Navigating Grief with Innovation
Corinne Davies: “I’ve worked in tech for over 20 years, building and working on various products. I always wanted to create something meaningful—something that truly fills a gap.
My personal experience with grief played a huge role. I was widowed at 29, and over the years, I realised how little structured support existed for people going through bereavement. Grief is a universal experience, yet resources are often patchy, inaccessible, or expensive. This felt like an area big enough to tackle—one where I could make a real impact.”
Grief is a universal experience, yet resources are often patchy, inaccessible, or expensive. This felt like an area big enough to tackle—one where I could make a real impact.
A New Approach to Grief Support
“Grief is often overlooked in the mental health space—many people are left to navigate it alone unless they can afford professional help, which isn’t always readily available,” explains Corinne. “My goal with Griefity was to create a direct-to-consumer app that helps individuals manage their grief, providing education, coping techniques, and structured support.”
But as she started gathering feedback—initially from a small survey, which quickly grew to responses from over 1,500 people—it became clear that the need extended beyond individuals. “Organisations, particularly in aged care, funeral services, and corporate HR departments, were looking for ways to support their employees and clients,” she says. “That’s when we realised Griefity had the potential to go beyond personal grief support—it could help businesses create a more compassionate workplace.”
Listening First: How Community Insights Shaped Griefity
Corinne started with a simple website and a short survey promoted on social media. The response was overwhelming. “Initially, I expected a few dozen responses, but within a short time, we had hundreds—and then thousands—of people sharing their experiences. By the 200-response mark, we already saw clear, recurring themes about the gaps in existing grief support.”
The overwhelming feedback confirmed the need for Griefity and helped shape its development. “People wanted structured support, practical guidance, and reassurance that they weren’t alone,” she explains. “It was both eye-opening and validating.”
As we launched and started engaging with the community, businesses began reaching out—funeral directors, aged care providers, and even corporate HR teams looking for grief support tools for their staff and customers.
Expanding the Vision: Beyond an App
“Originally, Griefity was meant to be a consumer-facing app offering self-management tools and educational resources,” says Corinne. “But as we launched and started engaging with the community, businesses began reaching out—funeral directors, aged care providers, and even corporate HR teams looking for grief support tools for their staff and customers.”
Many workplaces offer general mental health resources, but very few provide dedicated grief support. “Employees dealing with loss are often expected to take a few days off and then return to full capacity—when in reality, grief could be impacting you for months, even years,” Corinne explains. “This can impact their well-being and productivity.”
Griefity has now expanded to offer support solutions for organisations, allowing them to integrate grief support into their existing employee and customer care programs. “We never anticipated this demand, but it made perfect sense.”
Employees dealing with loss are often expected to take a few days off and then return to full capacity—when in reality, grief could be impacting you for months, even years
Changing the Conversation Around Grief
One of the biggest misconceptions was that grief support is a ‘niche’ market. “People would ask, ‘Why focus on something so specific?’” Corinne recalls. “But when you step back, you realise grief isn’t niche at all—it affects everyone at some point.”
The challenge was reframing the conversation: “Grief support isn’t just about individual counselling; it’s about creating a culture where people feel supported in all aspects of life—at home, at work, and in the wider community.”
Leveraging the Startup Ecosystem for Growth
“The support from the startup ecosystem has been incredible,” Corinne shares. “From early validation through Ministry of Awesome’s Founder Catalyst programme and mentor networks to connecting with organisations that helped refine our business model, the journey has been shaped by the people and resources available to founders like me.”
“It’s provided not just learning opportunities but also guidance from people who have been in my shoes and understand the challenges of building something from the ground up,” she adds.
With the right tools and support, we can change the way society approaches grief
The Future of Grief Support
“The potential for Griefity is enormous,” says Corinne. “We’re continuously expanding our reach, both in New Zealand and internationally. We’re developing more tailored resources for businesses and exploring strategic partnerships with healthcare providers and corporate wellness programmes.”
Her vision is clear: “Grief doesn’t have to be something people struggle through alone. With the right tools and support, we can change the way society approaches grief, ensuring no one feels lost in their journey. That’s what drives me forward every day.”