London-based legal tech innovator, Robin AI, announced a significant milestone on Tuesday, revealing a successful $26 million Series B funding round led by global investment powerhouse Temasek, based in Singapore. Other key investors include QuantumLight, Plural, and AFG Partners.
Founded in 2019 by former Clifford Chance and Boies Schiller Flexner associate Richard Robinson, alongside machine-learning research scientist James Clough, Robin AI has been at the forefront of transforming contract drafting and review processes through its groundbreaking “AI Copilot.” Leveraging Anthropic’s generative AI model Claude and proprietary systems, the company has successfully automated contract-related tasks.
AI Copilot has expanded its reach by launching as a Microsoft Word add-in, bringing its advanced capabilities directly into the hands of users. Richard Robinson, now serving as CEO, expressed his excitement about the funding, emphasizing its strategic deployment to grow the company’s talent base, particularly in the U.S.
The infusion of capital will be instrumental in recruiting top-tier machine-learning engineers, enabling Robin AI to further integrate cutting-edge AI technologies into their offerings. Robinson highlighted, “The bulk of the cash, honestly, is going for the best machine-learning engineers to help us integrate [AI] technologies into what we do.”
Apart from talent acquisition, the funding will be pivotal in scaling Robin AI’s product globally. With expansion plans in the U.S. and Asia, the company is set to strengthen its presence in key markets. Robinson noted, “We see huge expansion opportunities in Asia,” adding that the capital injection from Temasek aligns with their vision for broader international growth.
While initially founded in the U.K., Robin AI’s strategic focus on the U.S. market is a natural progression, fueled by both customer demand and the availability of top-tier talent. Robinson explained, “It was really driven by clients and candidates, people whom we want to work with because we have huge ambitions for this business.”
Robin AI’s AI Copilot is not just another generative AI tool; it stands out by being an “AI legal assistant,” a distinction Robinson emphasizes when compared to the “previous generation of technologies.” Rather than merely tracking work, Robin AI aims to actively assist users in performing tasks, working seamlessly alongside human lawyers.
The company has successfully differentiated itself by utilizing Anthropic’s Claude model, setting it apart from most contract providers leveraging OpenAI’s GPT-4. Robinson highlighted that Claude matches GPT-4 capabilities for their core use cases while emphasizing Anthropic’s commitment to safety and security.
Security is a paramount concern for Robin AI, and the partnership with Amazon’s AWS cloud service provides an additional layer of assurance. Robinson emphasized, “There’s no risk of data being lost on the transit. There’s no risk of data being with some third party that our customers don’t know very much about.”
With a customer base that rivals any in its cohort, including seven Fortune 500 companies and five of the 100 largest private equity funds, Robin AI has proven its effectiveness in catering to the legal needs of major organizations