Turning ashes into sparking diamonds is almost as magical as turning water into wine, but one Austin-based company, Eterneva, has found a way to do it. Their innovation thus far has raised eyebrows, and it has also raised $3 million to continue its growth. As part of the funding, the startup is adding a larger facility which will expand its production capabilities to a maximum output of around 75 diamonds per year. The startup, which recently won the Emerging Startup Award at TechCrunch Disrupt in New York, plans to continue to satisfy a growing need in the funeral industry market, which has sorely lacked innovation. Subscribe Daily to Statesman
Adelle Archer, the co-founder and CEO, believes there is a growing need for direct-to-consumer diamond adoption and that this brings personalization and service to the industry. “The company has not made a profit yet, but we’re really, really happy about our process, our progress, and our customers,” Archer said. The seed round includes Delta Partners, Andreessen Horowitz, Lerer Hippeau Ventures, and Kima Ventures, among others angel investors. Zappos founder Tony Hsieh, an additional investor, has believed in the company’s vision from the beginning. Eterneva’s goal is to release their diamonds on market by mid-2020, which will further bring these diamonds to the public. The gemstones are not gem quality, but are a true blue diamond, according to Archer. This means the diamonds have the same under-the-skin color as the natural diamond, but are very naturally shaped and produced. “When a customer chooses a fraction of a carat size, we’re one step closer to having diamond engagement rings,” Archer said. Eterneva uses white and black cremated ashes as a way to fulfill the individual’s wishes. Even cremated pets can turn into diamonds that last forever, and the memorial and memory of lives lived with value is one of the goals of these keepsakes. Read: https://phaneuf.net/eterneva-memorial-diamonds
