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§ Private Profile · San Francisco, CA, USA
UpCounsel, Inc. is a company.
UpCounsel, Inc. has raised $17.2M across 4 funding rounds.
Key people at UpCounsel, Inc..
UpCounsel, Inc. has raised $17.2M in total across 4 funding rounds.
UpCounsel operates an online marketplace that connects businesses with a network of experienced attorneys. The platform facilitates the sourcing and hiring of legal professionals for a wide array of business needs, ranging from single consultations to the formation of full legal teams. It aims to streamline the process of acquiring legal services, making it more accessible and transparent for companies seeking specialized legal expertise.
The company was established to address the inherent inefficiencies and opacities in traditional legal service procurement. Its founders recognized a need for a more direct and efficient method for businesses, particularly entrepreneurs and smaller enterprises, to access qualified legal counsel tailored to their specific requirements. This marketplace model emerged from an insight into the fragmented nature of the legal industry and the challenges businesses faced in identifying appropriate legal support.
Primarily serving entrepreneurs and businesses of various sizes, UpCounsel's product caters to clients requiring flexible and on-demand legal assistance. The company's overarching vision is to redefine how legal services are consumed and delivered, creating an environment where businesses can effortlessly connect with suitable legal talent and manage their legal affairs with greater efficacy and predictability. The platform continually seeks to enhance the user experience for both legal professionals and clients.
UpCounsel, Inc. has raised $17.2M across 4 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $3.3M UpCounsel - Other Equity in December 2021.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 7, 2021 | $3.3M Venture Round | — | — | Announced |
| Jul 1, 2015 | $10M Series A | Venky Ganesan, PE MBA | Baseline Ventures, DNX Ventures, Drive Capital, Menlo Ventures, Homebrew, Metamorphic Ventures | Announced |
| Dec 9, 2014 | $2.4M Seed | Crosslink Capital, David Hirsch | Homebrew | Announced |
| Oct 2, 2013 | $1.5M Seed | — | Bobby Yazdani, Haroon Mokhtarzada, Collaborative Fund, Homebrew, SV Angel | Announced |
UpCounsel, Inc. has raised $17.2M in total across 4 funding rounds.
UpCounsel, Inc.'s investors include Venky Ganesan, PE MBA, Baseline Ventures, DNX Ventures, Drive Capital, Menlo Ventures, Homebrew, Metamorphic Ventures, Crosslink Capital, David Hirsch, Bobby Yazdani, Haroon Mokhtarzada, Collaborative Fund.
Key people at UpCounsel, Inc..
UpCounsel, Inc. is an online legal services marketplace that connects businesses—primarily startups and small to medium enterprises—with experienced attorneys across various legal fields. It offers a platform where clients can post legal job requests and receive bids from lawyers, enabling access to affordable, high-quality legal help. UpCounsel serves a broad range of industries and has evolved to provide subscription-based attorney services, significantly reducing legal costs and improving accessibility. The company has demonstrated strong growth momentum, achieving profitability, tripling revenues, and expanding its user base to millions, with a recent revenue run rate of $3.7 million and growing web traffic[1][2][5].
Founded in 2012 by Matt Faustman, a former Latham & Watkins attorney, and Mason Blake, an engineer, UpCounsel emerged to address the challenge startups and small businesses faced in accessing affordable legal services. Initially focused on California and New York, it expanded geographically and sector-wise, moving beyond tech to biotech, real estate, and more. After a near shutdown in early 2020 due to licensing issues, the company was acquired by Enduring Ventures, which installed new leadership including CEO KJ Erickson. Under this new management, UpCounsel revamped its business model, cutting commission fees from 30% to 8%, launching attorney subscription products, and achieving rapid growth and profitability[1][2][4].
UpCounsel rides the wave of legal technology (legaltech) disruption, addressing the inefficiencies and high costs of traditional legal services. The timing is favorable due to increasing demand from startups and SMBs for accessible, on-demand legal expertise, alongside a broader trend toward digital marketplaces and subscription-based service models. By cutting overhead and leveraging technology, UpCounsel challenges the conventional law firm paradigm, promoting transparency, affordability, and scalability in legal services. Its success reflects growing market forces favoring tech-enabled professional services and the democratization of legal access[2][4].
UpCounsel is positioned for continued growth by expanding its subscription offerings, enhancing technology, and potentially entering new legal domains such as personal law and international markets. The company’s focus on recurring revenue and customer acquisition efficiency suggests a sustainable business model. Trends like remote work, digital transformation in legal services, and increasing startup activity will likely fuel UpCounsel’s expansion. Its influence may grow as it reshapes how legal services are delivered, making high-quality legal help more accessible and affordable for a broader audience[2][6].
In summary, UpCounsel has evolved from a startup-focused legal marketplace into a profitable, scalable platform that leverages technology and innovative business models to transform the legal services industry.