My Big Idea: bereavement platform Legacy Compass

Hi! What's your elevator pitch?‍

Legacy Compass is a digital platform that empowers individuals and families to share essential information and precious memories, strengthening relationships and transforming the experience of loss into a tool for a better life. Through a holistic, human-centered approach, we provide emotional and practical support during one of life's most challenging transitions.

What does the market need it?‍

The end-of-life sector lacks accessible, practical, and human-centered resources for navigating caregiving and loss. Current tools often fail to integrate emotional and practical dimensions, leaving individuals unsupported during emotional and financial upheaval. With one in five people projected to be diagnosed with serious illnesses like cancer or dementia by 2040 and Europe's aging population increasing, caregiving and aging have become pressing issues. Legacy Compass addresses these gaps by combining storytelling and practical solutions to foster behavioral and cultural change, breaking the taboo surrounding end-of-life discussions.

Where is the business today?‍

Legacy Compass is a London-based startup. Initially conceived in Italy as a tech for good platform launched in 2022 from my personal experience of loss, the platform evolved into Legacy Compass Limited in August 2023. With a no code MVP live and receiving feedback, we are now generating early revenue through workshops for corporates and startups focused on navigating loss and legacy planning. We’re currently running a crowdfunding campaign to refine our model, gather feedback, and achieve broader media recognition. The company has a presence in both the UK and Italy, supported by volunteers.

What made you think there was money in this? How did you research the niche?‍

My personal life experience revealed the financial and emotional costs of caregiving and loss. My family spent over £18k on caregiving and another £27k on estate settlement services, legal and taxes post death. The lack of transparency and support in this opaque market highlighted an opportunity to offer accessible, affordable, and clear solutions. The growing financial burden on families navigating loss indicates a market ready for disruption.

What's wrong with your competitors?‍

Competitors typically focus on either the emotional or practical side of end-of-life care but fail to address the intersection of these challenges. They also often rely solely on B2C models, which demand significant consumer education and behavioral change. Additionally, many neglect distribution strategies that leverage trusted networks, such as charities, which are essential for building credibility in this sensitive market. Legacy Compass combines emotional storytelling with practical resources and leverages partnerships with charities to establish trust and scale effectively.

What's your biggest strength?‍

My determination and passion stem from my personal journey through loss. Combined with a professional background in business development and social impact, I’m able to make strategic, resource-efficient decisions in a challenging market. My ability to balance empathy and practicality ensures that Legacy Compass remains human-centered while addressing users' tangible needs.

What is the secret to making the business work?‍

The key lies in creating a product that people not only find useful but also love. It must be beautiful, soothing, and simple to use, transforming loss into an opportunity for connection and growth. Trust is fundamental—whether with stakeholders, partners, or users—so we prioritize empathetic and human-centered design to avoid overwhelming those already navigating complex emotions. Authentic relationship building and partnerships are also key to our sales and distribution.

How do you market the company?‍

Our marketing is deeply tied to my personal story, enabling authenticity while requiring sensitivity. We position Legacy Compass as a tool for empowerment rather than fear, focusing on creating positive, soothing messaging. Strategic partnerships with charities and community organisations amplify our reach, while storytelling helps resonate with users and stakeholders alike.

What funding do you have? Is it enough?‍

We have received grants and generated some revenue delivering workshops to businesses and individuals, and are currently crowdfunding. The campaign is critical to further develop the platform and refine our go-to-market strategy. We have just completed our first funding round.

Supporters on Kickstarter backed us by picking a reward. They go from £10 till £3k, and include workshops on financial and legacy planning, writing prompts to connect with your loved ones, access to the platform and also speaking engagements to raise awareness on these topics. Have a look here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/legacycompass/transform-loss-into-a-tool-for-life-with-legacy-compass

Tell us about the business model‍

Crucial points to consider were the intervention point, the GTM strategy and the cost of acquistion. Many startups have encountered challenges because the problem they were solving was not important and urgent. For this reason, our entry point is when there is a terminal illness diagnoses, and thus the problem of facing death becomes important AND urgent.

The GTM strategy is also key, as death is one very important moment in anybody’s life where we don’t necessarily “trust” Google, but we rather turn to people we really trust, such as friends, family and healthcare professionals, hence our collaboration with charities. Our current model is B2B, offering services to corporates as part of employee benefit and talent retention programs. The B2B route is more sustainable than B2C, which faces high acquisition costs and market education challenges. By partnering with charities, we access user bases and build credibility while reducing marketing overheads. We also recognize the long sales cycles of B2B and are prepared to navigate this for sustainable growth.

What were you doing before?

I have a diverse background spanning geopolitics, social entrepreneurship, and business development. Between 2015 and 2019, I successfully launched two social impact startups in Italy. My journey has been deeply shaped by personal experiences, such as the loss of both parents, which motivated me to create platforms like Lasae, the first Italian platform dedicated to navigating grief, and Legacy Compass.

In 2023, I was selected as one of 500 by Zinc VC, a recognition that enabled me to scale my work internationally. I’ve also cultivated strong skills in PR and storytelling, I have trained more than 200 professionals in storytelling and vulnerability.

My work in fundraising and partnerships has secured €280,000 for social impact projects, and I’ve successfully managed 13 partnerships with budgets totaling €1.2 million. These collective experiences, both personal and professional, have been instrumental in building Legacy Compass into a business that blends emotional depth with strategic innovation.

What technologies have you found useful?‍

We use no-code platforms for rapid iteration and development, enabling agility while keeping costs low. Additionally, tools for user research and storytelling have been crucial in designing an emotionally intelligent and accessible product. As a team, we use many AI tools that have dramatically helped our work: Turboscribe, Loom, Deepl, Gmass, We connect.

What is the future vision?‍

Our vision is to establish Legacy Compass as a trusted global brand in end-of-life care, supporting families through storytelling and practical tools. We aim to expand our B2B offerings while continuously evolving our platform based on user feedback, ultimately creating a world where loss is not anymore met with fear and isolation. On the contrary, it sparkle resilience and connection, becoming a tool to live life to the fullest and nurture the most important relationships we have