LumenUs Launches AI-Driven Platform to Automate Grief-Related Paperwork

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LumenUs, founded by Sara Tashakorinia, uses AI to reduce the administrative burden on bereaved families by organizing and automating tasks like filing claims and closing accounts. It aims to ease the process during the immediate aftermath of a loved one's death.

When Sara Tashakorinia’s husband died in a car accident eight years ago, she was overwhelmed not only by loss but by the extensive administrative tasks required to settle his affairs. On average, this process entails around 570 hours of paperwork, a daunting challenge many people face amid grief. Recognizing this gap, Tashakorinia founded LumenUs last year to help grieving individuals navigate these complexities through automation.

LumenUs is a grief care platform designed to alleviate the mundane and frustrating bureaucratic processes that follow a death. While acknowledging that AI cannot assist with the emotional aspects of grief, the platform focuses on practical support—helping users locate necessary tax documents, file insurance claims, and close bank accounts efficiently.

Upon joining LumenUs, users complete a detailed onboarding that captures specifics about their financial situation, legal context, and emotional readiness. This personalization allows the platform to prioritize tasks by urgency, guiding users through what needs immediate attention versus what can be deferred. Notably, the system also identifies potential financial resources such as unclaimed life insurance benefits, which often go unnoticed.

Tashakorinia emphasizes that the experience often leaves bereaved individuals feeling isolated and exploited, citing issues like exorbitant funeral home markups. By automating much of the paperwork with AI, LumenUs aims to restore users’ time and agency during a difficult period.

Security is a priority given the sensitive data involved; Tashakorinia brings cybersecurity expertise to the project. The founding team also includes former Google and Box engineer Sajad Mirzaei and innovation scientist Larry Keeley. They collaborate with clinicians and social workers to refine the product.

LumenUs is participating in TechCrunch Disrupt's Startup Battlefield 200 and plans an early access launch in October 2026, initially focusing on support immediately after a death before expanding to longer-term grief support.