Pet Owners And Billionaires Invest In Cryonics To Resurrect Beloved Animals

Meet Kai Micah Mills, a 24-year-old entrepreneur from Utah, who dropped out of high school and spent his teenage years running Minecraft servers from his basement with his long-haired tabby cat named Cat. 

Don't Miss: Why Jason Calacanis and Other Silicon Valley Elites Are Betting On This Startups Vision For Re-Uniting American Families

Fast forward to today, and Mills has turned his focus to a more macabre business — cryonics. He founded Cryopets, a startup that aims to establish a network of veterinary clinics that provide regular checkups and emergency care. 

When a pet passes away, owners can preserve their beloved companions, and Cryopets will store them in a Utah facility at deep-freeze temperatures, awaiting the possibility of being brought back to life when science has advanced enough to do so.

Critics argue that the chances of successfully reviving a frozen pet are about as likely as finding a unicorn. They point out that the process of cryonics involves cooling the body rapidly and then storing it in liquid nitrogen. But naysayers feel that the damage done to the brain during the freezing process means that any memories or personality traits would be lost forever.

Despite the skepticism, cryonics companies are thriving and the number of people signing up for cryonic freezing is growing every year.

To stay updated with top startup investments, sign up for Benzinga’s Startup Investing & Equity Crowdfunding Newsletter

Mills hopes to expand to human preservation as the science matures and pet owners become more open to the idea. 

Although it may sound far-fetched, Mills has caught the attention of billionaire investor Peter Thiel, who awarded him a Thiel Fellowship of $100,000 to start a company. Thiel is a man who likes to invest in the future. He's one of the early pioneers of artificial intelligence, and he's been making big bets on the technology for years. As a co-founder of PayPal, Palantir Technologies and Founders Fund, he knows a thing or two about investing in the next big thing.

Mills spent the past year and a half fundraising, buying equipment and assembling a scientific advisory board. 

Cryopets' waitlist includes about 500 dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters and one monkey. With the longevity sector receiving $5.2 billion in financing last year, Mills believes the timing is right for his business.

For many people, the decision to freeze their pet is an emotional one. They simply can't bear the thought of never seeing their furry friend again. Cryonics offers some hope in an otherwise bleak situation.

Invest In Next Generation Technology

Billionaires aren’t the only one able to invest in the next generation of new, exciting and innovative technology. Equity crowdfunding platforms like StartEngine allow anyone to invest in new and innovative startups pioneering the next generation of future technology. Investors can claim a stake in nearly 100 companies for as little as a couple hundred bucks, including investing in StartEngine itself. 

See more on startup investing from Benzinga.

•  Collaborative Robots Startup Using Teams Of AI-Powered Drones To Make Flying Safer

• AI Startups Turn to Retail Investors To Fund the Growth of the $1.59 Trillion Artificial Intelligence Market