GriefChat
GriefChat is a UK-based B2B platform that embeds a free, qualified-counsellor instant chat service into partner websites for bereaved individuals. Partners — funeral directors, hospices, charities, EAPs, employers, and universities — pay subscription fees for the embeddable, rebrandable widget.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersBurton-in-Kendal, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What GriefChat does
GriefChat Ltd is a UK-based bereavement support platform founded in 2017 by Catherine Betley and headquartered in Burton-in-Kendal, England. The company's core product is a free-to-user instant chat service that connects bereaved individuals directly with qualified bereavement counsellors, available Monday to Friday 09:00–21:00 GMT. The chat is delivered via the third-party tawk.to platform and is integrated as an embeddable, rebrandable widget on partner websites; all personally identifying information is held within the tawk.to system, which is GDPR compliant. GriefChat positions itself as the UK's only online chat service of its kind with qualified counsellors meeting a stated minimum standard of Level 4 Counselling Diploma plus 100 practice hours, DBS checks, and professional supervision.
GriefChat monetises through B2B partnerships rather than consumer fees. Partner organisations — funeral directors, hospices, bereavement and health charities, EAPs, employers, and universities — pay subscription/quote-based fees to embed the GriefChat widget on their websites, and can additionally purchase bespoke counselling packages. The end-user chat is free. Beyond the core instant chat, GriefChat operates an extended product surface including professional bereavement counselling (paid, longer-term), MuchLoved online dedications, LifeLedger (death notification service), GriefWorks online course, legal help guidance, and funeral/memorial goods partnerships.
The company is structured as a private company limited by guarantee (registered company number 11497463) with no disclosed institutional funding, no parent company, and a small team (six named employees plus a contracted network of counsellors). Operations are entirely UK-domestic. Operational infrastructure — including counsellor management — is delivered in partnership with Professional Help, an EAP provider.
GriefChat firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- GriefChat
- Legal name
- GriefChat Ltd
- Website
- https://griefchat.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- GriefChat is a UK-based B2B platform that embeds a free, qualified-counsellor instant chat service into partner websites for bereaved individuals. Partners — funeral directors, hospices, charities, EAPs, employers, and universities — pay subscription fees for the embeddable, rebrandable widget.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
GriefChat industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Bereavement Counselling Services
- NAICS
- Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Death Care Services (8122)
- SIC
- Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Bereavement & Grief Support Services (Hospice-Affiliated/Independent) (HLADAHAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Bereavement, Grief & Family Support Services (Hospice-Linked) (HLAFAEAO), Palliative Care, Hospice & Serious Illness Support (BPAGACAK)
Keywords
Where GriefChat is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Burton-in-Kendal
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
GriefChat business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- B2B Partnership/Embedding Fees: GriefChat generates revenue by embedding its service into partner organisations' websites. Partners (funeral directors, charities, EAPs, employers, universities) pay for the service to be available to their users/clients. The core chat service is free to end users.
- Bespoke Counselling Packages: Organisations can purchase bespoke packages including dedicated one-to-one counselling sessions with bereavement counsellors beyond the instant chat service.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free instant chat for bereaved individuals |
| Subscription | Annual | Partner organisation embedding packages |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
GriefChat product offering
Product offeringCore offering
GriefChat operates a free online instant chat service that connects bereaved individuals directly with qualified bereavement counsellors Monday-Friday 09:00-21:00 GMT. The service is delivered to end users via an embeddable widget that partner organisations such as funeral directors, hospices, charities, EAPs, employers and universities place on their own websites and can rebrand under their own identity. Revenue is generated from partner embedding subscriptions and from paid bespoke longer-term counselling packages.
Product overview
GriefChat is a bereavement support platform offering a suite of interconnected services. At its core is the free GriefChat Instant Chat Service, an online chat platform where bereaved people connect with qualified bereavement counsellors Monday-Friday 09:00-21:00. This core service is embedded into partner websites through the GriefChat Partner Platform. Additional services include Professional Bereavement Counselling (longer-term paid support), Online Dedications via MuchLoved partnership, Legal Help & Guidance, LifeLedger (death notification service), and Funeral & Sympathy Goods. The platform serves individuals directly and through partnerships with charities, funeral directors, universities, employers/EAPs, and corporate organisations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- GriefChat Instant Chat Service A free online instant chat service that connects bereaved people directly with qualified bereavement counsellors, available Monday-Friday 09:00-21:00 (GMT). Targeted at anyone experiencing grief or bereavement seeking immediate, anonymous support.
- GriefChat Partner Platform An embeddable bereavement support platform that partner organisations such as funeral directors, hospices, charities, EAPs, employers and universities can integrate into their own websites to provide professional bereavement counselling access to their users under their own branding.
- Professional Bereavement Counselling Arranged longer-term, one-to-one bereavement counselling delivered face-to-face or over the telephone through GriefChat's network of qualified counsellors, available for a fee. Targeted at bereaved individuals who need ongoing structured counselling beyond the free instant chat.
- Online Dedications (MuchLoved) Online In Memory tribute and memorial pages delivered through GriefChat's partnership with MuchLoved, allowing bereaved users to view or start memorial pages for loved ones.
- LifeLedger Death Notification Service A free service that helps families simplify the death notification process by notifying multiple businesses of a loved one's death through a single streamlined operation. Targeted at bereaved families dealing with administrative burden after a loss.
- Legal Help & Guidance Legal support and guidance services for bereaved individuals navigating administrative and legal matters following a loss, accessed via the GriefChat website.
- GriefWorks Online Grief Course Online structured grief support course delivered through a partnership with GriefWorks, offering structured grief education for bereaved individuals.
- Funeral & Sympathy Goods Funeral and memorial goods and services offered in partnership to support families with practical needs following a death, accessed via the GriefChat website.
Quantifiable outcome
- UK death toll 20% higher than average in 2020, increasing demand for bereavement support services
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use GriefChat
Customer profileNamed customers21 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
GriefChat technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
GriefChat partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- At A LosscoreAt A Loss is a UK bereavement support directory. GriefChat is accessible through the At A Loss live chat feature, providing immediate access to bereavement counselling for visitors seeking support.
- Cransley HospicecoreNorthamptonshire hospice offering bereavement support. Embeds GriefChat on their bereavement support page.
- Cruse ScotlandcoreScotland's leading bereavement support charity. Partners with GriefChat to offer online instant chat support.
- Farleleigh HospicecoreEssex hospice providing bereavement support services. Embeds GriefChat on their bereavement support page.
- Rennie Grove Hospice CarecoreHospice serving Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire. Offers GriefChat on their adult bereavement support pages.
- St Elizabeth HospicecoreSuffolk hospice offering comprehensive bereavement support. Partners with GriefChat for online chat services.
- Willen HospicecoreMilton Keynes hospice. Embeds GriefChat on their emotional wellbeing and bereavement support pages.
- SandscoreUK charity supporting anyone affected by the death of a baby. Partners with GriefChat for additional bereavement support channels.
- Suicide and CocoreCharity providing support to those bereaved by suicide. Embeds GriefChat for immediate crisis support access.
- MencapcoreLearning disability charity. Offers GriefChat on their bereavement advice and wellbeing pages with an Easy-Read Guide.
- Independent AgecoreCharity supporting older people. Embeds GriefChat for visitors dealing with bereavement.
- Lymphoma ActionminorUK lymphoma cancer charity. Offers GriefChat for those who have lost a loved one to lymphoma.
- Pancreatic Cancer ActionminorPancreatic cancer charity. Partners with GriefChat for bereavement support resources.
- Cornwall Air Ambulance TrustminorAir ambulance charity. Embeds GriefChat for in-memory support.
- Dignity FuneralscoreUK funeral service provider. Embeds GriefChat on their dealing with bereavement pages.
- Central England Co-operative Funeral CarecoreCo-operative funeral care provider. Partners with GriefChat for member bereavement support.
- Mortlake CrematoriumminorLondon crematorium offering GriefChat for in-memory and bereavement support.
- Professional HelpcoreEAP provider and parent organisation. Manages GriefChat service delivery and counsellor team.
- SAIF CareminorSupporting AIM International - SAIF Care provides bereavement support resources through GriefChat partnership.
- Much LovedminorOnline tribute and memorial platform. Partners with GriefChat for grief resources and counselling access.
- tawk.tocoreThird-party live chat platform provider used by GriefChat for chat functionality. All personally identifying information is held on tawk.to system which is GDPR compliant.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
GriefChat competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Kooth: UK-based digital mental health platform offering anonymous online chat-based counselling and wellbeing support, primarily to young people via schools, universities, and NHS contracts. Comparable chat-first digital mental health delivery model but broader mental health (not bereavement-specific) and focused on adolescents.
- Shout: UK-based 24/7 free text messaging crisis support service run by Mental Health Innovations. Comparable text-based real-time support model for people in distress, including bereavement, but serves broader crisis populations and is offered entirely free via SMS rather than embedded in partner websites.
Broad incumbents
- Marie Curie: Major UK end-of-life and bereavement charity providing nursing care, information, and bereavement support including a dedicated support line and online resources. Broader scope (terminal illness nursing + bereavement) but overlapping beneficiary population and a co-partner on the COVID-19 Day of Reflection campaign.
- Macmillan Cancer Support: Major UK cancer charity that, alongside clinical support, offers bereavement support for families affected by cancer deaths through phone, online, and partner channels. Indirect comparable — overlapping beneficiary (cancer-bereaved families) but operating at much larger scale with broader mission.
- Cruse Bereavement Support: UK's largest bereavement charity offering phone, face-to-face, and online bereavement support across the country. Directly comparable in offering bereavement support to grieving adults, but operates a broader, traditional service model with local branches rather than a chat-first digital platform.
- Sue Ryder: UK charity providing palliative care, neurological care, and bereavement support including online chat and bereavement counselling. Comparable bereavement counselling offering delivered at greater scale and with hospice infrastructure.
Direct peers
- Child Bereavement UK: UK charity supporting bereaved children, parents, and families through professional support including helpline, online chat, and face-to-face services. Direct comparable as a professional bereavement support organisation with online channels serving grieving families.
- Winston's Wish: UK charity providing bereavement support specifically for children, young people, and their families. Comparable to GriefChat's baby-loss and child-loss content but focused on younger demographics; offers online chat, helpline, and 1:1 support.
- At A Loss: UK bereavement support directory and signposting service that connects grieving individuals to local and online support, including live chat via GriefChat. Direct competitor/partner in online bereavement signposting and chat access.
- Together by Hospice UK: Hospice UK's online bereavement support platform for adults experiencing grief, offering video calls and remote support. Most direct peer to GriefChat: online bereavement support branded within the hospice ecosystem, serving the same user (adults grieving a death) with comparable professional counsellor access.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
GriefChat social profiles
Digital presenceGriefChat financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
GriefChat leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
GriefChat funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
GriefChat M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about GriefChat
What does GriefChat do?
GriefChat operates a free online instant chat service that connects bereaved individuals directly with qualified bereavement counsellors Monday-Friday 09:00-21:00 GMT. The service is delivered to end users via an embeddable widget that partner organisations such as funeral directors, hospices, charities, EAPs, employers and universities place on their own websites and can rebrand under their own identity. Revenue is generated from partner embedding subscriptions and from paid bespoke longer-term counselling packages.
Is GriefChat a public or private company?
GriefChat is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was GriefChat founded?
GriefChat was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is GriefChat based?
GriefChat is headquartered in Burton-in-Kendal, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does GriefChat make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. B2B Partnership/Embedding Fees are the primary driver. The others are bespoke Counselling Packages.
Who are GriefChat's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Kooth and Shout. Broad incumbents are Marie Curie, Macmillan Cancer Support, Cruse Bereavement Support and Sue Ryder. Direct peers are Child Bereavement UK, Winston's Wish, At A Loss and Together by Hospice UK.
Does GriefChat have an API?
No public API is recorded for GriefChat.
What industry is GriefChat in?
GriefChat's product category is Bereavement Counselling Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLADAHAL, Bereavement & Grief Support Services (Hospice-Affiliated/Independent), with a secondary code of HLAFAEAO, Bereavement, Grief & Family Support Services (Hospice-Linked). Its NAICS code is 624190 and its SIC code is 8000.