LIONESS WEEKENDER COVER STORY
DIYlaw, a legal technology company in Nigeria providing access to simplified, quality and affordable legal services
Funkola Odeleye is co-founder at DIYlaw in Nigeria, a legal technology company committed to empowering entrepreneurs through the provision of accessible and affordable legal services and free legal and business resources. She is a Cartier Women’s Initiative 2020 Fellow, 2019 Obama Africa Leader, 2019 Sub-Saharan winner and Global Finalist of the Entrepreneurial Award of the British Council Study UK Alumni Award, 2019 Africa 35 under 35 Laureate and a 2015 Innovating Justice Fellow of The Hague Institute for the Innovation of Law (HiiL). Funkola was recently recognized as one of five business leaders whose work significantly impacts their countries’ economies by the Reykjavík Global Forum. DIYlaw was founded in 2015 and today employs 19 people.
Lioness Weekender spoke to Funkola about her personal entrepreneurial journey, and also about her aspirations for her business, DIYlaw.
What does your company do?
DIYlaw is a legal technology company focused on empowering entrepreneurs in Africa by providing access to simplified and quality legal services at affordable prices, leveraging technology, legal expertise and project management. DIYlaw also creates access to free legal and business information and connects entrepreneurs with vetted legal service providers through various online and offline means.
What inspired you to start your company?
I believe a person is the sum total of their environment and lived experiences. Growing up in Nigeria and seeing the rate of unemployment but also the industrious nature of our young people inspired me to start DIYlaw. Entrepreneurship goes a long way to solve the problem of unemployment and legal services for entrepreneurs was definitely a need.
What makes your business, service or product special?
Our unique selling proposition is our innovative approach of leveraging technology to provide accessible and affordable quality legal services.
Tell us a little about your team
Our team is the perfect mix of lawyers, software developers, product managers as well as operations and administrative personnel.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And, do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
I come from an entrepreneurial background and my parents were my daily example. I have also run a couple of informal and formal businesses and past failures in those ventures led me to start DIYlaw.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
Our future plans are centered around deepening our product offerings and replicating them in more African countries, as well as the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States.
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
Our direct and indirect contributions to employment in Nigeria and to the country's GDP are very rewarding and satisfying.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
Just start! Things will never be perfect and there will never be a "right time”.
To find out more about DIY Law, contact Funkola Odeleye via email: funkola@diylaw.ng or visit the company’ website and social media platforms:
