All-female Nigerian startup DIYlaw has won US$40,000 at the SME Empowerment Innovation Challenge for East and West Africa organised by The Hague Institute for the Internationalisation of Law (HiiL).
Disrupt Africa reported in June on the launch of the SME Empowerment Innovation Challenge by advisory and research institute HiiL, the Ford Foundation and the World Economic Forum (WEF) to empower SMEs in East and West Africa. Startups from Kenya, Uganda and Nigeria made it to the final.
DIYlaw, a legal technology company that uses technology to create access to legal services in Africa, took first place and the US$40,000 cash prize. The startup is currently in its public beta stage, and allows users to purchase registration packages online.
In the coming months the startup plans to launch a portal for legal documents, a resource platform and a directory/lead generation platform for lawyers. DIYlaw is looking to become the one-stop hub for all things legal.
Co-founder Odunoluwa Longe said DIYlaw “is making legal one less challenge to grapple with”. She emphasised that the startups value propositions are transparency, simplicity and affordability.
In addition to the cash prize, DIYlaw will also receive acceleration support, and access to funding, networks and expert advice from HiiL.
