Nnamdi Emelifeonwu’s curiosity about his colleague Feargus MacDaeid’s work life as one of the few registered blind lawyers in the U.K led to the creation of Definely, an AI legal tech startup transforming the way lawyers review and edit complex contracts.
In 2017, Emelifeonwu and MacDaeid joined forces to establish Definely, a groundbreaking AI legal tech startup focused on enhancing the process of reviewing and editing intricate contracts for lawyers.
Recently, the U.K.-based company secured a $30 million Series B funding round from a combination of European and North American investors, including Revaia, Alumni Ventures, and Beacon Capital, following a successful $7 million Series A funding round last year.
Definely offers a comprehensive productivity suite designed to streamline legal drafting and review processes. The suite includes features like Draft, Vault, Proof, and a PDF tool, enabling lawyers to navigate definitions, insert clauses, check for inconsistencies, and analyze scanned legal documents seamlessly.
Looking ahead, Emelifeonwu shared that Definely has recently launched an agentic AI system called Enhance, which collaborates with Microsoft Word to streamline drafting, reviewing, and proofreading tasks for legal professionals.
Despite the challenges faced during the fundraising process, Emelifeonwu described it as ultimately rewarding. The company’s lead investor for the Series B round, Revaia, was introduced to them, while other investors approached Definely directly.
With the fresh capital raised, Definely plans to expand its presence in the U.S., increase investments in AI technology, and grow its team to continue innovating in the legal tech space.
In the legal contract industry, companies like Luminance, Robin AI, and ContractPodAi are also making strides in transforming how legal professionals work with contracts.
As a Nigerian immigrant in the U.K., Emelifeonwu’s entrepreneurial journey began after realizing the potential impact of solving challenges he faced as a lawyer. He hopes that Definely’s success as a Black founder in the venture fundraising landscape will inspire others to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams and create lasting impact.