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.
Mr Low’s entrepreneurial instincts kicked in, and he founded a start-up 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.
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 Mr 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 start-up conducted of 100 Singaporeans in November indicated that 70 per cent were comfortable sharing their loss experiences online, liveful noted.
Mr 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 (Mr 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.
Mr Low, who is also chief executive of the new start-up, noticed that people were often bogged down by the unfamiliar logistics and administration work of the funeral 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 are fragmented, said Mr Low.
“I hope that liveful offers a unified platform for Singaporeans seeking solace and guidance amid their loss,” he added, noting that the start-up will focus on the local market first before considering expansion in the future.
One of the potential challenges Mr Low foresees is ensuring that every step taken is in line 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.
CapitaLand Investment, through its corporate venturing arm which is supported by the CapitaLand Innovation Fund, and venture development firm Rainmaking Apac are jointly backing liveful’s launch and ongoing growth with funding and support.
“CapitaLand is exploring and experimenting with tech-enabled ventures that can enhance the real estate ecosystem as well as drive positive impact to the group and benefit the society at large,” said Ms Tan Bee Leng, managing director of digital ventures at CapitaLand Investment.
She added that liveful is CapitaLand’s first venture.
“We see its (liveful’s) potential in addressing a burgeoning need borne out of both societal and environmental trends,” said Ms Tan.
The need is more apparent in densely populated Asian cities with rapidly ageing populations that are facing challenges posed by urbanisation and land scarcity, and countries with large diasporas that are widely dispersed, she explained.
The app will soon be available on Google Play and Apple App Store.
Users will also be able to access the app on their computer via the firm’s website in 2024.
