Deathcare Innovation Lab
NFDA event proposal
Proposal for the 2027 NFDA Leadership Conference

July 11–14, 2027Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa · Santa Ana Pueblo, NM

Learn it in the session. Build it in the hackathon.

An innovation & technology education session paired with a hands-on, no-code hackathon — where funeral professionals turn real problems into working tools.

The session The hackathon Open AI Gateway

Lovable is interested in sponsoring — sponsorship in discussion.

Format
Talk + hackathon
Teams
1–4 people
Coding needed
None
Capacity
75–100 (proposed)

Watch

The proposal in 60 seconds.

A short walk through the session, the hackathon and what it takes — cut for the Leadership Conference proposal.

The need

Funeral service doesn’t need more talk about technology. It needs hands on it.

NFDA’s Leadership Conference brings funeral service leaders together. It’s the right room to turn strategic conversations about innovation into practical tools leaders can champion in their firms and communities.

01

Technology talk outpaces adoption

Funeral professionals hear about AI every year, but few leave a session able to use it on Monday morning.

02

The best ideas sit with practitioners

Directors, arrangers and operators know exactly where families and staff struggle — they’ve rarely had a way to build the fix.

03

Building software no longer needs code

AI-assisted, no-code tools mean a clear description of a problem can become a working prototype in hours.

“The next meaningful deathcare innovation may come from someone who has never written a line of code.”

Part 1 · Education session

The Future of Deathcare Is Being Built Without Code

A practical innovation & technology session for funeral service leaders, owners and association leadership. No jargon — just what AI-assisted building is, how to guide responsible adoption, and how to turn a priority into a working tool.

Length
45–60 minutes (proposed)
Audience
Leaders, owners & association leadership
Style
Talk + live demo
Leads into
The hackathon

Attendees will learn

  • What AI-assisted, no-code building really is — demystified in plain language
  • Live demo: a real funeral home problem turned into a working app on stage
  • Where it helps families, staff and compliance — and where it shouldn’t be used
  • Privacy, data and ethical guardrails for deathcare settings
  • A simple framework attendees can use to pick their first problem to solve

Part 2 · The hackathon

No Code. Real Challenges. Working Solutions.

A guided build experience where funeral service leaders collaborate on shared challenges and leave with a working prototype they can champion in their firms, associations or communities.

Funeral professionals collaborating around a laptop
  1. Before

    Submit an idea

    Attendees share a real problem from their work ahead of the conference.

  2. Day 1

    Learn & form teams

    The education session kicks off; teams of 1–4 pick a challenge track.

  3. Day 2

    Guided build

    Coaches from deathcare and technology help each team build a working prototype.

  4. Day 3

    Live showcase

    Teams demo what they built to fellow leaders, industry coaches and judges on the Leadership Conference stage.

  5. After

    Keep building

    Every participant leaves with their own build, plus follow-up check-ins.

Challenge tracks

Family Experience

Arrangements, communication, personalization and aftercare.

Operations & Efficiency

Scheduling, checklists, handoffs and day-of readiness.

Cremation & Compliance

Chain of custody, verification and audit-ready records.

Cemetery & Memorialization

Property discovery, memorial options and grounds work.

Growth & Preplanning

Pricing transparency, education and follow-up.

For attendees · AI-powered

Find your challenge. Bring your strengths.

NFDA Leadership Conference

Your answers are sent to Lovable AI for this recommendation, not posted to other attendees. Don’t include private family or client information.

There’s a place for your expertise.

Problem expert. Builder. Tester. Storyteller. No coding background required.

Why it stands out

A conference moment attendees will talk about.

Hands-on, not slides

Attendees leave with something they made, not a notebook of notes.

Built by members

Ideas come from people doing the work, across every role and firm size.

Education that sticks

The session teaches it; the hackathon proves it. Learning by doing.

A showcase moment

A live demo stage that turns leadership priorities into tangible tools and shared momentum.

Partnership

What it takes to make it happen.

What we’d ask of NFDA

  • An education session slot in the conference program
  • Workshop space for the hackathon
  • A showcase slot on the Leadership Conference stage
  • Promotion to attendees and members
  • Help recruiting industry coaches
  • A conference coordination contact

What our team provides

  • Session content and live demo
  • Attendee platform, powered by Lovable
  • Coaches and technical support
  • Running the build and showcase
  • Outcome report for NFDA

Proposed Lovable sponsorship

  • The Lovable platform every team builds on
  • AI credits so prototypes cost attendees nothing
  • Technical coaches and mentors during the build
  • Sponsorship of the live showcase
  • A prize for the standout prototype

Let’s build it together at the NFDA Leadership Conference.

Open to NFDA, coaches and partners — with Lovable in discussion as sponsor.

Start the conversation