Russell Westbrook, a guard for the Denver Nuggets, has partnered with former University of Connecticut players Donnell Beverly Jr. and Kemba Walker to launch a new technology venture. The trio introduced Eazewell, an AI-powered platform designed to simplify the process of planning funerals and managing related tasks.
The inspiration for Eazewell reportedly stems from personal loss experienced by the co-founders. Donnell Beverly Jr. lost both his parents and a high school teammate, while Russell Westbrook was motivated by the death of his best friend, Khelcey Barrs III, at age 16.
Eazewell aims to streamline the end-of-life planning experience, leveraging artificial intelligence to assist families during difficult times. The platform offers a digital concierge service to help manage various aspects of funeral arrangements Eazewell an AI-Powered End-of-Life Service That Handles All Aspects of Funeral Planning.
The platform provides services such as matching users with funeral homes based on location and quotes, automating paperwork for items like death certificates, and facilitating outreach to financial institutions. It also includes features for securing payment solutions, managing consent forms, and setting up memorial pages and fundraising efforts.
Investors supporting Eazewell include Stephen Stokols, CEO of Boost Mobile, and former NBA player Metta World Peace through Tru Skye Ventures. They noted that the funeral industry has seen limited change over time and that using AI could modernize the process.
Viviane Ghaderi, a former Amazon executive, serves as Eazewell's CTO. The platform employs generative AI to handle complex tasks, including negotiations and legal forms, and is available for use across all 50 states.
The founders say they built the platform to provide support that was lacking during their own experiences with loss. Beverly Jr. stated that paperwork consumed time he would have preferred to spend with family, and Eazewell was created so others would not face that alone.
Westbrook echoed this sentiment, noting the lasting impact of witnessing families struggle with arrangements after a loss. He said Eazewell represents the solution he wished had been available during those times.
