How to Write a Eulogy for Your Business Partner - Eulogy Examples & Tips

Losing a business partner is both personal and professional all at once. You are grieving a person you cared about and a collaborator who shaped the company you built together. This guide gives you a clear way to prepare remarks that honor the person, reflect the work, and help colleagues and clients feel grounded. We explain terms you might not know and give ready to use examples and templates you can adapt.

Who this guide is for

This article is for cofounders, partners, executives, managers, and close colleagues asked to speak after a business partner dies. Maybe you are the public face of the company or maybe the family asked you specifically to speak. Maybe you had a complicated relationship. That is okay. There are examples for short formal remarks, casual startup style tributes, and honest respectful scripts for strained relationships.

What is a eulogy for a business partner

A eulogy is a short speech that honors someone who has died. In a business setting it is a chance to remember who the person was as a human and as a professional. It differs from an obituary which lists facts like birth and death dates and survivors. A eulogy tells a story. It connects personal memory with the impact on the company, the team, and the community you served.

Terms you might see and what they mean

• Obituary A published notice that includes basic biographical facts and service details.
• Order of service The schedule for a funeral or memorial listing speakers, music, and readings.
• Cofounder A person who started the business with one or more partners. Use this word instead of co founder if you prefer no punctuation.
• Estate The legal and financial matters left behind after someone dies. Companies often coordinate with the estate for official statements and ownership issues.
• PR Short for public relations. This covers how the company will communicate the death publicly.
• HR Short for human resources. HR will likely coordinate internal announcements and support for employees.
• Memorial fund A fund set up to accept donations in memory of the deceased. It can support a cause they cared about or provide immediate help to family.

How long should a eulogy be

Keep it tight. Aim for three to six minutes. That usually equals around 400 to 700 spoken words. Short focused remarks often feel more genuine in a business setting. If multiple people are speaking coordinate length so the event stays on schedule.

Before you start writing

Taking a few practical steps makes the writing feel less overwhelming.

• Confirm who asked you to speak Check with the family and with company leadership. Make sure your role and the tone are appropriate.
• Ask about time Know your time limit. Also ask where your remarks fit in the order of events.
• Decide the tone Do you want formal, warm, funny, or a mix? In corporate settings lean respectful and clear. In smaller teams you can be more personal and candid.
• Gather material Talk to close colleagues and family for one or two favorite stories. Get simple facts like job titles and major projects right.
• Choose three focus points Pick three themes to structure your remarks. For example leadership, mentorship, and kindness. Three keeps it memorable.

Structure that works for a business setting

Use a simple shape so people can follow and so you can write faster.

• Opening Say who you are and your relationship to the partner. Offer one line about why you are speaking.
• Professional life sketch Give a concise overview of their role in the company and major contributions.
• Personal anecdotes Share one or two short stories that reveal character and the way they worked.
• Impact and values Summarize what people will remember and what the company learned.
• Closing Offer a goodbye line, a short quote, or a call to action such as donating to a memorial fund or honoring their preferred value.

Writing the opening

Start simply. Your name and relationship give people context and buy you a breath. Then say one clear sentence about the day.

Opening examples

• Hello everyone. I am Maya, a cofounded with Alex and today I want to say a few words about Alex and the work we did together.
• Good afternoon. I am James, the CEO, and I am honored to share some memories of Priya who was our head of product and my close friend.
• Hi. I am Sam. I worked with Diego for ten years and I will speak about the parts of him that shaped our company the most.

How to write the professional life sketch

This is not a resume. Focus on the roles and achievements that connect to the story you are telling. Use plain language and avoid industry jargon unless you explain it.

Life sketch templates

• [Name] joined [Company] in [year] as [role]. Over the years they led [major project], helped scale the team from [number] to [number], and were known for [signature style or habit].
• [Name] was a cofounded who built the product and kept everyone honest about customer needs. They believed in simple solutions and in giving junior hires a chance to lead.

Anecdotes that land in a workplace

Work stories that are specific and short are the most useful. They help colleagues remember the person as both colleague and friend.

Good anecdote examples

• When we had a product meltdown the night before launch, they arrived at the office with a box of bagels and stayed until dawn coaching the team through the fix. They never let panic win and they fed us while they did it.
• They had a rule that every new hire got lunch with them in week one. It was not about the food. It was how they listened and wrote one strength and one growth area on a sticky note for each person.
• On investor days they would always start with a joke to settle nerves and then hit the numbers with a clear roadmap. It made everyone feel both calm and capable.

Addressing complicated relationships at work

Not every professional relationship is smooth. You can be honest without being hurtful or airing grievances in public. Focus on what you learned or what changed.

Examples for complicated partnerships

• We did not always agree. We clashed on strategy more than once. Those fights forced us to be clearer and the company was better for it. In the end we respected each other enough to keep the conversation honest.
• There were times when they pushed too hard and I pushed back. Looking back I see that their intensity came from a fierce belief in the mission. I learned to turn that intensity into a step by step plan.
• Our relationship evolved. In early years they carried the team. Later they became a mentor to a new generation and I loved seeing that transition. Those years of mentorship mattered deeply.

Using humor the right way in a business eulogy

Humor can be a relief for a team but keep it earned and inclusive. Avoid anything that might embarrass colleagues or bring up pending disputes.

Safe humor examples

• They loved spreadsheets more than people admit. If you lost a cell reference they would personally rescue it at 2 a.m. We joked that they had a secret spreadsheet shrine.
• They had a weird love for novelty mugs. If you needed to find them in the office look for the largest mug with the smallest plant in it.

What to avoid when speaking about a business partner

• Avoid discussing sensitive legal or financial details. Leave those to official statements.
• Avoid using the moment to settle company disputes or to assign blame.
• Avoid oversharing private family matters or confidential conversations.
• Avoid long lists of accomplishments without human stories to give them meaning.

Full eulogy examples you can adapt

Below are complete examples that you can personalize. Replace bracketed text with names and details. Each follows the structure above.

Example 1: Short formal company tribute

Hello. I am Laura, the COO. It is an honor to say a few words about Michael who was our chief technology officer and a founder of the company. Michael joined the company in 2012 and built the engineering team from five people to fifty. He was the engineer who could both draw a scalable architecture on a napkin and then help someone debug a stubborn bug in production.

One memory that captures him is from our first major outage. He arrived at the office at midnight carrying a camping lantern because the generator had failed. He joked that it made everything feel heroic and then calmly directed the team until the systems were restored. He taught us to keep calm, to be curious, and to never under estimate the value of a good flashlight.

Michael mentored dozens of engineers and he believed in talent over title. We will honor him by continuing to build with the same care he showed every day. Please join me in a moment of silence and then in sharing one memory of how Michael helped you grow. Thank you.

Example 2: Casual startup style

Hey everyone. I am Priya, Alex s cofounded and friend. If you met Alex you knew two things. First they loved coffee more than sleep. Second they loved saying yes to wild ideas and then making them real. We built this company because Alex would show up with a sticky note and say let us try this. They also had a habit of stealing my chair when they wanted to be closer to the whiteboard.

My favorite moment was the night we launched the first beta. We sat in a small room, nervously refreshing our phones. When the first user signed up Alex whooped like we had won the World Cup. That whoop became our secret signal for small wins. The company will keep that whoop alive in the little rituals we share.

Alex taught us to be brave and to laugh at failure. I will miss their energy and their terrible karaoke choices. Thank you for being here and for holding their memory with us.

Example 3: Complicated partnership, honest and respectful

My name is Daniel. I started this company with Maria fifteen years ago. We had a partnership that was sometimes messy and always real. We argued about strategy, payroll, and color palettes. We also had dinners at two a.m. where we planned for growth and apologized for the small cruelties of the day.

Maria pushed me to be bolder than I wanted to be. She could be blunt to the point of discomfort but she always meant to move the company forward. In her last months we had a conversation that felt like closure. We both said what we needed to say and then said thank you. That felt like a gift.

Maria taught me how to hold both conviction and compassion. I am grateful for every hard conversation and every victory we shared.

Fill in the blank templates

Use these templates and swap in your details. Read aloud and edit for your voice.

Template A: Short formal

My name is [Your Name] and I am [role] at [Company]. [Partner Name] was our [role or title]. They joined in [year] and were known for [two strengths]. One story that captures them is [brief story]. They taught us [value or lesson]. We will miss [what people will miss]. Please join me in honoring them by [call to action].

Template B: Casual startup

Hi. I am [Your Name], a cofounded with [Partner Name]. [Partner Name] loved [quirky habit]. They also did the hard work of [contribution]. My favorite memory is [funny or tender moment]. If I had to explain their legacy it would be [one sentence]. Thank you for being here.

Template C: For complicated relationships

My name is [Your Name]. My partnership with [Partner Name] was complicated. We fought about [issue] and we celebrated every small win. Over time we learned from each other. One thing I will always remember is [memory]. If I could say something now it would be [short line you want to say].

Delivery tips for speaking at a company memorial

• Print your speech Large font on paper is easier than a phone when emotions are high.
• Use cue cards Write one or two lines on each card to avoid losing your place.
• Mark pauses Note where to breathe and where the audience might clap or laugh.
• Practice out loud Read to a trusted colleague or to yourself. Practice gets your throat used to the words.
• Bring tissues and water Small comforts help. If you choke up take a breath and continue. The room will support you.
• Coordinate with HR and PR Let them know what you will say in case there are company wide announcements or sensitive details to avoid.
• Keep a copy for the family Offer to send your remarks to the family or to HR for inclusion in a memory book.

Handling company announcements and public statements

Often the company will make an official statement. Coordinate with PR so your remarks do not conflict with the official message. If you will also talk publicly to investors or clients check with leadership about what the company is ready to share. Keep legal and financial details for the estate and for official communications.

Memorial funds, donations, and requests from the family

The family may request donations to a memorial fund or prefer private condolences. Check before announcing any fund publicly. If the family wants people to donate to a charity name it clearly and give a link in the follow up email. If the family prefers flowers or messages share that too. Respecting the family s wishes keeps grief focused on remembrance rather than logistics.

Sharing the eulogy in company channels

• Ask family permission before posting the full text or a recording to social media.
• Consider posting a short excerpt and a link to an official company statement for wider audiences.
• Send an internal email with key takeaways and resources for grief support through HR.

Checklist before you speak

• Confirm time limit and where you will stand.
• Check microphone setup and volume.
• Practice at least three times out loud.
• Bring a printed copy and cue cards.
• Coordinate with HR and PR about sensitive content.
• Have a brief message ready for social or public channels if asked after the event.

Glossary of useful business terms and acronyms

• CEO Chief executive officer. The person who leads the company s strategy and often acts as public face.
• COO Chief operating officer. The person responsible for day to day operations.
• CTO Chief technology officer. The person who leads technical strategy and engineering.
• PR Public relations. The strategy and communication for public announcements.
• HR Human resources. The department that supports employees and coordinates internal communications.
• Estate Legal and financial matters left after someone dies. The company may need to coordinate with the estate for ownership questions.
• Memorial fund A fund set up for donations in memory of the deceased. This can support a charity or provide support to family.

Frequently asked questions

Who should speak at a company memorial

Choose people who had a meaningful professional relationship with the deceased and who can speak clearly and calmly. Common choices include a cofounded, CEO, direct manager, or a close colleague. Coordinate with the family and HR so the speakers match what the family wants.

What if I do not feel ready to speak publicly

It is okay to decline. Offer to write a short note or to have a colleague read your words. You can also provide a recorded message or a written tribute for a memory book. The company will value honesty and will find another way to include your sentiment.

Should the eulogy include company financial or ownership details

No. Leave legal, financial, and ownership details to formal company statements and to the estate. Use the eulogy to honor the person and their contributions in human terms.

Can I include a poem or a quote

Yes. Short quotes or two line excerpts from a poem work well. Keep readings brief so they support rather than interrupt the flow of the event. Confirm the family and HR are comfortable with the selection.

How do I handle questions from clients or investors

Coordinate with PR. Prepare a short factual statement about the company s continuity plans and express sympathy. Avoid giving detailed legal or financial answers in informal conversations. Direct people to official statements when needed.

Is it appropriate to mention ongoing company projects

Yes in the context of honoring the partner s work. Focus on how their work shaped the team and the product. Avoid promising specific deliverables unless the company leadership has approved that message.