The Huxley Foundation

From a privileged childhood on the west coast of Sweden, rooted in a well-established industrialist family, Albert Hobohm’s life was irrevocably changed by his mother's sudden death during his teenage years. This tragedy plunged him into a journey through mental health challenges, a journey that sparked a burning interest in changing the world for the better, particularly in the realm of mental health.

Today, Hobohm stands as a pioneer in the philanthropic landscape, having left a high-powered consultancy role at McKinsey and distancing himself from the family business to redefine his life’s purpose. His approach to philanthropy is meticulously methodical yet profoundly personal, informed by his own struggles and triumphs.

Albert Hobohm’s Huxley Foundation isn’t your typical charitable endeavor. With a focus on groundbreaking clinical research into psychedelic substances like psilocybin, the foundation seeks transformative treatments for severe mental illnesses such as depression and PTSD. Hobohm’s involvement is deeply personal, driven by his quest for solutions that could have once helped his younger self —and might now help others.

“Helping others helps me too,” Hobohm admits, sitting back in his minimalist office, surrounded by stark reminders of both his corporate and philanthropic lives. “The engagement in psychedelic therapy, largely undiscovered in Europe, represents a frontier where, with minimal resources, one can make substantial impacts.”

The Huxley enterprise is divided into three strategic arms: Huxley Invest focuses on long-term capital management with an ethical lens; Huxley Venture fuels startups; and at the heart of it all, Huxley Foundation champions clinical research and therapy, sponsoring programs for young adults through the innovative 1825 initiative.

Explaining his diversified approach, Hobohm describes giving what he calls an “exploratory ticket”—a modest initial funding that allows him to assess a project's potential and its key personnel. "We set aquantitative success factor for where they should be in six months,” he explains, his voice carrying the weight of both his investment savvy and his commitment to ethical rigor.

The shift towards philanthropy wasn't abrupt but was catalysed by his personal loss and a profound realisation during his volunteering trips to Africa. "Money up to a certain level is freedom. The rest is responsibility,” a family friend once told him, a mantra that has guided much of Hobohm’s decisions.

In 2022, he took a significant step: resigning from McKinsey, leaving the corporate world entirely to devote himself fully to the Huxley Foundation. "Before, I didn't own my time at all and couldn’t even take care of my health or myself. Now, I've outlined my life plan on how I want to live and make a difference."

While the foundation currently emphasises mental health, Hobohm is passionate about addressing global poverty, influenced by his time in Ghana and India. These plans, he says, will materialise in duetime. For now, his focus remains sharp on mental health, an area where he believes he can execute his vision most effectively.

“As I navigate the ecosystem around these issues, becoming truly adept at this, there's nothing wrong with having multiple focus areas in philanthropy—but if you want to get closer to executing, it’s easier by focusing on one issue at a time.”

Albert Hobohm’s story is one of tragedy turned into proactive compassion, demonstrating how personal hardship can translate into public good—a narrative of healing, hope, and the relentless pursuit of a better world for all.