For this week’s feature, we are talking to Cheryl Lardner and David Bye, co-founders of the venture Wishkeeper, an online platform that helps preserve the memory of one’s departed loved ones by safekeeping their memories, documenting their milestones, and managing their important documents such as wills, titles, insurances, and superannuation policies. Wishkeeper was borne out of the personal experiences of the founders who sought to help ease the worries of those left behind while ensuring the last wishes of their departed loved ones are honoured.
Why was it important for you to bring a platform such as Wishkeeper to the market?
DB: Too many families are left in turmoil, when a loved one passes away and they are not able to access important documentation, like insurance policies, knowing where their will is, right through to the instructions and guidance relating to the type of farewell they’d like. Wishkeeper removes the guessing game for families and arms them with the information and instructions they need at a time they need it most.
How has your personal experience/s helped guide you in developing the platform into what it is now?
CL: We have both experienced the loss of someone we love, both expected and unexpected. For me, the loss of her Mum without knowing any of her final wishes really hit home around how vital these kinds of conversations are well before you need to have them. For David, surviving a major heart attack at the age of 46 abruptly showed him how he would have left his family in a complete mess, had he not pulled through.
How do you make Wishkeeper stand out from other online storage services and similar technologies?
DB: Wishkeeper’s unique services offers a complete solution for individuals and families to manage and organise important aspects of their lives. Individuals can store and share legal, financial, household, in fact, any digital information, in a very secure and accessible way. But the real magic of Wishkeeper is in the way all that information can be shared both now, and also after the individual has passed away, with the people that matter most to them – we call these people Ambassadors, and you can invite up to 10 people.
In what way has the platform helped in encouraging conversations about taboo matters such as death?
CL: Wishkeeper opens up conversations about difficult topics like death. It’s often hard to start these discussions, but our platform, with its many categories, helps pinpoint what needs to be planned. This encourages open communication with loved ones and makes sharing wishes straightforward and less daunting. You also easily see any gaps in your planning and who to turn to for help, as well as share information with your loved ones through the dynamic Ambassador sharing functionality.
What is your vision for Wishkeeper for the next couple of years?
DB: We have a clear vision for Wishkeeper to become a household name. We believe no families should be left guessing or in the dark, should something happen to you. We’re also excited about our new feature, WishkeeperCONNECT which allows professional services and member-based organisations to securely share documents with their clients within the Wishkeeper ecosystem, documents that can then be stored in your Wishkeeper. This is also providing services in the financial, insurance, and travel sectors the opportunity to give their clients their own Wishkeeper, taking the client experience to a new and innovative level.
What is the most important lesson you have learned in this business journey that you are eager to impart to someone with a potential business idea?
CL: Being entrepreneurs and founders is incredibly rewarding. But that doesn’t mean it hasn’t come with many challenges. Everyday, there has been a whole host of problems to solve, and so maintaining energy, enthusiasm, and clarity of thought has been crucial for Wishkeeper’s success. Committing to the strategy and the process, combined with belief and passion are at the forefront, enabling us to stay the course. And most importantly, surround yourself with people that can support you through the journey.
