Inspiring Conversations with Catherine Howse of Wonder Capusle

Today we’d like to introduce you to Catherine Howse.

Hi Catherine, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My first memory capsule was a shoebox that my best friend, Allison and I buried on the side of her house, when we were about 8 years old. It was a shoebox we filled with letters written to our teenage selves and friendship bracelets, which we planned to open 10 years later. She was killed by a drunk-driver when we were 17 and her passing was my first real experience with a deep grief. It was the kind of grief that until it doesn’t so much. I hadn’t felt that feeling again until my Dad suddenly passed away from a heart attack. In the year that followed his passing, I remember the hardest days being the days that we would typical call each other for a celebration – a birthday, Father’s Days, Christmas etc. I did not realize how much the absence of his voice would have on me. One night, I woke up with a panic that the same thing would happen to my Mom. I figured if I could just have her record for me a short message or a simple I love you, I wouldn’t feel the same longing. Perhaps it might even bring a sense of comfort. So I set off to build Wonder Capsule, which is a digital memory capsule for today and the future’s most meaningful messages. Wonder allows you to safely record, save and schedule messages so that the people you love most have a piece of you on those special days. For me, I wanted my daughter to hear her Grandmothers well wishes for her wedding day, and for my son to have the Congratulations on graduating college – just in case she wasn’t there. And then the memory of Allison hit me, that we all don’t know what our future holds, and I too should record messages for my kids. Instead of it just being for the future, I began using Wonder for reflection or day to day moments as well. Wonder was officially launched January 2025 and has been gaining memberships and we hope to add features as we continue to grow.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
For the most part it has been smooth, but certainly a learning experience the entire way. My background is in asset management, and building a SaaS company required working with a 3rd party team to help with the web development and marketing. One of the challenges we continue to face is helping our customer take action with Wonder. We have seen incredible success in our marketing outreach, feedback and numbers that would make your jaw drop. But when it comes to taking those first steps to create your first message for someone comes the hesitation of “omg this is if I die” and that is a reality that is still uncomfortable for a lot of people.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Wonder Capusle?
Wonder Capsule is a digital memory capsule, where users can safely create, save and send meaningful messages now and in the future.

Modern devices allow us to record heartfelt messages, but how many videos and pictures do you have on your phone? And what about the future moments that you may wonder – what would he/she said to me on that day.

Wonder’s mission is to provide a secure and cherished space where you can preserve moments for yourself and your loved ones. Whether it’s a heartfelt farewell, a heartfelt acknowledgment of a special day, or a passing-on of cherished wisdom.

Today you will find many momento-type applications deliver a printed book of written stories, but they lack the emotional connection that is hearing someone’s own voice tell those stories. While many will take the time to set up a trust or a will for their financial legacy, Wonder is distinctly different, in that it serves your human legacy.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
If I was starting over today, I would have loved to better understand the timeline of taking an idea to launch. It looks us about 2.5 years of development and testing in order to launch Wonder. Most people think launching a website is easy and today AI can do most of it. But then factor in the alpha and beta testing, tweaking, bugs, and legal considerations…. its like a wedding – twice as expensive and takes a lot longer to plan than you think.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.wondercapsule.com
• Instagram: wonder.capsule
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550212386097

Image Credits
Jen Faulk Photography, Rad House Agency, soundBOX studio