Eight years ago, Sara Tashakorinia faced the tragic death of her husband in a car accident. This loss was compounded by the overwhelming burden of administrative tasks, which typically require around 570 hours to handle after someone’s passing. For countless individuals, this experience merges grief with a daunting array of paperwork that needs to be managed.
“When a loved one dies, you suddenly find yourself thrust into the role of a project manager for a task you were completely unprepared for, trying to navigate unfamiliar territory with no prior knowledge,” Tashakorinia shared.
After dedicating years to assisting others in similar situations, Tashakorinia recognized the potential for artificial intelligence to alleviate some of the more tedious aspects of post-death arrangements. Rather than addressing the emotional complexities of loss, she envisioned a tool that could streamline the bureaucratic processes like filling out tax documents, submitting insurance claims, and closing bank accounts.
This vision led to the creation of LumenUs, a platform she launched last year aimed at easing the administrative load for families in mourning.
“Navigating this painful experience can leave you so disoriented that you start questioning why you’re being treated a certain way. Why is there a mountain of paperwork? Why are funeral costs marked up so drastically?” she reflected.
While Tashakorinia intends for LumenUs to eventually support individuals throughout their ongoing grieving journey, the platform will initially target those in the immediate aftermath of a death. New users will participate in a tailored onboarding process where they provide details about their specific circumstances.
“We ask targeted questions to grasp their legal and financial situation, as well as their emotional state, in order to create a personalized experience,” she explained.
Following the onboarding, the platform categorizes essential tasks by their level of urgency, guiding users on what needs immediate attention and what can be postponed. This approach may even help users uncover potential benefits that can mitigate the financial strain of a death. Billions in life insurance payouts go unclaimed each year, primarily because individuals are unaware they are eligible.
“By leveraging AI, we strive to automate as many processes as possible, allowing users to reclaim valuable time during this challenging period,” she noted.
With a background in cybersecurity, Tashakorinia is well-equipped to build a robust platform, considering the sensitive personal and financial information involved. She is collaborating with co-founders Sajad Mirzaei, a former engineer at Google and Box, and Larry Keeley, an innovation expert and educator. The team is also seeking advice from healthcare professionals and social workers during the product development phase.
LumenUs will debut in early access this October and is set to be featured in the Startup Battlefield 200 program at TechCrunch Disrupt on October 13-15 in San Francisco.
