Serisha Barrat is the CEO of two innovative platforms: Boardroom, a dating app tailored for professionals, and Lawyered Up, a cutting-edge legal tech platform.

At Lawyered Up, advanced AI technology is harnessed to make legal services accessible, efficient, and affordable for start-ups, SMEs, and individuals across Africa. The platform simplifies complex legal processes, such as contract creation, review, and compliance management, providing custom legal documents swiftly and ensuring businesses stay compliant with regional laws.

Initially, $10,000 was allocated to establish Lawyered Up as an LLC and to develop iOS and Android apps, with the aim of bringing legal services directly to mobile users. However, it was quickly discovered that a mobile app wasn’t the optimal solution for the users' needs. Legal tech, especially for processes like document review and contract management, requires a more robust interface that can handle extensive documents and complex workflows. The mobile apps couldn’t provide the necessary depth and scale for these tasks.

Realising this, the focus was shifted to developing a comprehensive, web-based platform that supports a larger-scale legal marketplace and enhances document handling capabilities. This pivot allowed Lawyered Up to better align its services with the needs of its users, offering a more powerful and efficient solution.
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Furthermore, Lawyered Up recently partnered with a legal tech start-up based in Nigeria, showcasing the incredible synergy across the African continent. This collaboration promises to expand the platform's reach and impact. Stay tuned for more details about this exciting partnership.

At the end of the second quarter last year, we completed a minimalist version of the eFama
App and had a soft launch, registering over 6000 buyers and 5000 farmers. Despite this
milestone, our app was still in its Minimum Viable Product (MVP) stage, requiring significant
improvements and commercialisation efforts.

Our challenge was to expand our market reach, develop a detailed commercial model, and
implement essential business systems. Transitioning from a local to a global business, we
faced international competition and standards, which made our journey even more daunting.

At this critical juncture, I discovered the first-ever Women in Tech program by Standard
Chartered and WomHub and applied. Out of nearly 100 applicants, I was thrilled to be one of
the 12 selected. I committed to focusing solely on this opportunity to gain the most from it.

The program was transformative for me and eFama App. Through group and one-on-one
sessions with world-class experts, we worked on improving our systems and market
readiness. Two days after implementing the suggested improvements, I applied to a
prestigious fund owned by a global tech giant, leveraging the groundwork laid by the Women
in Tech program, and we were accepted, securing our runway for several years.

​In the same week, I pitched our business to a panel of experts and investors organised by
Standard Chartered and WomHub. I was honoured to be among the five women who
received a grant, which boosted our market readiness.

The most valuable aspect of the program was the expert input and the strong community of
women within the ecosystem. The grant was crucial, but the knowledge and systems we
developed were priceless, ensuring our business's long-term viability.

This program is an incredible opportunity for anyone who focuses and gives it their best. The
support and insights I received were instrumental in our success.