What Alcor Life Extension Foundation does

Alcor Life Extension Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit scientific research foundation founded in 1972 by Fred and Linda Chamberlain in California, now headquartered at 7895 E Acoma Drive, Suite 110 in Scottsdale, Arizona. It provides human cryopreservation services — whole-body preservation at $220,000 and neuropreservation (head-only) at $80,000 — to approximately 1,535 members across 28 countries, with 263 patients currently maintained in long-term cryogenic storage at -196°C. The organization operates 24/7 in-house Deployment and Recovery Teams (DART) composed of Navy SEALs, ICU nurses, paramedics, and a traveling surgeon, providing rapid standby and stabilization upon legal death. Revenue is generated through one-time cryopreservation service fees, recurring annual membership dues, philanthropic donations (501(c)(3)), and a revenue-sharing funeral home partnership program called The Third Way. Membership growth is supplemented by life-insurance-funded payment arrangements.

The technical foundation centers on vitrification using the proprietary M22 cryoprotectant solution co-developed with 21st Century Medicine and Greg Fahy Ph.D., supported by a patented Medical Liquid Ventilation System and patented Vapor Exchange Transport Systems. Recent technology investments include an in-house whole-body CT scanner installed in 2025/2026 for real-time validation of cryoprotectant distribution, a Compact Neuro Perfusion System enabling CT scans during procedures, and a portable second field washout system for operating-room quality perfusion control in the field. Alcor maintains dedicated research programs in organ cryopreservation (porcine kidney experiments), brain slice cultures, and an early-stage antifreeze protein gene integration project, with a $5M Hal Finney Cryonics Research Fund and academic collaborations with Arizona State University, the University of Arizona, and 21st Century Medicine. Patient care funding is legally ringfenced through the IRS-approved Alcor Care Trust Supporting Organization (~$12.7M), the Alcor Endowment Trust (~$5.98M), and the Hal Finney Research Fund, providing perpetual care safeguards.

Name

Alcor Life Extension Foundation

Legal name

Alcor Life Extension Foundation

Website

https://alcor.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Alcor Life Extension Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1972 that provides human cryopreservation services — whole-body and neuropreservation — to 1,535 members across 28 countries, operating in-house DART emergency response teams and maintaining 263 patients in long-term cryogenic storage at its Scottsdale, Arizona facility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cryopreservation Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Cryopreservation, Biobanking & Cell Banking (Cord/Adipose/MSC) (HLAMANAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Blood, Organ & Tissue Donation Organizations (BPAGACAJ)

Keywords

• Cryopreservation services
• Human cryonics membership
• Emergency standby response
• Pet cryopreservation services
• Cryogenic patient storage

Headquarters

HQ city

Scottsdale

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Cryopreservation Membership Dues: Annual membership dues from 1,535 members covering operational costs, research, and facility maintenance. Membership includes access to standby services, cryopreservation, and long-term care.
2. Cryopreservation Service Fees: One-time fees for whole-body preservation ($220,000) or neuropreservation ($80,000) funded through life insurance or other arrangements. Ultra-wealthy clients represent approximately 20% of membership.
3. Donations: Member and supporter donations fund research equipment, DART expansion, and operations. Major donations include $5 million from Brad Armstrong for Hal Finney Cryonics Research Fund and seven-figure gift from Rothblatt family. Alcor is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
4. The Third Way Funeral Partner Program: Revenue-sharing partnerships with funeral homes through administrative fees per arrangement, insurance commissions for funding enrollment assistance, and per-case facility fees for partner facilities. Funeral homes earn revenue by presenting Alcor alongside burial and cremation options.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Alcor Life Extension Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that performs cryopreservation of humans and pets after legal death, with the goal of potential future revival through advances in technology. It offers whole-body and neuro cryopreservation to dues-paying members, supported by a Deployable Alert Response Team (DART) that provides rapid stabilization and transport for members approaching legal death. Members pay lifetime membership dues plus one-time preservation fees, with additional support drawn from donations and bequests.

Product overview

Alcor Life Extension Foundation is a nonprofit cryonics organization offering whole-body and neuropreservation services for human bodies at cryogenic temperatures. The organization operates a comprehensive platform consisting of core cryopreservation services (whole-body and neuropreservation), 24/7 DART (Deployment and Recovery Team) emergency response, a member portal for account management, pet cryopreservation options, and ongoing research programs including organ cryopreservation, cryostasis revival nanomedicine research, and antifreeze protein gene integration. Services are supported by proprietary technology including field washout systems, compact neuro perfusion systems, and in-house CT scanning capabilities. Founded in 1972 and based in Scottsdale, Arizona, Alcor serves approximately 1,535 members with 263 cryopreserved patients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Whole-Body Cryopreservation Full-body cryopreservation service that vitrifies and stores the entire deceased member at cryogenic temperatures (approximately -196°C) for potential future revival. Available to dues-paying members with a one-time preservation fee of approximately $220,000, typically funded through life insurance.
• Neuropreservation (Cephalic Isolation) Cryopreservation service that isolates and preserves the member's head/brain following legal death, based on the thesis that future revival technology may reconstruct the body from neural information. Priced at approximately $80,000 and available to dues-paying members.
• DART (Deployable Alert Response Team) Emergency Standby Emergency response service included with membership that dispatches trained personnel to a member's location when legal death is imminent, performing vitrification-compatible stabilization and transport to Alcor's facility. Designed to minimize ischemic delay and improve preservation quality.
• Pet Cryopreservation Cryopreservation service for companion animals, applying the same vitrification technology used for human patients. Available to pet owners whose owners are often existing Alcor members, at a price point below human cryopreservation.
• Alcor Membership Ongoing dues-paying membership that confers eligibility for whole-body, neuro, or pet cryopreservation, plus access to DART standby services, member resources, and governance rights in the nonprofit.

Quantifiable outcome

• 263 patients cryopreserved and maintained in long-term storage
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Funeral Homes (The Third Way Program)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAlcor partners with funeral homes through The Third Way program, positioning cryonics as a legitimate third option alongside burial and cremation. Funeral homes present Alcor to families, assist with life insurance funding, and provide prep room facilities. Alcor provides licensed medical personnel, equipment, protocols, logistics coordination, and marketing resources. Partners earn administrative fees, insurance commissions, and per-case facility fees above industry averages.
• International Cryonics Museum at Stanley HotelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with International Cryonics Museum at Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado. The museum houses educational exhibits on cryonics history and science, including Grandpa Bredo Morstøl who was transferred to the museum in August 2023. Alcor provides insider perspectives and educational resources for museum tours.
• 21st Century MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration with 21st Century Medicine, led by Greg Fahy Ph.D., key developer of M22 vitrification solution used by Alcor. Joint research on brain vitrification and preservation quality published in 2026.
• University of ArizonaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with University of Arizona finalized in early 2026 for neuroscience research partnership. Neurosurgery partnership nearly finalized for human brain tissue experiments.
• Greg Fahy Ph.D.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRenowned cryobiologist and key developer of M22 vitrification solution. Co-authored groundbreaking brain vitrification research with Alcor in 2026 examining whether M22 preserves brain ultrastructure.
• Peter DiamandisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFuturist, XPRIZE founder, and Singularity University founder. Met with CEO James Arrowood at Vitalist Bay conference for discussion on Alcor's progress and longevity technology development.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Yinfeng Cryonics: China's first cryonics organization, founded in 2015 in Shandong Province, offering whole-body and neuro cryopreservation services and conducting research collaborations with Chinese universities.
• Cryonics Institute: Founded in 1976 in Michigan, Cryonics Institute is Alcor's primary US-based direct competitor offering whole-body cryopreservation at lower price points (~$28K-$35K), serving a similar ultra-committed member base with comparable vitrification technology.
• KrioRus: Russian cryonics organization founded in 2005 operating cryopreservation facilities in Moscow region, offering whole-body and neuro services with comparable procedures and patient care protocols.
• Tomorrow Biostasis: Berlin-based startup founded in 2019 (formerly European Biostasis Foundation) offering cryopreservation services across Europe. Targets similar longevity/transhumanist customer segments with a more modern technology stack and brand positioning.
• Southern Cryonics: Australian cryonics startup founded in 2017 building cryopreservation storage facilities to serve Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia with whole-body and neuro services targeting similar longevity enthusiasts.

Emerging players

• 21st Century Medicine: Cryobiology research company and Alcor's key technology partner that developed the M22 vitrification solution. Conducts organ and tissue preservation research with overlapping scientific mission and shared personnel (Brian Wowk, Greg Fahy).
• Oregon Cryonics: Newer US-based cryonics organization operating in Oregon, offering similar cryopreservation services with an emphasis on direct-to-consumer simplicity and lower operational costs as a more nimble alternative to established providers.
• Nectome: Brain preservation startup pursuing high-fidelity neural preservation through chemical fixation rather than cryopreservation, targeting similar longevity/transhumanist customers with an alternative technical approach.

Others

• Suspended Animation: Florida-based company providing standby, stabilization, and transport services for cryonics organizations including Alcor. Functions as a B2B service provider and equipment supplier to the cryonics ecosystem rather than a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Altos Labs: Well-capitalized biotechnology company (>$3B raised) pursuing cellular rejuvenation and reprogramming as an alternative to cryonics for life extension. Represents a competing longevity paradigm that could reduce demand for traditional cryopreservation services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AlcorCryonics
• Facebookfacebook.com/alcor.life.extension.foundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alcor-life-extension-foundation

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Alcor Life Extension Foundation