4 ms·

1000Memories (YC S10) Raises $2.5 Million to Digitally Memorialize Loved Ones

47 points by Harj 16y ago

oldstrangers 16y ago
I've always been curious about 1000Memories. Namely, is it more difficult to have fun with a product/company that centers around death? As a young startup, I'm sure the guys at 1000Memories have their fair share of fun and silliness. But if I walked into their office would there be a bunch of typical silly startup stuff all over the office? And perhaps more importantly, would that stuff be considered inappropriate? If I walked into a funeral home and saw a kegerator and some skate boards I might be a little weirded out. I wonder how often these guys run into philosophical problems that warrant serious board room time. Just to be clear, I'm not knocking 1000Memories, I'm just generally curious.
- kin 16y ago
  I would assume that though this thought may come up, it's more likely considering the positive nature of 1000Memories that they don't run into such philosophical problems. The site, to me, is more of a post-mourn/grief period where one remembers another in memory positively. I don't grieve when I use the site but rather reminisce. And, in general I would say that the majority of current entries are around famous people where people remember their awesomeness and not just their death. But that's just my assumption, I really don't know what these guys think day to day.
- michaelfairley 16y ago
  As one of the first hires at 1000Memories, I can definitely say that we have plenty of fun, and that the office is an upbeat place. Part of the reason we can do this is that we don't consider ourselves as being centered around death, but rather as being centered around life. We view our site as a place where friends and family can come to celebrate, rather than to mourn. Most of the design on our site reflects this intention, and most of the memory pages on our site fit this theme. Occasionally, there are tragic stories shared on our site, and we're certainly saddened by them, but most of our memory pages have a celebratory and upbeat tone. If anyone's interested in coming by and seeing our office (in the Mission in SF), feel free to shoot me and email and we'd be glad to show you around.
  - ebaysucks 16y ago
    That's a great way to look at it. You're creating memories online where they didn't exist before. You're celebrating life.
richcollins 16y ago
Wonder what working on a company where you are constantly confronted by death does to morale.
- pg 16y ago
  That was actually the biggest question we had for them when they decided to work on this idea. They decided they were up to it, and they seem to have been right. I think if you're sufficiently benevolent, the thought of the good you're doing counterbalances having to deal with death all the time.
- forgottenpaswrd 16y ago
  Some doctors and nurses have to deal with it almost daily, you can ask them. My uncle is an oncologist and says what affects him the most is seeing children die from leukemia and similar illnesses. You can handle old people dying, it is natural, but children affects you deeply.
kno 16y ago
How will this company make money?
- theklub 16y ago
  Exploiting death like a funeral home. Think about it... And I don't mean exploit in a bad way.
  - redorb 16y ago
    one method could be a service for keeping it up after x amount of months/years... make the price point really low like $12/yr billed yearly. then its a volume game.
- aridiculous 16y ago
  But really, though. How will it make money if it doesn't sell ads? Future business extensions? I'm not being cynical or critical, I'd just genuinely be interested since a lot of smart people invested in it.
  - benologist 16y ago
    One obvious way is to get the memories onto physical media or devices and sell it - a 1000 memories digital photo frame or album for instance.
forgottenpaswrd 16y ago
Wow, looking at the site I feel like an elefant around Elephant's graveyard. It makes me remember people I loved and feel the lost... even when I don't know any of the people on the pictures.
troymc 16y ago
There's a related thing that happens in the virtual world Second Life (SL). Many SL residents have passed away over the years and it's common for the friends and family of the deceased to build a statue or other memorial object. People leave flowers when they visit. There are even graveyards and memorial parks with several memorials collected together.
sushumna 16y ago
I saw this website a month ago. I am not interested in Business perspective about this website.But, I think its a good way to pay tribute to your loved ones and share your feelings/memories with your friends/relatives.
momotomo 16y ago
Oh, heck. I'd avoided 1000M for a while because I was expecting to find it pretty tacky, but after having browsed a few profiles, it's quite moving (especially considering I don't know the people in the profiles). Excellent job, wish you guys all the best with this.

47 points by Harj 16y ago

I've always been curious about 1000Memories. Namely, is it more difficult to have fun with a product/company that centers around death? As a young startup, I'm sure the guys at 1000Memories have their fair share of fun and silliness. But if I walked into their office would there be a bunch of typical silly startup stuff all over the office? And perhaps more importantly, would that stuff be considered inappropriate? If I walked into a funeral home and saw a kegerator and some skate boards I might be a little weirded out. I wonder how often these guys run into philosophical problems that warrant serious board room time. Just to be clear, I'm not knocking 1000Memories, I'm just generally curious.

kin 16y ago
I would assume that though this thought may come up, it's more likely considering the positive nature of 1000Memories that they don't run into such philosophical problems. The site, to me, is more of a post-mourn/grief period where one remembers another in memory positively. I don't grieve when I use the site but rather reminisce. And, in general I would say that the majority of current entries are around famous people where people remember their awesomeness and not just their death. But that's just my assumption, I really don't know what these guys think day to day.
michaelfairley 16y ago
As one of the first hires at 1000Memories, I can definitely say that we have plenty of fun, and that the office is an upbeat place. Part of the reason we can do this is that we don't consider ourselves as being centered around death, but rather as being centered around life. We view our site as a place where friends and family can come to celebrate, rather than to mourn. Most of the design on our site reflects this intention, and most of the memory pages on our site fit this theme. Occasionally, there are tragic stories shared on our site, and we're certainly saddened by them, but most of our memory pages have a celebratory and upbeat tone. If anyone's interested in coming by and seeing our office (in the Mission in SF), feel free to shoot me and email and we'd be glad to show you around.
- ebaysucks 16y ago
  That's a great way to look at it. You're creating memories online where they didn't exist before. You're celebrating life.

richcollins 16y ago

Wonder what working on a company where you are constantly confronted by death does to morale.

pg 16y ago
That was actually the biggest question we had for them when they decided to work on this idea. They decided they were up to it, and they seem to have been right. I think if you're sufficiently benevolent, the thought of the good you're doing counterbalances having to deal with death all the time.
forgottenpaswrd 16y ago
Some doctors and nurses have to deal with it almost daily, you can ask them. My uncle is an oncologist and says what affects him the most is seeing children die from leukemia and similar illnesses. You can handle old people dying, it is natural, but children affects you deeply.

kno 16y ago

How will this company make money?

theklub 16y ago
Exploiting death like a funeral home. Think about it... And I don't mean exploit in a bad way.
- redorb 16y ago
  one method could be a service for keeping it up after x amount of months/years... make the price point really low like $12/yr billed yearly. then its a volume game.
aridiculous 16y ago
But really, though. How will it make money if it doesn't sell ads? Future business extensions? I'm not being cynical or critical, I'd just genuinely be interested since a lot of smart people invested in it.
- benologist 16y ago
  One obvious way is to get the memories onto physical media or devices and sell it - a 1000 memories digital photo frame or album for instance.

forgottenpaswrd 16y ago

Wow, looking at the site I feel like an elefant around Elephant's graveyard. It makes me remember people I loved and feel the lost... even when I don't know any of the people on the pictures.

troymc 16y ago

There's a related thing that happens in the virtual world Second Life (SL). Many SL residents have passed away over the years and it's common for the friends and family of the deceased to build a statue or other memorial object. People leave flowers when they visit. There are even graveyards and memorial parks with several memorials collected together.

sushumna 16y ago

I saw this website a month ago. I am not interested in Business perspective about this website.But, I think its a good way to pay tribute to your loved ones and share your feelings/memories with your friends/relatives.

momotomo 16y ago

Oh, heck. I'd avoided 1000M for a while because I was expecting to find it pretty tacky, but after having browsed a few profiles, it's quite moving (especially considering I don't know the people in the profiles). Excellent job, wish you guys all the best with this.