$101 million Healthspan competition, headed by Lifestyles Magazine/Meaningful Influence cover subject, philanthropist Anousheh Ansari is a global, seven-year effort that aims to solve humanity’s grand challenges through innovation

Anousheh Ansari is a visionary philanthropist whose work spans groundbreaking initiatives in healthcare, space exploration, and global sustainability.

Her latest adventure, the $101 million XPRIZE Healthspan competition, is a seven-year, global initiative designed to develop accessible therapies that extend muscle, cognitive, and immune function by at least 10 years in individuals aged 65 to 80—all within a single year.

This bold challenge not only aims to prolong life but also to enhance the quality of those added years by improving independence, vitality, and overall well-being. By compressing decades of health improvement into one year, the competition promises to drive revolutionary advances in medical science and technology.

Philanthropic vision extends well beyond healthcare. She actively champions various XPRIZE competitions that tackle urgent global challenges, including Carbon Removal and Wildfire Prevention: Initiatives addressing environmental sustainability. Space Exploration: The $10 million Ansari XPRIZE in 2004 spurred private space exploration by challenging teams to develop reusable manned spacecraft. STEM and Youth Empowerment: Support for organizations like the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Collin County Children’s Advocacy Center, fostering education and innovation among young people.

Her efforts also include co-founding The Billion Dollar Fund for Women, which successfully invested $1 billion in women-founded companies by 2020. This demonstrates her commitment to equitable and scalable solutions for pressing societal issues.

Under Ansari’s leadership at the XPRIZE Foundation, numerous competitions have sparked transformative innovations across diverse fields. Notable examples include Archon Genomics XPRIZE: Accelerated breakthroughs in rapid, accurate, and affordable genome sequencing.

Qualcomm Tricorder XPRIZE: Inspired the creation of portable diagnostic devices capable of detecting multiple medical conditions using sensors and AI.

Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE: Enabled faster, cost-effective ocean floor mapping, drastically reducing the time needed for global seabed mapping.

Global Learning XPRIZE: Fostered the development of scalable, open-source educational software that helps children worldwide acquire basic literacy and numeracy skills.

Carbon Removal XPRIZE: Supported innovative technologies, such as biochar and direct air capture, to remove CO₂ from the atmosphere.

Women’s Safety XPRIZE: Led to personal safety innovations like wearable devices for emergency alerts.

Drawing from her trailblazing career as an engineer, entrepreneur, and the first self-funded female space tourist, Ansari has consistently broken barriers and inspired countless individuals.

Her work underscores the belief that addressing global challenges requires a bold vision and collaborative action.

By supporting initiatives ranging from extending healthy lifespans to safeguarding our planet, Ansari is redefining what is possible and shaping a more equitable future for all.

In addition to Anousheh Ansari, the XPRIZE Healthspan competition received funding from the following contributors: