a transformative study abroad program in China ignited his passion for international experiences. “Getting out of not just New York, but the country, the entire Western world, opened my eyes. It really changed me,” he recalls. This experience fueled his desire to explore the world and gain diverse perspectives.
A PATH LESS TRAVELED. Rather than follow his family’s established path in the antiques business, Simon sought further education. He earned a master’s degree at Sotheby’s Institute in contemporary design and art history, which led him to London and into the art world. There, he co-founded The Moving Museum, a globally successful project that showcased contemporary art around the world. “We made a lot of people a lot of money, and we paid all of our dues, but we didn’t pay ourselves— it wasn’t financially stable.”
After his stint with The Moving Museum, Simon returned to academia, this time to Oxford Business School. It was here that he once again leaned into his attraction to the unfamiliar and sought out the University’s more niche departments, including one focused on the science of longevity. “I met people on campus that were studying age reversal, treating aging like it’s a disease. It sounded nuts, but it sucked me in,” Simon explains. Soon after, he joined the Oxford Society of Aging and Longevity and eventually became its president.
Jung+ is partly inspired by Simon’s personal experience of aging, particularly as a gay man. “LGBTQIA+ individuals often lack the traditional ‘aging framework’ of their heteronormative counterparts,” he says. “As I’ve moved through my thirties, I realized LGBTQ people have to create their own story of what it means to age.” With Jung+, Simon is determined to translate the groundbreaking work of scientists into accessible solutions for the public. “I want to create a company and a brand that gives people as much agency over the aging process as humanly possible.”
A VISION BEYOND BOUNDARIES. Reflecting on the loneliness he often felt as a founder, Simon believes that being LGBTQIA+ can be a unique strength in the entrepreneurial journey. “Being LGBTQIA+, you often don’t fit into society. It can be isolating, and it can be really difficult. But it forces you to think more thoughtfully about this world, not just blindly accept how it’s structured, but really think, how can I improve it?” he says.
Rather than succumb to loneliness, Simon encourages others to view it as an opportunity to shape their own journey and find what’s right for them. “There is this duality of, are you lost or are you free? And you need to have incredible mental strength in order to be able to not feel lost, but instead feel this sense of freedom and opportunity,” he advises.
His advice to aspiring LGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs is to embrace their uniqueness and use it to their advantage. “Remember that everyone feels crushed or lost at times. You’re not crazy; you’re a normal person reacting normally to a crazy experience.”
