Unexpected innovation: Software for estate plans, donations, and shared property

Jun 20, 2025 - Mira Paranjape

In this day and age, there’s an app, website, or code for almost everything. Yet, with more than 3,600 technology companies and strong support from regional research institutions, San Diego companies are still creating never-been-seen-before software—and transforming legacy industries in unprecedented ways.

Estate planning made easy

For most people, end-of-life planning is probably a distant thought for the future. But what if setting up a trust or will were as easy as a single transaction online? San Diego-based software company Trust & Will is making estate planning easier and more accessible than ever before through its digital platform.

The idea for Trust & Will was born through a text between co-founders Daniel Goldstein and Cody Barbo. Goldstein pitched the idea of an online trust and will service, which led Barbo to realize that he—like 62 percent of millennials—didn’t have an estate plan himself.

Upon starting the process, Barbo quickly realized how tedious and expensive it was. But what if it could be as simple as a one-and-done transaction? After all, “I do everything else online,” he thought, “why is there not a TurboTax for estate planning?” Over the next few months, Cody, Daniel, and friend Brian Lamb came together as co-founders (and SDSU alumni, #GoAztecs) to break down the traditional barriers to estate planning. Today, Trust & Will prides itself on solving two key problems with the traditional estate planning process: cost and convenience. Where traditional estate plans can be anywhere from $2,000 to $5,000 based on location, complexity, and attorney rates, the startup’s wills start at $199 and trusts at $499, making estate planning much more accessible. The convenient online platform also allows users to purchase their plan in a single transaction and fill it out at your own pace, eliminating the need to adjust your schedule for a visit to an attorney’s office. And help is still readily available through Trust & Will’s Learn Center, chatbot, customer service team, and attorney support.

All for one and funds for all

As one of the biggest global crowdfunding platforms, you probably know GoFundMe, but you may not know it started in San Diego.

Founded in 2010 by Brad Damphousse and Andy Ballester, GoFundMe set itself apart from other crowdfunding sites by providing a platform for users to gather donations for personal needs instead of a tangible product. As former CEO Rob Soloman explained, “There may be a limited amount of good ideas for product-based campaigns at any given time, but there will always be people with causes or needs.”

What began as a two-person startup has quickly expanded into a multi-million-dollar company that has helped more than 190 million people raise $40 billion since its founding in 2010. GoFundMe has raised money for causes across the world like the crisis in Gaza, and closer to home like the San Diego floods and the Los Angeles fires. In particular, the L.A. fires was a testament to the power of the platform, with more than $250 million donated to victims in a month—$20 million more than the amount raised for all natural disasters worldwide in 2024. After its 2017 acquisition of CrowdRise, best known for charity event fundraising, GoFundMe returned to its San Diego roots by acquiring fellow San Diego software company and online fundraising platform Classy in 2022. Now named GoFundMe Pro, the platform helps nonprofits build engaging fundraising campaigns through online donation pages, crowdfunding sites, and event pages.

Your choice of people, one co-owned property

Let’s be honest, who hasn’t daydreamed about buying one big house with their closest friends? Lucky for you, what seems like a distant dream may be more of a possibility than you think thanks to Joynt, an up-and-coming SaaS platform headquartered in La Jolla.

Part of Connect’s Class of 2025 Cool Companies, Joynt aims to make co-owning property easy, accessible, and enjoyable. Co-owners can enter an existing property to manage or find a new to share. Joynt also has a wide variety of tools to help manage financial, legal, and decision-making needs.

For instance, users can stay on top of finances by using the platform to track expenses, manage budgets, split bills, and automate payments. Joynt can also help users set up an LLC and oversee key legal agreements, so your assets and peace of mind are protected. Finally, the platform allows you to track decisions together such as house rules and scheduling agreements, so everyone is on the same page—and of course, always see a history of your decisions in case someone needs a reminder. Joynt is currently taking applications for its Early Access Program, so start putting together your perfect group of co-owners.

Get involved in innovation

With innovative software growing in San Diego, it’s the perfect time to get involved. Join the teams brainstorming the next big thing at Trust & Will, GoFundMe, and Joynt.