Eight African tech startups focusing on the legal industry are competing for the ultimate prize of € 10 000 in funding and a spot in the HiiL Justice Accelerator.
The selected startup will win a once-off non-equity funding grant of €10 000 and a place in the in the HiiL Justice Accelerator
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The Justice Accelerator is founded and hosted by the Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL). HiiL aims to ensure that individuals have equal access to legal advice and specialists.
As the Covid-19 pandemic has starkly highlighted economic inequality around the globe, the accelerator aims to find tech-driven innovations that are able to prevent or resolve a legal dispute.
Focusing on Southern Africa, the accelerator has selected eight semi-finalist tech startups to take part in an intensive bootcamp. At the end of the bootcamp, five finalists will be selected.
Themba Mahleka, co-head of the HiiL Justice Accelerator Southern Africa explains that this year’s Bootcamp will also focus on the impact of Covid-19 and access to justice for ordinary people across the region.
“It is important to ensure that our sessions remain relevant to the everyday struggles of the country. Reviewing the finalists has been such a fulfilling experience as innovation for justice is alive and well, with many small businesses passionately supporting this vital need in society today.”
The five finalists will have to pitch their business model and concept for a spot in the HiiL Justice Accelerator. In addition, the selected startup will win a once-off non-equity funding grant of €10 000. The winner will be announced on 30 September 2020.
The eight selected tech startups
Mahleka comments on the nominated finalists, expressing that each of them has presented sustainable business models that show impressive growth potential and the ability to resolve justice issues that are relevant to a large number of people.
“We are very excited about the calibre of our finalists this year. Our selection process is thorough and based specifically on the potential impact, scale, and sustainability for justice innovations.”
The eight participating finalists
A digital legal consultancy, which is democratising the law for everyday South African people and business owners by offering affordable, accessible digital legal services, products, and content.
Green Governance Zimbabwe Trust
As a tech startup, Green Governance Zimbabwe Trust aims to provide innovative methods of access to legal advice and justice for artisanal and small-scale miners in Zimbabwe.
Luma Law functions as a chatbot service that provides practical legal information on the various legal processes. The chatbot is able to share this information Facebook Messanger. In addition, Luma Law provides access to affordable and on-demand legal assistance.
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The tech startup functions as a platform for the registration of appliances and devices, providing them an online identity to help with recovery if stolen.
Providing a much-needed service for SMEs, Lenoma Legal offers affordable virtual legal services and documentation in commercial and labor matters.
A South African startup, Get Law has created a platform aiming to simplify access to much-needed legal by allowing users to access registered attorneys at a reduced rate.
Provides online contract creation, access to legal services, and educational material in multiple South African languages.
An online document creation tool, which focuses on saving time, money, and effort in the wind-up of deceased estates.
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Featured image: Ya’eesh Cader, co-founder Get Law (Supplied)
