CEO and Co-Founder Danae Shell has been dubbed the ‘Martin Lewis of employment law’ as she helps workers navigate increasingly common workplace disputes.
Valla, the trailblazing legal platform placing employment rights back into workers’ hands, has secured £2 million in seed funding to democratise access to justice for millions across the UK.
The company’s innovative AI-powered solution has caught the attention of leading investors, including Ada Ventures leading the round alongside Active Partners and Portfolio Ventures. Techstart Ventures, who led the company’s first round, and existing backer Resolution Foundation have doubled down on their investment, underscoring the platform’s transformative potential in bridging Britain’s widening legal access gap.
Market Opportunity
Founded by Danae Shell, Valla tackles a staggering national challenge: the 12.4 million workers who are affected by non-compliance with employment laws annually. annually according to the Resolution Foundation, yet find themselves priced out of traditional legal support. The platform radically simplifies the legal process by enabling users to collect evidence, generate necessary documentation, and get fixed-price expert support without incurring the substantial costs typically associated with conventional services.
“The legal world is experiencing its own watershed moment,” explains Shell. “AI is completely redrawing who can access justice – but ordinary people are being left behind. We’re flipping this on its head by putting powerful, tailor-made legal tools directly into workers’ hands, not just those with deep pockets.”
Since launch, Valla has empowered over 12,000 workers to successfully raise complaints, negotiate settlements, and navigate the complex Tribunal process with confidence. Demand for the platform’s affordable services have more than doubled year on year; costs range from just £10 for a template to £250 for three hours of support from an employment law expert.
Investor Perspective
The investment arrives at a particularly timely moment as Parliament debates the Employment Rights Bill, signalling heightened focus on strengthening worker protections nationwide.
Check Warner, Founding Partner at Ada Ventures, commented on the news: “Valla exemplifies precisely the kind of game-changing vision we’re passionate about supporting. They’ve spotted a vast, overlooked market and used emerging technology to create an innovative new solution that was impossible even a few years ago. As AI reshapes traditional legal billing models, Valla’s transparent, accessible approach perfectly positions them to become the definitive platform for workplace rights.”
Growth Plans
The fresh capital will fuel Valla’s ambitious plans to:
- Dramatically expand market reach through enhanced marketing initiatives
- Create additional AI-augmented tools that further slash costs for consumers
- Forge strategic alliances with unions and insurers throughout 2025
AI is currently sending shockwaves through the legal sector’s established business practices. Recent industry data reveals US law firms are shifting away from hourly billing towards fixed fees and outcome-based pricing as AI completes tasks in seconds that previously demanded dozens of billable hours.
“Valla is a great example of how technology and delivery model innovation can open huge new markets in traditional industries like legal,” Shell added. “We’re building new types of services for individuals who would otherwise fall through the gaps in the current system.”
The company recently received additional validation through a £75,000 Innovate UK award, recognising Shell’s pioneering approach to widening access to justice.
Industry experts suggest Valla’s model could significantly level the playing field, enabling workers to assert their rights effectively without requiring costly legal teams – particularly crucial as the profession grapples with how AI will reshape junior roles and skills development.
