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Former Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko has backed Austrian startup "Lebensstimmen", known on the international market as "Words That Remain". The company is developing a tech platform enabling users to create personalised farewell messages to be shared after their passing.
The innovative venture was officially unveiled at a media event in Vienna, where Marko appeared alongside the project's founders and St. Stephen's Cathedral parish priest, Toni Faber.
Powered by artificial intelligence and digital avatars, the platform allows individuals to craft messages during their lifetime, choosing the recipients and specific circumstances for their delivery. The system even offers the option for the deceased to symbolically address mourners during their own funeral service.
Speaking at the launch, the 1971 Le Mans winner drew parallels between his latest business venture and the role of technological innovation in motorsport.
"This project relies on cutting-edge technologies, primarily artificial intelligence. It opens up a unique way to express one's final wishes, as well as an opportunity for the deceased to personally address those attending their funeral," Marko said. "Highly qualified technical and legal experts are behind the initiative, and the market potential is global. In motorsport, nothing was ever left to chance—it progressed thanks to the courage to consistently apply new technology for the benefit of humans. I recognise that exact same attitude in Lebensstimmen."
Among the project's key features is the "Fabertar"—a virtual orator developed in collaboration with Father Faber. The tool is designed to deliver memorial eulogies when requested by relatives or when a traditional speaker is unavailable, without aiming to replace standard religious and mourning rituals.
According to the founders, the AI-generated messages will be built entirely on authentic information from real individuals, undergo human review, and be clearly marked as digital content. Dedicated legal and technical partners have been enlisted to maintain privacy and data security standards.
The move marks an unexpected venture for Marko, who parted ways with Red Bull at the end of 2025 after more than two decades as a pivotal figure in the team. As the architect of the young driver programme, he played a defining role in launching the careers of several Formula 1 superstars, including Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen.
Since stepping down, the Austrian has kept a low profile, although his name recently returned to the headlines following remarks on Liam Lawson's future at Racing Bulls and claims made in former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner's autobiography. The financial terms of Marko's investment in the startup remain undisclosed.
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