About
Some voices deserve to outlive us.
Aeterna began with a simple regret — a grandmother's stories we never got around to recording. We built it so no one else has to feel that quiet ache.
The storyteller is always in control of their own voice.
Our story
Aeterna started in a kitchen, with a tin of biscuits and a regret. One of our founders had spent years promising to record her grandmother's stories — and then, suddenly, there was no one left to record. The voice she'd grown up with was gone. The stories went with it.
We built Aeterna so that no one would have to feel that quiet ache again. A weekly question. A single record button. A memoir written in the storyteller's own voice. It's the product we wish we'd had.
Our mission
The storyteller is always in control of their own voice.
What we believe
- Memory is fragile, but words and voices can be saved.
- Technology should disappear behind the story.
- The storyteller is always in control of their own voice.
How we work
Storyteller first
Every feature is designed for the person being recorded — not the tech-savvy relative setting it up. One big button. No menus. No friction.
Voice is sacred
Voice cloning is opt-in, with explicit consent, and can be revoked at any moment. The storyteller decides who hears them.
Private by default
Your stories are yours. We never sell data, never train public models on your recordings, and you can export or delete everything at any time.
Made to outlive us
We design for permanence. PDF exports, open formats, and a promise: if Aeterna ever shuts down, your memoir comes home with you.
The people behind it
We're a small team of writers, engineers, and designers based across Europe — most of us with our own grandparent story we didn't get to record in time. We work slowly, carefully, and with a real human reading every support email.
- Product & writing — A team that has spent years thinking about how to ask good questions.
- Engineering — Quiet, careful builders who treat your data like family photos.
- Voice & AI — Researchers committed to consent-first voice synthesis, not novelty.
Frequently asked
Is Aeterna only for older people?
Not at all. We have parents recording for their kids, adults recording about a lost sibling, and people in their thirties writing their own memoir while life is loud. Stories don't have an age requirement.
Do I need to be technical to use it?
No. If the storyteller can tap one button on a phone or tablet, they can use Aeterna. Most setup is done by a family member; the storyteller just talks.
What happens to the memoir if Aeterna shuts down?
You can export the entire memoir as a PDF and the original audio at any time. We've also committed to a 90-day data export window in the unlikely event we ever wind down.
Can multiple family members contribute?
Yes. You can invite siblings, children, and grandchildren to listen, send custom prompts, and add their own memories alongside the main storyteller.
Begin a memoir
If there's a voice you'd like to keep, the best time to start is the next quiet evening.
Where we are
Aeterna is built in Europe and used by families around the world. If you'd like to talk to us, write to hello@aeterna.app.