Jacob Duligall (Ivo): 10 Key Things You Must Know
Overview
Jacob Duligall is a name becoming synonymous with innovation in the legal tech industry. As the Chief Technology Officer and co-founder of Ivo, a legal tech startup that has caught the attention of international giants, Duligall’s work is transforming contract review processes through the use of artificial intelligence (AI). What began as a small venture in New Zealand has quickly escalated into a significant player in the realm of AI-driven contract management. Duligall, leveraging his technical skills and visionary approach, is instrumental in redefining how enterprises handle contracts, a fundamental aspect of business operations. Join us as we explore ten insightful facets of Jacob Duligall's journey and Ivo’s groundbreaking contributions to legal technology.
1. The Birth of Ivo
Jacob Duligall co-founded Ivo alongside Min-Kyu Jung, a former corporate lawyer, in April 2023. Based in San Francisco, Ivo was an initiative taken after recognising the highly manual and time-consuming nature of contract review processes. Duligall used his skills from his previous experience as a Software Engineer at Xero to develop the AI technology capable of automating various time-intensive legal processes, thereby substantially reducing the workload for in-house legal teams.
2. AI in Legal Tech
Ivo's AI technology is designed to automate contract review processes, effectively addressing one of the largest bottlenecks in legal operations. This groundbreaking software analyzes contractual language, predicts areas of potential disagreement, and proposes revisions, thus streamlining the negotiation process. This capability marks a pivotal shift in how legal teams function, particularly in large enterprises where time and accuracy are critical.
3. Impact on Businesses
Since its inception, Ivo has forged partnerships with over 150 companies, including renowned names like Canva, Eventbrite, and several Fortune 500 firms. By reducing the average review time of NDAs from days to mere minutes, Ivo has demonstrated tangible benefits, enabling legal teams to allocate more time to strategic activities. The impressive efficiency gains underscore Ivo's position as a transformative force in the legal domain.
4. Series A Funding Success
In February 2025, Ivo completed a successful Series A funding round, raising $16 million. This funding, led by Costanoa Ventures and supported by firms like Fika Ventures and Uncork Capital, brought Ivo’s total to $22.2 million. The funds are earmarked for expanding Ivo’s operational capabilities and enhancing its core AI technologies, setting the stage for further technological advancements and market penetration.
5. Technological Innovation
Ivo is not just innovating within existing frameworks but is establishing new standards in contract review. Its AI capabilities offer naturalistic redlining, ensuring that automated suggestions are not just accurate but also practically implementable by human legal practitioners. This distinct approach positions Ivo ahead of competitors who focus primarily on speed rather than accuracy.
6. The Role of Generative AI
Jacob Duligall and his team have leveraged generative AI, a technology that has evolved significantly in recent years, to tackle complex contract negotiations. Unlike traditional automation, Ivo’s technology incorporates sophisticated models to produce legally sound and nuanced contracts that reflect the intentions and standards of the involved parties.
7. The Launch of Ivo Search Agent
To further refine the contract review process, Ivo launched the Ivo Search Agent, a tool allowing users to search and generate reports across their entire contract repositories using natural language queries. This development eliminates the need for manual metadata tagging, thus simplifying the search process and significantly enhancing data accessibility and usability.
8. Duligall’s Vision for Legal Judgment
While Duligall aims to automate and streamline processes, he emphasizes that AI will augment rather than replace legal judgment. He sees Ivo as a "force multiplier," enhancing human capabilities without compromising the critical human element inherent in legal work. This philosophy ensures that legal teams retain control over outputs, fostering trust in AI-driven decisions.
9. The Growing Client Base
Ivo's client base has seen rapid growth, attributed to its ability to handle complex scenarios across various sectors. Apart from technology firms, Ivo's services are expanding to healthcare and financial services, offering tailored services that meet sector-specific legal requirements. This adaptability has been crucial to Ivo's expanding footprint in diverse markets.
10. Future Prospects
With the backing of substantial capital and an ever-growing list of high-profile clients, the future looks promising for Jacob Duligall and Ivo. The company is poised to expand internationally, seeking new markets while continuing to innovate in the AI and legal tech space. As legal teams globally face mounting pressures for efficiency, Ivo’s role as an enabler of streamlined, accurate contract management is set to expand.
Conclusion
Jacob Duligall's foray into the integration of AI and legal tech with Ivo is a testament to what can be achieved when innovation meets industry acumen. His work at Ivo exemplifies advancements in technology that make complex, traditional processes more accessible and manageable. By transforming contract review processes, Duligall and his team at Ivo are pioneering changes that may reshape the legal landscape, making it more efficient and adaptive to modern business needs.