Posts by Monica Zent

As cloud computing and AI expert David Linthicum recently wrote, “AI is often described as a transformative technology, but transformation is anything but easy.” That’s why, as AI transforms the legal sector, it was imperative to convene a panel during SF Tech Week composed of legal industry leaders who’ve made AI work – Okta’s Russell…

In just the past two weeks, since publishing Venture Legal’s LegalTech Goes Global (Part 1):   As VC-funding startups rapidly scale globally, this week’s edition of Venture Legal is Part 2 of the LegalTech Goes Global series. This week I’m exploring:   Follow me on Substack and subscribe to read the featured story! Venture Legal,…

When Business Insider, reporting that LegalTech funding had crossed $1 billion so far this year, curated a select list of 10 LegalTech startups, two hailed from outside the U.S. – Sweden’s Legora, which had an $80M raise in May, and Britain’s Luminance, which had a $75M round in February.  This week’s edition of Venture Legal…

“A foundational shift is underway in the legal sector – driven by generative AI, rising cost pressures, and a new wave of founder-led innovation,” wrote Alumni Ventures’ Clare Brandfonbrener this summer. “But this won’t be a winner-take-all market,” she notes. Amid rapid AI-driven change, big startup funding rounds, and intense competition for market share, in…

As the AI boom continues, the numbers can be startling. CNBC reported that AI startups have minted dozens of new billionaires this year, and there are now 498 AI unicorns with valuations of $1 billion or more, with a combined value of $2.7 trillion. For companies operating in this space, maintaining regulatory compliance has become…

The Information’s headline summed up the mood: “AI Forces Silicon Valley to Confront a Moment of Ecstasy and Agony.” The subhead added: “The technology has sparked enormous excitement among CEOs, founders, and investors, and tremendous fear that they could very quickly get left behind in an upended landscape.” For founders building in the AI space,…

“As Figma goes public, a turning point in the long-awaited IPO market recovery takes shape,” read Fortune’s headline. The IPO came after a planned merger with Adobe fell apart in 2023, with the design software unicorn’s offering valued at nearly $20 billion. This milestone reflected broader trends in legal tech investments, where venture-backed companies are…

It was week of “cryptocurrency drama” on the House floor, with the House set to vote on crypto-related bills during the Capitol’s “Crypto Week.” As investors waited to see if crypto regulatory frameworks would pass, the July 4th passage of The One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) Act introduced changes for startups and VCs, highlighting the…

Jason Shuman, General Partner at Primary Venture Partners, wrote that “It’s never been easier to start a company, and never harder to build a durable one.” That observation resonates strongly in today’s AI and legal tech startup ecosystem. Deals in the billions are becoming regular headlines. AI startup Thinking Machines Lab reportedly secured a $2…

When Tim Cook said more than a decade ago that competition makes everyone better, he probably did not imagine how relevant those words would be to the rise of artificial intelligence in venture capital. The Original Copy investment race has created an environment where speed and precision matter more than ever. Similar patterns are also…