Ian Dibb, Founder at Once I’ve Gone: A Platform Encouraging People to Plan For End-Of-Life

Once I’ve Gone is a life planning platform, encouraging people to plan, action and open up the conversation about their end-of-life plans.

For their users it’s about peace of mind, knowing they have everything in order to take the stress away from the family. There are three main elements to the platform; organisation, messages and final wishes. The platform lets you store important documents and details from wills and house deeds, right down to subscription details.

The message element lets you leave personal messages to loved ones, helping people leave a lasting legacy. Yes, social media has a lot of content on there about your life but this isn’t the real us and the status update from 2015 isn’t what you want your family to remember you by.
 
 

 

How did you come up with the idea for the company?

 
I sadly lost my sister Jane when she was 28, and two years later my mother died from cancer. Trying to deal with their estates was really tough, and it was these personal experiences really inspired me to create a platform to help others avoid the pain and difficulty that I and thousands of others experience on a daily basis, often when we least expect it. Death is the one thing that is guaranteed to us all, and the one thing that many of us fail to plan for.
 

What advice would you give to other aspiring entrepreneurs?

 
One of the main pieces of advice I would give aspiring entrepreneurs is to surround yourself with good people who share your vision, who will join and support you on your journey. There will most certainly be many highs and many lows as you try to bring your business to life.

It is so important to really love what you do. The best things often come from perseverance, devotion and real dedication. It is so important that you are true to yourself personally, recognising the balance required, the sacrifices you might have to take and ultimately ensuring that the journey is right for you and those closest to you.
 

What can we hope to see from Once I’ve Gone in the future?

 
The recent Covid pandemic has made many people question their own mortality, and as a result, legacy creation has become an everyday conversation. We very much see Once I’ve Gone as a company that uses Tech to make a positive difference to people’s lives, and our ultimate goal is for the platform to become something that individuals use on a day-to-day basis not only in the UK but across international markets.

In today’s digital world whilst the majority of people know that they should get everything organised, many never get around to it. We are therefore constantly adding new and exciting features to the platform that will enhance the user experience, helping people to create an incredible legacy in a way that they never knew was possible.