Founder Friday with Rachel Drew of Cadence
Cadence is a SaaS company that simplifies and supports clients through estate planning and settlement. Headquartered in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and co-founded by Rachel Drew, Krystian Olszanski, and Rachelle Perron, Cadence’s easy-to-use online platform and team of Certified Executor Advisors equips professionals to forge strong, meaningful relationships with their clients by facilitating end-of-life planning and guiding estate settlement.
We caught up with Rachel to hear what’s new for Cadence, what’s coming up next, insights into what’s happening in the industry, and advice she would give to her past self and up-and-coming women founders.
What’s New
Cadence has a long list of achievements to celebrate: a strategic partnership, dominance in the deathcare sector, recognitions and collaborations, financial support, and streamlined estate administration.
Rachel and the team are thrilled to announce the signing of a monumental MSA with one of North America's preeminent wealth management firms. This milestone not only underscores Cadence’s ability to secure substantial partnerships but it also augments their standing in the industry.
Speaking of industry standings… Their focused efforts within the deathcare sector continue to yield positive results. The team has successfully solidified their product-market alignment, positioning Cadence as a pivotal player in this space.
And a testament to their dedication, Cadence has earned a coveted place as a member of Order of the Golden Rule (OGR), Selected Independent Funeral Homes (SIFH), and the Saskatoon Estate Planning Council. These esteemed recognitions open new avenues for expansion within the deathcare sector.
On the funding side, Rachel and the team have secured substantial non-dilutive funding and over $2.4M in investments. Serving as a resounding endorsement of Cadence’s potential and vision, this capital infusion will be instrumental in propelling their novel technical initiatives further.
And to top it off, they are actively engaged in critical integrations that promise to revolutionize and expedite the estate administration process—all of which are endeavours that align with Cadence’s commitment to technological innovation and customer-centric solutions.
What’s Next
A nice transition between what’s new and what’s next, Cadence is continually working to revolutionize how the world manages death by becoming the integral bridge connecting families, professionals, and institutions. Rachel and the entire team are leveraging technology to bring simplicity, clarity, and compassion into navigating end-of-life affairs.
What’s Going On in the Industry
Death and all the challenges that come along with it have been largely untouched by digital innovation. Rachel believes that now is the right time to bring technology to support families and businesses in dealing with the antiquated estate planning and administration process.
Although, like many things that feel unfamiliar, new technical innovation can be met with resistance. This can be attributed to factors like:
Tradition and emotional attachment: Death is steeped in tradition and often involves deeply emotional and personal experiences for individuals and families. Many people and professionals may feel that technology disrupts the ingrained customs and rituals associated with death. At Cadence, they believe that technology can enhance these personal experiences by removing the unnecessary administrative burden for both families and businesses.
Fear of depersonalization: The use of technology may be perceived as depersonalizing or dehumanizing the end-of-life experience. Some people may worry that relying on technology could reduce the human touch and emotional connection that is so crucial during this time. Rachel and the Cadence team have built their technology and tailored it to each individual’s circumstances. Through a custom user experience and 1-1 human support, the platform meaningfully helps their business partners and the families they serve.
Overcoming resistance to technology in deathcare requires a careful and empathetic approach. It's essential to balance the potential benefits of technology with respect for tradition, culture, and the deeply emotional nature of loss. Education, communication, and collaboration with industry stakeholders has supported Cadence in their endeavour to change the way the world deals with death.
Advice to Your Past Self & Other Women Founders
“Do not wait for the right time to follow your dreams and passions,” Rachel says. “This ‘perfect’ time will likely never come.”
Ask anyone for advice on getting started, and they’ll tell you there’s never a perfect time—you just have to do it. There will always be this issue or that problem and countless excuses, so start from where you are and work with what you have.
Starting is the hardest part, and it’s your job to make it the perfect time to go after your goals and pursue your passions.
The51 is proud to partner with the National Angel Capital Organization (NACO) in telling founder stories to accelerate the representation of women within Canada’s innovation economy.