4 ms·

Macabre though it may be, I've often thought about submitting a YC proposal for a startup that provides professional executor services for those who are facing

Macabre though it may be, I've often thought about submitting a YC proposal for a startup that provides professional executor services for those who are facing death alone. Demand is only going to increase as time goes by and, as many internet articles show, it can be difficult to find an executor that one trusts if they have a small social circle.

bennettnate5 3y ago
Just to clarify for everyone (because I totally misread this the first time): Executor - A person officially appointed to carry out your will after you have passed Executioner - A person officially appointed to carry out your passing
- knodi123 3y ago
  although in both cases, Trust is very important.
- rightbyte 3y ago
  There have to been fatal mixups regarding this. Maybe not as bad as "inflammable".
  - hatthew 3y ago
    I will never not be upset with the world for deciding that flammable and inflammable are synonyms
- ASUfool 3y ago
  As the executor of my dad's estate, he would have fun with the similar words and call me his ex eh cuter. Thanks for reminding me of our shared joy of words. :) R.I.P. Dad.
echion 3y ago
hmu
michaelt 3y ago
In the UK, some solicitors and accountants already provide this service. They don't market it as "facing death alone" though, they market it more as "giving the family time to grieve" and "getting complex paperwork right"
throw0101c 3y ago
> a YC proposal for a startup that provides professional executor services There are law firms already doing this. From a quick search of my area (Toronto, Canada): * https://www.millsandmills.ca/areas-of-practice/wills-estates-trusts/estate-trustee-services/ https://www.millsandmills.ca/areas-of-practice/wills-estates... * https://ontario-probate.ca/estate-administration-executor-service/ https://ontario-probate.ca/estate-administration-executor-se... * https://mcdonaldestateservices.ca/services https://mcdonaldestateservices.ca/services
azinman2 3y ago
Seems odd to make that a VC-backed entity. That said I think the most important aspect is knowing the service will be around when you die. Updating wills, plans is expensive, and if someone has dementia etc and this goes bust because 90% of “startups” do, then that’s a real problem.
- resolutebat 3y ago
  But just imagine all the "growth hacks" you could do, both to increase the dearly departed clientele and the amount of profit you could extract from them!
  - TeMPOraL 3y ago
    That's a tough market to break into. Pretty much everything servicing people past the age of retirement is already set up to suck out maximum amount of wealth from their "customers" before they pass. GGP's best chance is to simultaneously expand and capture the younger side of the market. To move fast, they might need to break some things, ignore ethics, laws, or basic human decency here and there - all par for the course for a modern VC-backed startup.
ebiester 3y ago
Lawyers already do this. What would you have as a value add?
- TeMPOraL 3y ago
  An app!
razakel 3y ago
Almost every law firm already offers this. What would you bring to the table? Counselling on the prospect of facing death?

bennettnate5 3y ago

Just to clarify for everyone (because I totally misread this the first time): Executor - A person officially appointed to carry out your will after you have passed Executioner - A person officially appointed to carry out your passing

knodi123 3y ago
although in both cases, Trust is very important.
rightbyte 3y ago
There have to been fatal mixups regarding this. Maybe not as bad as "inflammable".
- hatthew 3y ago
  I will never not be upset with the world for deciding that flammable and inflammable are synonyms
ASUfool 3y ago
As the executor of my dad's estate, he would have fun with the similar words and call me his ex eh cuter. Thanks for reminding me of our shared joy of words. :) R.I.P. Dad.

echion 3y ago

hmu

michaelt 3y ago

In the UK, some solicitors and accountants already provide this service. They don't market it as "facing death alone" though, they market it more as "giving the family time to grieve" and "getting complex paperwork right"

throw0101c 3y ago

> a YC proposal for a startup that provides professional executor services There are law firms already doing this. From a quick search of my area (Toronto, Canada): * https://www.millsandmills.ca/areas-of-practice/wills-estates-trusts/estate-trustee-services/ https://www.millsandmills.ca/areas-of-practice/wills-estates... * https://ontario-probate.ca/estate-administration-executor-service/ https://ontario-probate.ca/estate-administration-executor-se... * https://mcdonaldestateservices.ca/services https://mcdonaldestateservices.ca/services

azinman2 3y ago

Seems odd to make that a VC-backed entity. That said I think the most important aspect is knowing the service will be around when you die. Updating wills, plans is expensive, and if someone has dementia etc and this goes bust because 90% of “startups” do, then that’s a real problem.

resolutebat 3y ago
But just imagine all the "growth hacks" you could do, both to increase the dearly departed clientele and the amount of profit you could extract from them!
- TeMPOraL 3y ago
  That's a tough market to break into. Pretty much everything servicing people past the age of retirement is already set up to suck out maximum amount of wealth from their "customers" before they pass. GGP's best chance is to simultaneously expand and capture the younger side of the market. To move fast, they might need to break some things, ignore ethics, laws, or basic human decency here and there - all par for the course for a modern VC-backed startup.

ebiester 3y ago

Lawyers already do this. What would you have as a value add?

TeMPOraL 3y ago
An app!

razakel 3y ago

Almost every law firm already offers this. What would you bring to the table? Counselling on the prospect of facing death?