Empathy launches in the UK as the nation nears a bereavement support crisis

Empathy, the leading technology company transforming bereavement support across North America, has launched in the UK – its first expansion into Europe. Its flagship product, Empathy Loss Support, helps families manage the full burden that follows a death, and its arrival comes as new research warns Britain is facing a growing bereavement support crisis.

The company, which already partners with major insurers and employers and supports more than 45 million policyholders across the US and Canada, says the UK urgently needs more structured, compassionate help for people navigating the aftermath of a death.

Empathy’s platform blends human care specialists with technology to guide people through probate, estate settlement, benefit claims, funeral arrangements and grief.

Founded in 2021 by Israeli entrepreneurs Ron Gura and Yonatan Bergman, Empathy was born from the pair’s shared conviction that families should not be left alone to wrestle with the maze of legal, logistical and emotional challenges that follow a bereavement. Gura and Bergman previously worked together at WeWork and earlier at The Gifts Project, which Gura founded and later sold to eBay. After witnessing first-hand how overwhelming the administrative burden of loss can be for families, they teamed up once more to build a platform designed to ease that weight.

The UK launch coincides with the publication of Empathy’s new report, The Cost of Loss: The UK’s Bereavement Burden, which warns of a widening gap between what families need after a death and what they currently receive.

The research found that around a third of people handling an insurance claim felt under-supported, while more than half said bereavement care would influence which insurer they choose. Empathy says the findings point to a system struggling to keep pace with rising expectations around bereavement care.

“Launching in the UK is a significant milestone for Empathy as we expand our mission to one of the world’s most forward-thinking markets for employee wellbeing and insurance innovation,” said Ron Gura, Empathy’s co-founder and CEO. “Since 2020, we’ve supported millions across North America through the practical, logistical, and financial challenges that follow a loss. Our focus now is to bring that same level of clarity, efficiency and trusted support to families in the UK.”

Gura’s drive to build Empathy was shaped by personal experience. He lost his brother at a young age, an event that profoundly influenced his understanding of bereavement and how isolating it can be. Years later, while working at eBay, he helped a colleague navigate the exhausting administrative demands that follow a death, from funeral arrangements to probate and benefit claims. Seeing the strain it placed on someone already grieving convinced him that families needed better tools, clearer guidance and more compassionate support.

British workplaces are now confronting these same pressures. Clare Dodd, Empathy’s UK General Manager, said: “Workplace wellbeing has evolved, and it’s clear that standard policies alone are not enough. Organisations have a real opportunity to step in with bereavement support that is both practical and genuinely human-centred. As we enter the UK, we’re committed to helping employers close the growing gap between what people need and what they currently receive.”

The report also warns of the consequences for employers: 48% of bereaved employees say they would leave their job if they felt unsupported, with the figure rising sharply among younger workers. Empathy argues this represents a tipping point where inadequate bereavement support is now directly affecting retention, productivity and staff wellbeing.

Empathy has raised $162 million to date from investors including Index Ventures, General Catalyst, Entrée Capital, Aleph and Adams Street Partners, alongside strategic backing from major insurance carriers.

Danny Rimer, Partner at Index Ventures, said: “We’re proud to back Empathy as they bring their transformative approach to the UK market. They’ve built something genuinely different: a service that combines deep empathy with practical guidance to meet families exactly where they are, with both expertise and heart. This kind of human-centred support has never been more essential. Empathy ensures that no one has to navigate grief and loss alone.”

For insurers, the findings present an equally urgent opportunity. Younger customers in particular now expect a more compassionate, connected experience from their providers. “Insurance is, at its foundation, designed to protect people when it matters most,” Gura said. “We believe support should be both practical and compassionate, easing the emotional and logistical burdens that follow a loss. By partnering with employers and institutions, we aim to raise the standard of bereavement care and ensure people have the guidance they need to navigate one of life’s most complex moments.”

Empathy plans to expand further across Europe following its UK debut, bringing its bereavement care and estate support services to more families in the years ahead.

empathy.com