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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowFounders: Elijah Linder, Keagan McGuire, Matt Tyner
Established: 2020
Top executives:
Justin Clifford, CEO
Elijah Linder, head of partnerships
Keagan McGuire, head of content
Equity raised: friends and family, about $600,000 in two rounds; ongoing pre-seed round, about $900,000 raised so far
2024 revenue: did not disclose
Projected 2025 revenue: did not disclose
Employees: 3 (soon to be 4)
Location: Indianapolis
Affiliation: Paragraph Ventures Studio portfolio company
Patents: none
What does the company do? Bereave helps employers support workers who are dealing with grief. The Bereave platform offers tools for human resources and management teams to prepare for loss and to provide employees and their families with guidance—such as checklists, education, tips and resources—when loss occurs. “We can help develop a more peaceful journey during the darkest times,” Bereave says of its services. “This results in higher retention and productivity for the employer.”
What problem is it trying to solve? Bereave says the company is trying to address two primary problems: People usually don’t know where to turn when they suffer a loss, and employers are wholly unprepared to support employees during times of loss and grief. The result is turnover and lower productivity. In fact, Bereave research found that 51% of people who have suffered a close loss leave their job within 12 months. Also, research shows it takes an average of one hour a day for 15 months to settle an estate—essentially a part-time job an employee is taking on.
Latest news: Bereave has moved away from its original prototype, launching a software-as-a-service product in March that it developed with support from Bloomington-based Paragraph Ventures. The company also told IBJ it was preparing to take on a new strategic investor it couldn’t yet name. And Bereave has added a hospice care company and a funeral services company to its network.
Why Bereave made the list: Bereave is addressing a problem that isn’t going away. And it’s expanding its services at a time companies are increasingly looking for ways to provide mental health support to employees. In addition, Bereave’s new investor should help fuel the company’s growth.•
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