Send your loved ones video messages from beyond the grave with this new service

Heavenote, inspired by P.S. I Love You, lets users send video messages to family and friends after they have died

Receiving messages from a loved one after their death may sound pretty creepy, but Heavenote, a new service that launched in the UK today, claims that it can help to ease the bereaved person’s pain.

Heavenote allows users to record video messages and select who will receive them after they pass away. The videos are stored on Heavenote’s system and are only sent to recipients once proof is received that the person is dead.

This proof can be supplied in two ways. Either the person fails to respond to contact from Heavenote after a pre-agreed period of time, or a trusted contact enters a unique code given to them by the deceased to confirm they are no longer alive.

Vincenzo Rusciano, who founded Heavenote in 2012, said the idea for the service came from passing traffic accidents on his motorbike commute, and was also inspired by the film P.S. I Love You, starring Gerard Butler and Hilary Swank.

“Whilst working in Barcelona, I saw a number of bad accidents whilst on my motorbike and wondered how I’d get the chance to say goodbye to the people important to me when my time came,” he said.

“This hit home when a friend of mine suddenly passed away. Seeing the film illustrated the impact of leaving messages, but how the digital age could make this much easier to do.”

Heavenote has been available in a simpler form for some time, with users including members of the armed forces, firefighters and those with terminal illnesses. About 60 per cent of users are male, according to Mr Rusciano, and just over half are between the ages of 25 and 45.

There are already a number of sites offering “digital legacy” services, but these are mostly focused on managing administration such as assets, accounts and passwords – much like a solicitor in the physical world.

Although Heavenote offers these services as well, Mr Rusciano claims the ability to leave and deliver video messages make it unique.

According to Maulik Sailor, chief executive of the start-up accelerator Innovify that is helping to bringing Heavenote to market, supporting emotional and relationship legacy is as important as the practical administration of assets.

“Yes, it’s handy people can access your bank or social media account but what about that lasting and most important message you want to leave behind that you never got the chance to say in person?” he said.

If you really like the idea, you can even invest in the company. Ten per cent of the business is currently up for grabs via the crowdfunding platform Seedrs.