What decision weighs more heavily on families than to decide which funeral home would be best for the farewell to a beloved relative?

A Winston-Salem startup founded by a hospice and palliative care physician is offering a solution for what he believes is better decision making.

“Comparing funeral home, crematory, and cemetery prices is difficult due to consumer ignorance and the opacity of the after-death care market,” says founder and CEO Jay Requarth.

The name of the startup makes the mission clear:

FuneralInsider.com

And he’s already landed $50,000 from one investor while investing $50,000 of his own cash.

FuneralInsider will be presenting its business case at the Council for Entrepreneurial Development’s Tech Venture conference nest month.

This is the third in a series of profiles featuring presenting startups and entrepreneurial companies that is being published by WRAL TechWire in partnership with the CED.

Profile: FuneralInsider.com

  • Website: www.funeralinsider.com
  • Email contact: dr.jay@funeralinsider.com
  • Address: 1959 Peace Haven #118, Winston Salem, NC 27106
  • CEO: Jay Requarth, MD
  • Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_A2_E1xJ4C4&feature=em-upload_owner
  • How many employees? Just the founder and co-founder
  • Link to CED Tech Venture Company Profile: https://cednc.org/company-profile/funeralsolutions

What is the focus of your business?

Helping individuals and families find the right funeral home based on their budget and wishes.

What is the top pain point/business application you are seeking to address?

Comparing funeral home, crematory, and cemetery prices is difficult due to consumer ignorance and the opacity of the after-death care market.

What makes it unique?

The founder is a hospice and palliative care physician who understands the pre-need phase. The founder’s position may offer unique marketing opportunities.

Why should investors be interested in your firm?

There are approximately 2.7M deaths per year and this will increase 40% during then next 2 decades. Thirty percent of those who died are cremated due to the high cost of burial services.

Thus, nearly 1M families need help arranging high-quality, low-cost burial services

How are you financed at this point?

Most bootstrapped.

We obtained a $50,000 investment from New Ventures Accelerator