The death tech industry grew as digital solutions reshape how societies handle end-of-life planning, memorialization, and funeral services.

This is driven in part by technological integration that empowers personalization and convenience in traditionally ritual-focused services. It is reflected in a startup ecosystem in which out of 948 death tech companies worldwide, 162 have secured private equity funding. This funding totals about USD 837 million, with dozens achieving growth rounds above Series A.

Startups in this space range from platforms that aid families plan and manage funerals online while also enabling the creation of virtual personalized memorials.

Additionally, companies focus on biodegradable urns and tech-enabled keepsakes, offering more sustainable and digitally integrated solutions.

For example, a domain-focused startup like Past Post uses blockchain to secure posthumous messaging and last wills. They preserve information immutably as part of the digital afterlife infrastructure. Titan Casket provides online direct-to-consumer casket solutions that simplify purchasing for families.

The startups highlighted below work across different areas of the death tech landscape, introducing solutions that rethink how people plan, memorialize, and manage end-of-life matters in an increasingly digital world.

  1. Eternal Applications (USA): Secure Afterlife Messaging Platform
  2. 1Director (USA): Funeral Home Operations Platform
  3. Mangohada (South Korea): AI-Powered Will Creation App
  4. Uitvaartstudio (Netherlands): Personalized Funeral Planning Platform
  5. Willow Stories (France): Collaborative Digital Memorial Platform
  6. Ownleaf (UK): HR Bereavement Management Platform
  7. Itterno (Denmark): Deceased Digital Account Management Solution
  8. Griefity (New Zealand): Grief Support & Mental Wellness App
  9. estateXchange (Australia): Digital Deceased Estate Administration Platform
  10. LastWish (Brazil): Digital Succession & Estate Planning Platform

 

 

Emerging Death Tech Startups: Where Technology Meets Legacy

1. Eternal Applications – Afterlife Messaging

  • Founding Year: 2023
  • Location: Cambridge, MA, USA

US-based startup Eternal Applications operates a secure afterlife messaging platform that stores personal written, audio, and video communications for future distribution to specific family members and friends.

Users create customized messages, assign specific delivery dates or life events, and designate an administrator who notifies the system when a user passes away. The platform then sends a secure link directly to the intended recipients, directing them to view and download the digital files. Furthermore, the company provides continuous editing capabilities, giving individuals the flexibility to update their content, change recipients, or adjust delivery timelines at any time.

Additionally, it ensures data privacy through encryption and centralized servers, offering a reliable alternative to fragile physical drives or vulnerable personal devices.

2. 1Director – Funeral Home Platform

  • Founding Year: 2023
  • Location: Madison, Wisconsin, USA

1Director is a US-based startup that provides an integrated software platform that helps funeral home operators manage daily logistics and client interactions from a centralized digital workspace.

Specifically, the system consolidates case management workflows, family collaboration portals, and payment processing tools into a single interface for routine administrative tasks. Furthermore, it includes real-time body tracking, an artificial intelligence obituary writer, and automated memorial video creation that collectively reduce redundant data entry for the staff.

This delivers a practical operational solution that streamlines funeral arrangements and keeps relatives informed and connected throughout the entire planning process.

3. Mangohada – AI Will Creation

  • Founding Year: 2023
  • Location: Chuncheon, South Korea

Mangohada is a South Korean startup that provides an AI-powered mobile platform that simplifies the process of writing legally binding wills and planning for end-of-life care. The application analyzes casual, diary-style text entries to verify legal requisites and formats them into valid documents while connecting users with lawyers and funeral directors.

It features a secure digital archive that utilizes blockchain technology to maintain the integrity of records and automatically notifies beneficiaries when necessary. This approach enables individuals to define their legacy clearly on their own terms, which minimizes potential family disputes and supports a dignified life conclusion.

4. Uitvaartstudio – Funeral Planning Platform

  • Founding Year: 2023
  • Location: Maastricht, Netherlands

Dutch startup Uitvaartstudio offers a planning platform that orchestrates personalized funeral ceremonies. It connects families with experienced directors who guide them through every step of the planning process.

The startup operates by translating personal stories and specific memories into tangible elements of the service, ranging from location decor to unique rituals. It favors a creative philosophy that focuses on capturing the essence of the deceased in a colorful and authentic manner. Administrators handle all logistical burdens, including legal documentation and catering, while providing digital tools for pre-planning and online memorials to support the bereaved.

5. Willow Stories – Collaborative Storytelling

  • Founding Year: 2024
  • Location: Paris, France
  • Funding: EUR 700K pre-seed/seed

Willow Stories is a French startup that constructs a collaborative digital environment for the comprehensive collection and preservation of personal stories and family histories. The platform functions by distributing guided prompts to friends and relatives, who actively submit personal anecdotes, photographs, and letters through a shared, secure interface.

It subsequently compiles these diverse contributions into a unified, lasting memorial site that organizes dispersed memories into a coherent and accessible timeline. This service secures intangible family heritage against loss, serving as a vital resource for collective grieving.

 

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6. Ownleaf – HR Bereavement Platform

  • Founding Year: 2024
  • Location: London, UK

UK-based startup Ownleaf provides a specialized bereavement support platform that assists HR departments in managing the sensitive challenges of grief within the workplace. The company equips managers with digital tools, practical training, and structured workflows to guide teams through the complex logistics of employee loss.

It includes essential resources for developing policies and facilitates open communication to support both the grieving individual and their colleagues. This promotes a compassionate organizational culture while actively minimizing the economic costs associated with absenteeism and reduced productivity.

7. Itterno – Deceased Account Management

  • Founding Year: 2024
  • Location: Copenhagen, Denmark

Itterno is a Danish startup that delivers a digital legacy platform designed to manage and resolve the online presence of deceased individuals for their surviving relatives. This bridges the gap between traditional end-of-life care and the digital world by helping funeral directors and estate planners administer online assets efficiently.

This system protects sensitive data, preserves cherished memories, and simplifies the often difficult process of closing or memorializing social media and service accounts. The service alleviates significant administrative stress on grieving families while ensuring that digital identities receive the same respect and care as physical estates.

8. Griefity – Grief Support App

  • Founding Year: 2023
  • Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Kiwi startup Griefity offers a mobile application designed to assist individuals navigating the complex and personal challenges of loss and bereavement. Specifically, it guides users through their unique experience by delivering daily support modules, emotional management exercises, and educational content regarding the grieving process.

Furthermore, the platform features a supportive community interface where members share experiences and access specialized tools like journaling prompts for processing difficult emotions. This ensures that customers don’t face tragedy alone by providing accessible connections to understanding peer networks and professional mental health resources.

9. estateXchange – Deceased Estate Management

  • Founding Year: 2023
  • Location: Melbourne, Australia

estateXchange is an Australian company that connects professional estate representatives through a secure digital platform to streamline the administration of deceased estates and death benefit claims. It centralizes communication in dedicated workspaces where users efficiently exchange documentation and verify critical details like death certificates and grants of representation directly from official sources.

It also features automated tools for electronic identity verification that reduce fraud risks while maintaining strict compliance and ISO-certified security protocols. This accelerates asset realization and minimizes administrative duplication.

10. LastWish – Succession Planning Platform

  • Founding Year: 2024
  • Location: Sao Paolo, Brazil

Brazilian startup LastWish provides a digital platform for succession planning and estate management to help individuals organize their final affairs with precision and care. It enables users to register valid digital wills, calculate inventory costs, and store essential documents in a secure online environment for future access.

Its specialized tools also include time capsule messages for loved ones and detailed instructions for funeral ceremonies that make sure personal wishes receive proper attention.

Scope and Methodology

This research leverages the StartUs Insights Discovery Platform, covering over 9M+ global companies, 25K+ technologies and trends, and 190M+ patents, news articles, and market reports.

Through advanced trend mapping and startup scouting, we analyzed 720+ death tech startups and scaleups worldwide to uncover emerging innovation patterns across digital legacy management, AI-powered memorialization, sustainable burial solutions, and more.

Our analysis reveals strong startup activity in the USA and India, followed by the UK, with London, New York, Bangalore, San Francisco, and Singapore emerging as key Death Tech innovation hubs driven by aging demographics, digital asset growth, and increasing demand for sustainable and tech-enabled end-of-life services.