#StartupStory: Create memories forever with ForKeeps

Prakash Patel, CEO of ForKeeps

ForKeeps allows you to do just that - to create and keep memories like these alive forever

We chat to Prakash Patel, CEO of ForKeeps to find out about the journey of the innovative digital platform...

Can you tell us a bit about ForKeeps?

ForKeeps is a newly launched South African company with a sole vision to change the way people behave in the world towards celebrating life and the afterlife in the digital age. It's an innovative app, which specifically allows anyone to easily create, store securely and deliver messages, wishes and celebrations of a person’s life, whilst they are alive and when they have sadly departed.

The app has several key features that include :

• Timeless Messages: you can create a message for a loved one today, and have it delivered to them after your death, or on a future known or unknown.
  
• Forever Album: a digital album that can be created in minutes, for all occasions, from the birth of a newborn, birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, tributes or even a custom albums, to capture precious moments or events.

For example, in today’s unprecedented times, you are able to create and share a tribute album for a loved one, sadly knowing you are not able to attend due to the lockdown or social distancing, and thereby still creating social closeness, where people are able to send their tributes, messages of support or even light a virtual candle. An album that can then be saved and viewed forever by loved ones for loved ones.

What sparked the idea of ForKeeps? When did you get started?

The idea of ForKeeps was a combination of ideas and dreams from different personal experiences from the management team, which includes me, Rob Inglis, Michelle van Niekerk and Pieter Meyer.

We all shared the desire to change how we currently celebrate life digitally, pay tribute to loved ones who have departed and the legacy we leave behind for loved ones.

People deserve for their memories to be kept alive forever!

What is the core function of ForKeeps?

We live in an era of digital technology – where the impossible can now be possible. Through innovative new technology and thinking, we now have the ability to create everlasting memories through key features.

What are some of the offerings?

We currently have the 'Forever Album' which can be designed and created within minutes for any occasion.

For example, if you were getting married today, you could create your wedding album in the morning, and then send the link to all your guests who are attending, and whilst the day unfolds, your guests could add real-time photos to your album, with their own messages - to give you a truly once in a lifetime view of your wedding from everyone’s eyes - were all your guests become your photographers capturing every single precious moment.

Another feature is the 'Timeless Message' which is built based on 100’s of business logics rules that allows anyone the freedom to let their loved ones know how they felt in their own words, once they have sadly departed. They can choose the format (notes, audio, or video), the occasion and also when the message should be sent. It's a message that will last forever and give you the ability to speak life into future situations even when you are no longer around.

We are currently working on a feature which will allow you to build a 'Digital Legacy' that can be a glimpse for future generations to see. When your grandchildren have grandchildren, wouldn’t you like them to know who their great-great-grandparents were? Imagine leaving a digital legacy documenting how cool you were back in the day or even how you all coped through the Covid-19 pandemic?

ForKeeps app is available for free on the Google Play Store and iOS Apple Store with in-app purchases. There is also a desktop version available.

What has been the challenges to overcome since starting out?

The biggest challenge since starting out was working with five different divisions and locations. From driving and setting the strategy and UX, through to the creative interpretation and prototyping, through to the development of the total digital ecosystem (to include the mobile app, web app and basic mobile browser solutions), whilst coordinating the successful delivery via different locations.

What advice would you give to other aspiring entrepreneurs?

There are many trials and trepidations in building a business or brand from scratch. There are many high and there will be lows. The challenge is understanding how to navigate these paths with a goal in sight.

The top lessons or advice I can give are as follows:

• You don’t clock hours - you create value: Creating your own business isn’t about the hours you have worked or put in, but the value exchange that has been produced in the work you and the team have done. Often or not, you may not be working to any set hours, but hours of productivity that suits and creates the greatest value. Some days you may end up doing the night shift and another day the early shift. That doesn’t mean not having a routine, but flexibility and managing your time.

• Have purpose: When the work you do is more than work, it becomes pleasurable. Or in simple words, it gives you purpose in the work you produce, to get up each day and do something you are passionate about and believe in. Something money or time can’t buy.

• Work with the right people: Every company talks about people as being their biggest assets. Or in truth a checklist for their internal value statement. But in truth the people you work with, aren't your labelled assets, they are your reason for being and the company you are creating. They must emanate your beliefs, value and passion. In a small company or startup - a single person can be the reason for failing or succeeding. Find like-minded people driven by the same passion.

• Find people who are always greater than you: One of my favourite quotes is by David Ogilvy “If each of us hires people who are smaller than we are, we shall become a company of dwarfs. But if each of us hires people who are bigger than we are, we shall become a company of giants.”

• Challenge yourself and be challenged: Every day brings another opportunity to learn. Constantly challenge yourself and allow yourself to be challenged by others to seek the truth and the best in what you are doing, as we never stop learning

• Money doesn't grow on tree: When you spend money in building your business, be frugal and careful. It is easy to spend too much too soon, especially if you have a capital or investment. Negotiate as if it is the last cent you have and spend it wisely.

• Get out of your comfort zone: Some people don’t like taking a risk and yet still create great things in their life or the work they do. But life is full of risks and no outcome is ever 100% so I believe there are times when you need to take calculated risk to achieve something extraordinary

• Make it happen!: Everybody has an idea. But not everybody makes it happen. Throughout my life, I have had many ideas or seen something and thought I had that idea. But that was exactly all it was, I had an idea. The most rewarding thing is seeing an idea become something through actual actions

• It takes effort and persistence!:Nothing in life comes easy. If it does, it normally isn’t worth it. In short, success doesn’t come easy, and no one will see the effort. But success is the doing, not the getting

What has been your proudest achievement thus far?

Seeing a passion project, for the four us, become a world-first product and one of South Africa's newest innovative companies.

What does the future of entrepreneurship look like to you?

The future of entrepreneurship in South Africa (let alone Africa as a continent), has never looked so promising (but now albeit Covid-19 and whatever the global recession looks like) with its investment landscape for entrepreneurs slowly changing at unprecedented rates over the past few years, due to greater international venture capitalists flowing into the continent.

The world has clearly got its eye on the opportunity in Africa rising, but with recent problems with our parastatals and now Covid-19, I don’t think anyone can predict these uncertain times. However, having lived through two recessions in my working life, and been living in SA for over a decade, I have never seen a more resilient country, a country that makes its difficulties into opportunities like mobile.

Through these uncertain times, I believe it will be countries like SA, that will lead the way with new inventors and entrepreneurs who rise from the flames, if given half a chance, as innovation and disruption isn’t always a plan or strategy but a necessity.

What do you think is the importance of startup accelerator/incubator programmes?

The importance cannot be underestimated. It is like asking a newborn who has all the intent of walking to be then asked to start running. Good accelerators and incubation programmes are the frameworks to help budding entrepreneurs learn the basics about building a sound and successful business, from financial management, legalities, patenting, CI, building a brand, marketing and go to market strategies - mentorship, guidance and encouragement (as it can be very lonely), that any entrepreneur can gain from.

What do you believe are the traits an entrepreneur needs in order to succeed?

Persistency over failure. As Colin Powel said,“Success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty and persistence.”

Tell us about your biggest struggles as an entrepreneur, as well as some major highlights.

In my opinion, the biggest issue is accessibility and access for budding entrepreneurs or small businesses to get help and assistance from financial capital, mentorship and guidance.

Why would you encourage someone to become an entrepreneur?

To create something from nothing! To be a creator of opportunities for others

Where would you like to see ForKeeps in the next 5 years?

In short, our vision is to see ForKeeps as the largest online album directory in the world, where we have the largest library of albums, from tributes through to newborns - where people and even historians will refer to.

Our other biggest vision is to see how we have created everlasting memories and timeless messages for loved ones, by loved ones. Messages that have been created and delivered to loved ones and given priceless comfort to millions of people around the world.