Helmut Marko, the former Red Bull adviser who shaped the careers of Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel, has invested in an Austrian artificial intelligence start-up focused on digital end-of-life planning. On 20 October in Vienna, the 83-year-old revealed his support for Lebensstimmen GmbH at a launch event, shortly after leaving his position at the Milton Keynes outfit. This move shifts his focus from the racetrack to a platform that lets people leave personal messages for loved ones to receive after they die.
The Graz-based company operates internationally under the name Words That Remain and plans a full launch in Austria and abroad during the first quarter of 2027. Messages recorded or written by users while alive are subsequently delivered to selected recipients following their passing. Philipp Berkessy, Markus Pinter, and Lukas Stern established the business with the goal of making end-of-life planning personal, digital, and legally secure for the first time. “Today, a new culture of farewell begins, and it begins in Austria,” Berkessy said at the event.
From Racing Tech to Digital Farewells
Marko sees a direct line between his decades in motorsport and this new venture in artificial intelligence. He constructed Red Bull’s junior programme and facilitated the rise of four-time champions by utilizing data and new tools to secure an advantage. Now he applies that same logic to the final moments of a human life. “Motorsport was never left to chance; it was improved through the courage to consistently use new technologies for the benefit of people,” Marko said in the press release. I recognize this very attitude in Lebensstimmen.
A specific tool provided by the company assists grieving families in composing their own words. Toni Faber, the cathedral pastor of St Stephen’s in Vienna, introduced the AI eulogist named the “Fabertar”, which was created alongside him. This tool is designed to fill gaps when human speakers are not available, though it comes with clear warnings. According to Motorsport.com, the “Fabertar” is explicitly identified as AI and serves not to replace priests or speakers, but to assist when none are present. The tech is meant to support, not substitute, the human element of mourning.
Why a Racing Legend Cares About AI
For a man who spent over twenty years with Red Bull, the shift to digital legacy planning might seem odd to casual observers. Marko’s exit from the team at the end of last season left a vacuum in the paddock, but his influence on the sport remains massive. His investment signals that he is not retiring from innovation, but rather redirecting it toward a different kind of human challenge.
Just as teams use complex data to shave seconds off lap times, this start-up uses AI to preserve memories that might otherwise be lost. The founders believe that every person has words that should remain, and their platform ensures those words survive.
The Future of Digital Memory
As the platform prepares to go live globally in early 2027, the question of how people will react to AI-generated eulogies remains open. The company is transparent about the nature of its tools, ensuring users know they are interacting with a machine. If people feel the technology respects their final wishes, it could change how families say goodbye forever.
Marko’s involvement brings a level of credibility that few other investors could match. His reputation for spotting talent and backing bold ideas translates well to this new sector. Whether this becomes a standard part of modern life or a niche service for the tech-savvy remains to be seen, but the groundwork is now laid in Vienna.
