Jessica O'ConnorLegal technology startup Valla has raised £2m in seed funding to expand its AI-powered platform aimed at making legal support more accessible to workers facing employment issues in the UK.
The funding round was led by Ada Ventures, with participation from Active Partners and Portfolio Ventures.
Existing investors, including Techstart Ventures and the Resolution Foundation, also increased their commitments.
Valla, founded by Danae Shell (pictured), aims to tackle a widespread problem as millions of UK workers face employment rights violations each year but lack the means to pursue legal recourse.
According to the Resolution Foundation, as many as 12.4 million workers are affected annually.
Valla’s platform supports users in collecting evidence, generating legal documents, and accessing expert advice at fixed prices.
Shell said: “The legal world is experiencing its own watershed moment.
“AI is completely redrawing who can access justice – but ordinary people are being left behind.
“We’re flipping this on its head by putting powerful, tailor-made legal tools directly into workers’ hands, not just those with deep pockets.”
She added: “Valla is a great example of how technology and delivery model innovation can open huge new markets in traditional industries like legal.
“We’re building new types of services for individuals who would otherwise fall through the gaps in the current system.”
