Elevator Pitch is a regular feature on Lifehacker where we profile startups and new companies and pick their brains for entrepreneurial advice. This week, we’re talking with cofounder Damien Andreasen from LawPath.
In 128 words or less, explain your business idea.
LawPath is Australia’s largest and fastest growing legal platform. We connect people and businesses that are in need of legal assistance to the right lawyer who specialises in their area of need. LawPath offers easy access to cost-effective and reputable legal services including an initial 30-minute discussion with a lawyer free of charge. We also offer the sale of LawPath’s best in market legal templates (Wills, Trusts, Shareholders Agreements and 180 other options).
You can customise to your needs, or our lawyers can review, amend or redraft based on your individual circumstances. We provide you with a variety of simple and affordable legal options to protect your interests. We operate Australia wide, across all areas of law in partnership with over 250 of Australia’s best firms.
What strategies are you using to grow and finance your idea?
Private investment, Pollenizer and LexisNexis have provided the initial and secondary capital, and the arrangement with LexisNexis in particular has provided access to a range of assets that have helped us grow.
What’s the biggest challenge facing your business?
Re-educating the public by helping them overcome the fear of engaging a lawyer. Most people only need a lawyer in a time of stress or to protect their commercial interests; knowing who the right person to trust and talk to is a big step and part of the challenge we are solving for the consumer.
How do your differentiate your business from your competitors?
We want to set new Australian standards simplifying how people get access to and use legal services, an industry not typically known for its simplicity. We believe it should be easy for anyone to create a last will, set up a business, trademark a name or take care of other common legal matters. For us, the goal is to provide a smart, cost-effective service ensuring everyone gets the legal protection they need.
What one phone, tablet or PC application could you not live without?
It’s the native apps Apple have created that keep me organised, Mail, Calendar and Maps really help me keep on top of important things that happen, and in startups you need to be able to respond quickly to any number of challenges that might occur on a daily basis. I also love Evernote; I have a habit of getting excited about new ideas and blurting them out which can be distracting to the team so I use Evernote as an ideas board that helps me validate and put structure around each of them before discussing with the team.
What’s the best piece of business advice you’ve ever received?
It’s a good piece of advice for life in general but it applies to business just as well. Surround yourself with the type of people who you aspire to be like. Spending time with smart, motivated people who have a passion for life will end up rubbing off on you!
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