Helmut Marko has poured money into an Austrian AI venture that stores personal messages for delivery after the sender passes away.
The 83‑year‑old left Red Bull at season’s end after more than twenty years and was revealed as a backer of Lebensstimmen GmbH during a Vienna launch at the Mandarin Oriental on 20 October.
Based in Graz, the firm will operate worldwide under the brand Words That Remain, marketing its service as digital end‑of‑life planning where users record or write farewells to be sent posthumously.
It also provides a grieving‑family tool and unveiled an AI eulogist, the “Fabertar,” created with cathedral pastor Toni Faber. Lebensstimmen stresses the bot is clearly marked as AI and isn’t meant to replace clergy, only to help when none are available.
Helmut Marko, Red Bull Racing
Marko, architect of Red Bull’s junior programme that produced champions Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen, tied the investment to his racing career. For my money, Marko’s pivot shows tech’s growing role beyond the track.
“Motorsport never relied on luck; it thrived on bold tech adoption for people’s benefit. That same spirit drives Lebensstimmen,” Marko said.
Founders Philipp Berkessy, Markus Pinter and Lukas Stern aim to roll out the platform across Austria and then globally in the first quarter of 2027.
“Everyone leaves words worth keeping. With Lebensstimmen we make farewell personal, digital and legally safe for the first time. A new culture of goodbyes starts in Austria,” Berkessy explained.
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– The Team