Superpanel Raises $5.3M Seed to Automate Legal Intake with AI

A Personal Drive Behind Superpanel

For Julien Emery, the impetus for creating Superpanel stemmed from deeply personal experiences.

As the CEO and co-founder of Superpanel, a platform designed to streamline client onboarding for law firms, Emery’s motivation is rooted in his own encounters with the legal system.

Challenges with Legal Access

Emery, a Canadian citizen, experienced firsthand the difficulties and high costs associated with accessing legal assistance.

He also vividly remembers a car accident involving his mother, and the crucial role the subsequent legal settlement played in his family’s financial stability for years to come.

He identified the initial legal intake process – the evaluation of potential clients by a firm – as particularly cumbersome and inefficient.

“The process often presents consumers with a confusing array of forms, numerous phone calls, and frequent lead drop-offs, leading many to abandon their pursuit of legal help,” Emery explained to TechCrunch.

“From the perspective of law firms, it represents a costly and error-prone bottleneck in their operations.”

From Hootsuite to Superpanel

Emery previously held a position at Hootsuite and subsequently founded Allay, a health insurance underwriting platform that was later acquired by Novo Benefits.

Recognizing the potential of recent advancements in artificial intelligence, he partnered with Dingyu Zhang, an expert in AI, to launch Superpanel in 2024.

Previously, the complexity of legal intake was considered a barrier to effective automation.

Automating Legal Intake

Emery asserts that Superpanel currently automates approximately 50% of the legal intake workload, effectively managing data collection and client feedback.

The platform functions as a “digital teammate” for plaintiff law firms, assisting with case escalation and ensuring regulatory compliance.

It actively engages clients through various communication channels – phone, text messaging, email, and online forums – guiding them through the process of detailing their case and submitting relevant documentation.

For firms, Superpanel aids in categorizing cases by type, determining jurisdiction, and organizing essential documentation.

“In situations where ambiguity arises, the system intelligently escalates the matter to a human team member,” Emery clarified.

“This results in a cohesive, multi-channel workflow that delivers quantifiable improvements and provides firms with a reliable system, akin to having a dedicated employee.”

Seed Funding and Future Expansion

The company announced a $5.3 million seed funding round on Tuesday, co-led by Outlander VC and Field Ventures.

Emery noted that he connected with some of the investors through his previous venture, with those initial contacts facilitating introductions to the lead investors for Superpanel.

Additional participants in the round include LOI Venture (co-founded by the founder of Hootsuite), Zenda Capital, 8-Bit Capital, and Behind Genius Ventures.

“These funds will be allocated to accelerate our hiring efforts and broaden Superpanel’s capabilities specifically for plaintiff law firms,” Emery stated.

A Competitive Landscape

The legal industry is undergoing significant transformation driven by artificial intelligence, and Superpanel is not the only player in this evolving space.

Key competitors include Clio Grow, LegalClerk.ai, MyCase, and Whippy.ai.

Differentiating Superpanel

Emery believes Superpanel will distinguish itself through its focus on meeting evolving consumer expectations.

“Today’s consumers anticipate immediate, self-service solutions, shaped by the AI tools and online experiences they encounter daily,” Emery explained.

“Superpanel is designed to continuously guide clients throughout this entire process.”