Startup Debuted Tech for Easier Estate Planning
A new platform aims to simplify how households manage beneficiary updates and document access during financial transitions.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Financial Planning
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Financial technology startup Prismm recently showcased its new banking infrastructure software at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco. The system is designed to help households manage estate planning and streamline the transfer of assets to beneficiaries.
Why it matters
The founders created this software to address the lack of digital infrastructure for managing financial transitions after a death. This technology could eventually change how families handle account documentation and asset transfers during difficult life events.
Founded in 2020 by Martha Underwood and Shella Sylla, the company developed its infrastructure to combat deposit loss when heirs shift assets to other banks. The platform is currently in the development stage for its next product, Prismm Continuity.
The players
Prismm
A financial technology company providing software for estate planning and beneficiary transfers.
Martha Underwood
A co-founder of Prismm who established the firm in 2020 to modernize financial transitions.
Shella Sylla
A co-founder of Prismm who focuses on creating digital infrastructure for estate planning.
The details
The platform functions by integrating directly into bank core systems to allow account holders to update beneficiaries digitally. Users can store account information and documents through the Prismm Anchor tool, which grants designated family members verified access. This system relies on pre-verified identity and consent to facilitate remote transfers of assets between generations.
Timeline
2017: The founders' father was hospitalized following Hurricane Irma.
2020: Martha Underwood and Shella Sylla founded Prismm.
October 14, 2026: Prismm presented its technology at TechCrunch Disrupt.
October 15, 2026: The TechCrunch Disrupt Startup Battlefield winner will be announced.
Money Landscape
The debut at TechCrunch Disrupt follows the established pattern of fintech startups using major industry stages to introduce tools that challenge traditional, paper-heavy banking workflows. This move marks an attempt to modernize the digital infrastructure of estate and beneficiary planning.
If your bank adopts this infrastructure, you may eventually be able to manage your estate designations and document sharing directly through your existing online portal. You should discuss your current estate planning documentation with a qualified financial or tax professional.
The takeaway
Digital tools are increasingly focusing on the friction-heavy process of estate asset transfers. Consider reviewing your current beneficiary designations at your primary bank to ensure your records are up to date with existing institutional systems.
What happens next
TechCrunch Disrupt will announce its Startup Battlefield winner on Thursday, October 15, 2026.
Further reading
For more on managing long-term assets and family transitions, visit our section on Financial Planning.
Live Poll
Do you trust your bank to handle your family's inheritance process without unnecessary friction?
