The African legal tech industry has been in the shadows for a long time, gaining very little attention or interest from the public or investors. However, Juridoc recently broke the mold by securing funding from investors and bringing the spotlight back to the possibilities for technological innovations in legal practices.
While combining law and technology might not seem like an easy adventure, it’s a rather intriguing prospect that should attract more interest in the future. However, as things stand, the industry has not been gaining the attention it deserves. In this AU-Startups watchlist, we’re spotlighting some of the resilient legal tech startup ventures braving through these unfavourable situations across Africa.
These innovative startups are creating solutions to address the challenges associated with legal processes and documentation on the continent. These companies are leveraging technology to enhance access to legal services, streamline documentation, and improve overall legal efficiency.
Hence Technologies
Founders: Boko Inyundo, Sean West
Founded: 2020, Rwanda
Hence Technologies is a legal tech company specializing in strategic legal management. The company offers a suite of solutions aimed at streamlining operations, improving efficiency, and enhancing decision-making within the legal and compliance sectors.
Hence Technologies currently operates an AI-powered platform designed to help businesses optimize their legal operations through data-driven insights. The software provides a robust system that connects companies to the right legal experts while tracking and analyzing performance metrics. Among its many features, the solution offers enhanced matter management, geopolitical risk assessment, and AI-powered decision-making support.
Through these solutions, Hence Technologies is transforming how legal services are sourced and managed. Its innovative approach allows organizations to make informed decisions, improve efficiency, and reduce legal costs.
Legafrik
Founder: Youssouf BALLO
Founded: 2017, Ivory Coast
Legafrik is a Francophone Africa-focused digital company specializing in legal and administrative assistance. The company has developed an innovative solution through which it offers a suite of legal and compliance services.
Legafrik’s digital platform provides business creation and administrative services aimed at streamlining processes for business owners. In essence, the company offers services including business formation, statutory modifications, trademark registration, business domiciliation, and even debt recovery.
Using Legafrik’s platform, entrepreneurs can easily register businesses, draft legal documents, and ensure full legal compliance for their operations. As a pioneer in the Francophone legal tech space, Legafrik is streamlining business processes for startups and SMEs.
DIYLaw
Founders: Odunoluwa Longe, Chinwe Okeke, Mary Abraham
Founded: 2015, Nigeria
DIYLaw is a legal tech startup developing innovative solutions aimed at helping businesses streamline compliance and legal documentation. The self-acclaimed “one-stop hub for everything legal” strives to provide a comprehensive solution for entrepreneurs to meet all their legal needs.
DIYLaw operates an automated platform where users can carry out legal procedures like registering companies, securing intellectual property rights, and drafting legal contracts.
DIYLaw’s solution provides access to simplified, quality legal services at affordable prices in Nigeria. The company’s impact on Nigeria’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is significant, offering SMEs direct control over their business and legal needs.
BriefCo
Founders: Catherine-Jane Paulse, Carl N
Founded: 2020, South Africa
BriefCo is a South African startup specializing in legal consulting services. The company aims to help businesses and individuals access the legal information they need for their business or personal activities.
BriefCo operates a digital platform that automates client consultations, enabling clients to access necessary legal information and cost consultation services efficiently. Additionally, the platform provides legal document drafting and processing. The company drafts and opposes bills of cost, engages in settlement negotiations, and attends taxation.
BriefCo’s solution is designed to reduce time spent on repetitive tasks and help law firms manage documents efficiently. Through its innovative technology, BriefCo is making legal practices more agile and competitive.
Juridoc
Founders: Assali Kais, Maya Boureghda Chebeane, Anis Wahabi
Founded: 2021, Tunisia
Juridoc is a legal tech startup that provides AI-powered legal document automation solutions for businesses and legal practitioners. The company is modernizing legal services through its AI-powered search engine, which gives legal professionals quick access to legal insights.
Its platform simplifies legal processes, making it easier for companies to generate, review, and manage contracts efficiently. The platform’s streamlined processes help reduce manual workload and improve accuracy in legal documentation.
Juridoc’s technology-driven approach makes complex legal procedures more accessible and manageable.
ERM Libryo
Founders: Garth Watson, Malcolm Gray, Peter Flynn
Founded: 2016, South Africa
ERM Libryo is a cloud-based regulatory intelligence platform that helps organizations manage their legal compliance obligations efficiently. Initially founded as Libryo and later acquired by ERM in 2022, the platform focuses on environmental, health, and safety (EHS) compliance. It offers real-time updates and customized legal registers tailored to specific industries and locations, allowing businesses to stay on top of evolving regulations.
Through its advanced automation and data-driven insights, ERM Libryo significantly reduces the complexity of legal compliance, particularly for multinational organizations navigating diverse legal landscapes. The platform’s integration into ERM’s digital solutions enhances its role in promoting sustainable and responsible operations. ERM Libryo empowers companies to proactively manage compliance risks, helping them stay aligned with regulatory requirements while focusing on core business objectives.
These legal tech startups are not only modernizing legal services across Africa but also playing a crucial role in improving access to justice and supporting business operations. As the legal landscape continues to evolve, these companies are at the forefront, empowering professionals and enterprises with innovative, technology-driven solutions.
