Mary Furlong

Mary Furlong, Ed.D., serves as president and CEO of Mary Furlong & Associates (MFA), and is recognized as a leading expert on longevity and the AgeTech market. She has more than 30 years of experience guiding the business development and marketing strategies of prominent corporations, startups, and nonprofit organizations. Mary has secured more than $300 million in venture financing and corporate sponsorships for companies with products and services to serve the needs of older adults.

Her educational credentials include a Doctorate in Curriculum and Education Technology from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor's Degree in History and Philosophy from Holy Names University. Mary founded MFA in 2003 to help socially- and consumer-conscious companies understand the real needs of this growing market. At the helm of MFA, Mary launched the What's Next brand of events, including the What's Next Longevity Business Summit, the What's Next Longevity Venture Summit, the What's Next Longevity Innovation Summit, the What's Next Academy, and two podcasts.

Career history

• Founder and CEO of Mary Furlong & Associates (2003–present)
• Founder of ThirdAge Media (1996); CEO when ThirdAge Media reached more than two million members, most of whom were aged 45 and older
• Founder of SeniorNet nonprofit organization (1986); during her tenure, SeniorNet served more than 500,000 adults aged 50 and older
• White House Commissioner on Libraries and Information Science during the Clinton administration
• Dean's Executive Professor of Entrepreneurship at Santa Clara University's Leavey School of Business (2002–present)

In 2001, Fortune Small Business named Mary one of its "Top 25 Women Entrepreneurs," and in 1999, Time Magazine honored her as one of its "Digital 50." She was named the first recipient of the Aging2.0 Lifetime Achievement Award, part of the annual OPTIMIZE Awards program. In 2026, Mary was named one of the Inspiring Women of San Francisco by the San Francisco Examiner and Nob Hill Gazette.

What Mary Furlong could bring to her current role at Mary Furlong & Associates: With over three decades of experience launching and scaling ventures focused on older adults, combined with her demonstrated ability to secure over $300 million in venture financing and build networks connecting innovators to investors, Mary brings proven expertise in identifying market opportunities in the longevity economy, strategic business development, and fostering entrepreneurship within the aging sector. Her academic background in curriculum and education technology, paired with her ongoing role as an executive professor, positions her to deliver thought leadership and strategic guidance to entrepreneurs navigating the rapidly growing $8.3 trillion longevity marketplace.