SINGAPORE: The death of his two grandmothers made former finance executive Keng Low realise that more could be done to help people grieving the loss of loved ones.
Low’s entrepreneurial instincts kicked in, and he founded a startup called liveful to help people deal with the emotional and logistical challenges when a death occurs.
Liveful, which provides digital support to people going through the mourning process, has an app by the same name that began operating yesterday.
The app offers four main services, including a virtual 3D space that lets users capture memories of their loved ones.
“You can upload photos and videos of them, for example, your grandmother’s favourite cooking recipe, or audio recordings of her speaking,” said Low, who also has experience in the venture-capital sector.
Another feature is a digital box that can store a loved one’s passwords and financial account details, which will make it easier to execute the deceased’s will.
Users will also have access to a curated network of professional support partners such as therapy groups and funeral-service providers and can listen to ambassadors who share their personal experiences with loss.
A survey the startup conducted of 100 Singaporeans in November indicated that 70% were comfortable sharing their experiences of loss online, liveful noted.
Low was just 14 when he lost his first grandmother. The death of his second grandmother in 2023 steered him towards wanting to make the grieving process an easier one for other Singaporeans.
“The memory of her (Low’s first grandmother) is etched in my mind, but all we had to remember her by was a single, grainy black and white photograph that hardly captured the warm and loving person she was,” he said.
Low, who is also chief executive of the new startup, noticed that people were often bogged down by the unfamiliar logistics and administration work of the funeral process after those close to them died.
“They have to deal with all of that instead of being present in grief. I was struck by how little has changed in two decades in the way we navigate and commemorate our loved ones’ passing,” he added.
While social-media platforms like Instagram and Facebook have become outlets for memorialising loved ones, there remains a gap in cohesive support and resources, and grief-related services found online today are fragmented, said Low.
“I hope that liveful offers a unified platform for Singaporeans seeking solace and guidance amid their loss,” he added, noting that the startup will focus on the local market first before considering expansion in the future.
One of the potential challenges Low foresees is ensuring that every step taken is in tune with the cultural and emotional sensitivities of liveful’s audience.
“It’s about striking the right balance – being there for people in their moments of need while respecting the personal nature of grief,” he said.
Most of liveful’s features are free but some upgrades will require payment.
The app can be downloaded from the Google Play and iOS App Store.
Users can access it via their computer through the website in 2024. — The Straits Times/ANN
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