An Inspired Chat with Martha Sylla Underwood

Martha Sylla Underwood shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Martha, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What battle are you avoiding?
Accepting that some aren’t meant to be on the journey with you.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m the Founder and CEO of Prismm, a transaction-enabled digital vault built to simplify one of life’s most complicated challenges what happens to your financial life and legacy when you’re no longer here.

Prismm was born out of a deeply personal experience in my own family, when a lack of clear access to critical documents created chaos at a time when we needed clarity the most. With my background in banking and technology, I knew there had to be a better way. Prismm is that solution. We help families, banks, and advisors seamlessly connect account holders with beneficiaries and automate the flow of documents, assets, and funds during life transitions.

What makes us different is that we don’t just store information, we activate it. Our platform ensures that wealth, policies, and records are transferred securely, quickly, and without unnecessary stress. It’s about continuity, dignity, and giving families peace of mind when they need it most.

Right now, I’m focused on scaling Prismm with financial institutions across the country, because I believe every bank and advisory firm should be equipped to help families protect their legacy. Beyond the product, my mission is to spark a larger cultural shift, helping people truly own their data, prepare for the future, and pass down not just wealth, but stability and empowerment for generations.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was a curious little girl who loved to ask “why” and figure out how things worked. I was a dreamer who believed I could design a better way forward whether that was solving a problem for my family, my community, or one day, the world.

That part of me never really left. It’s the same curiosity and drive that fuels me now as a founder, seeing intersections others might miss and building tools that make life easier, fairer, and more dignified for people when it matters most.

When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I stopped hiding my pain when I realized that what I went through wasn’t just mine to carry it was meant to be transformed into purpose. For years, I tried to push past the challenges of life. But eventually, I understood that my experiences were actually the blueprint for my work.

The moment I stopped pretending I was “fine” and started sharing the truth about how disorganized, overwhelming, and even traumatic life transitions can be people leaned in. They didn’t see weakness; they saw themselves. That shift turned my pain into power, because it allowed me to create Prismm not just as a company, but as a mission.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would say that what matters most to me is family, legacy, and impact. They know I measure success not just by titles or achievements, but by whether I’m leaving the world better than I found it starting with my own children and extending to my community.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
What I understand deeply something most people don’t fully grasp until they’re in the middle of it is how fragile access to our own information really is. We assume our families will “just know” what to do when the time comes, or that our financial lives will neatly organize themselves. But in reality, when crisis hits, information is scattered, systems don’t talk to each other, and loved ones are left in chaos at the exact moment they need clarity.

I’ve seen firsthand that data is the true currency of legacy. The way we protect, organize, and share that data determines whether wealth and stability continue to the next generation or get lost in confusion and delay. That’s why I built Prismm: because I deeply understand that ownership of your data is ownership of your future, and it’s one of the most overlooked truths in our lives.

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Image Credits
Photos by Martha Underwood

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