We were delighted to sit with Earnest Omoleme, a founder who is striving to make the legaltech industry cost-effective and efficient with his ideas and inspirations.
Earnest is Nigerian by birth but grew up in Ghana for about 28 years. Earnest is the Founder of Jectre, an Artificial Intelligence (AI), Software-as-a-Service( SaaS) company. Jectre currently has 2 main products: RamenLegal, an AI toolkit for legal documentation; and Eidō, which automates market research and data analysis tasks for businesses.
– Have you always been a tech enthusiast?
Since childhood, I have always been a tech enthusiast, and my father’s business largely influenced this in computer assembly and sales, which immersed me in the tech realm from an early age. Upon completing my education, I naturally gravitated towards software development, learning how to make websites for clients using platforms like WordPress. As my skills evolved, I delved deeper into web application development, assuming roles as both a product developer and project manager in the process.
SaaS Platform Features and AI Integration:
– Can you explain the key features and functionalities of your SaaS platform, and how AI technology is integrated into it?
Jectre is a seasoned software development agency established in 2018. RamenLegal was launched this year under Jectre. However, RamenLegal is poised to evolve into an independent product soon.
RamenLegal is an AI platform designed to assist businesses and legal professionals in drafting legal documents and addressing legal inquiries swiftly and efficiently. The platform provides users with access to a vast array of templates for generating legal documents, and an AI assistant, Ramen AI, capable of answering basic legal questions.
RamenLegal is built on top of Open AI’s Chatgpt4 which has access to a wide array of information. However, going further we plan to embed it with much more relevant data to Africa because we want the platform to be more Africa-focused. This will help lawyers get detailed information on the legal data that they need for any use case. There are a few features we are looking to add, like document analysis where lawyers can upload documents like contracts and just ask questions concerning the document. So we have a number of things in the pipeline as well.
With RamenLegal, our goal goes beyond mere document generation. Our platform is designed to seamlessly integrate relevant legal data into the documents it generates. For example, if you’re using RamenLegal to draft a contract, not only will it produce the document, but it will also incorporate clauses that align with the laws of your country. This ensures that your legal documents are not only accurate but also compliant with local regulations, streamlining your legal processes and potentially saving you additional costs associated with seeking out this information separately.
Looking ahead, we are dedicated to enhancing Ramen AI’s capabilities to facilitate more in-depth legal research, further cementing Ramen Legal’s position as a leading solution in the legal tech landscape.
– What inspired you to start a SaaS and AI-focused company, and what problem were you hoping to address in the market?
Since 2018, I’ve been focusing on custom software development. However, a few years back, I made a strategic shift towards Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions because I figured that it’s more convenient to have software that serves multiple clients. My first product was a website builder. This was to help small businesses create websites on their own. While we saw some success, unforeseen operational costs led to its eventual closure.
Another key challenge we encountered was the perception among users that technical tasks should be handled by technical professionals. So making the website more of a self-service application was a bit slow to adopt at the time.
The reason I jumped on board the AI wave is that I was looking at the potential for generative AI to help disseminate data that was not so easy to access before now. So we were looking more around building products that allow businesses and professionals to have access to decision-critical data. We chose to focus on the legal sector initially, recognizing its significance in today’s landscape.
Future of SaaS and AI in Industries:
– How do you see the intersection of SaaS and AI shaping the future of various industries?
I strongly believe that the future of industries hinges on access to information and data integration into our everyday business processes. Through a recent study, I uncovered a concept known as Global Expenditure in Research and Development (GERD), which encompasses the expenses related to research data gathering for decision-making in businesses. Shockingly, the entire continent of Africa only contributes 1.1% to this global GERD expenditure.
Considering that business success often relies on effective data processing, it’s alarming to realize that our GDP, which stands at approximately three trillion, is primarily influenced by such a small percentage of GERD.
Until recently, acquiring data has been so expensive. Businesses often have to resort to hiring expensive consulting or research companies to gather the necessary information, which can be costly.
However, with the emergence of generative AI, data acquisition is seamlessly integrated into business processes, eliminating the need to wait or incur unnecessary costs. This means that businesses can access valuable information right from within their operations, enhancing efficiency and driving informed decision-making. Generative AI is paving the way for a more streamlined and cost-effective approach to information gathering.
Competitive Advantage:
– What sets your SaaS and AI solution apart from other offerings in the market?
Our primary competitive edge lies in our focus on Africa and our deep understanding of the local context. Unlike most legal tech and AI products currently available, which are primarily tailored to foreign markets, our platform is specifically designed to meet the needs of African lawyers and businesses. We are currently in talks with a data provider to source legal data from multiple African countries, enriching our AI with relevant African-focused information for legislation research and case law analysis.
Additionally, we are also looking at the cost of accessibility. Many existing alternatives, both traditional and AI-based, are quite pricey, making them inaccessible to the average lawyer or independent practitioner. At least to my knowledge, RamenLegal is currently the most cost-effective option available for legal documentation and AI legal tech solutions.
- Is the Ramen legal platform paid or is it free?
Our platform operates on a freemium model. So you can create a free account and then you are given an amount of tokens for free. Each document generated on our platform consumes a certain number of tokens, with the allocation based on word count.
With a free account, users are given approximately 10,000 tokens per month, which translates to generating around 10 typical legal documents, assuming an average word count of 600 to 1000 words per document.
For users looking to expand their capabilities beyond the free quota, we offer paid plans that include token packages for various needs. Alternatively, users can opt to purchase additional token packs as and when required, providing flexibility and scalability in utilizing our platform.
Data Privacy and Security:
– How do you ensure data privacy and security within your SaaS platform, especially considering the use of AI technology?
User security and privacy are paramount to us. To ensure the integrity of our user base, We verify each user that’s been signed up on the platform to ensure there is no suspicious activity. So you see things like a captcha verification and an additional email verification. We have policies in place to automatically clear out unverified users after a designated period.
There are also some basic limitations that Open AI gives you as a developer. As a result, we do not have access to user conversations through the API, safeguarding user privacy. Furthermore, our privacy and data protection policies strictly govern the use and sharing of user-generated data, ensuring that it is not shared with third parties without explicit consent.
To further enhance security, we are actively working on implementing two-factor authentication, adding an extra layer of protection to user accounts.
Fun founder facts
– Do you have any unique rituals or habits that help you stay focused and productive during busy periods?
As a Christian, my faith is the cornerstone of my life, guiding my actions and decisions. I draw strength from my faith and the belief that I can do nothing except by the Holy Spirit. Maintaining a close fellowship with the Holy Spirit is of utmost importance to me, especially during challenging times when the pressures of life intensify. I find solace and guidance through regular Bible study, prayer, and meditation.
– Do you have a favorite quote or mantra that you turn to for inspiration or motivation when facing challenges in your entrepreneurial journey?
The verses from Scripture that resonate deeply with me are Philippians 4:13 and Philippians 2:13. Philippians 4:13 reminds me that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. This verse serves as a constant source of encouragement, especially in the face of challenges or obstacles that may seem insurmountable. It reaffirms my belief that with God’s strength within me, nothing is impossible.
Similarly, Philippians 2:13 emphasizes the role of God’s power at work within us. This verse serves as a reminder that it’s not by my ability, but that I am empowered by God’s grace and guidance.
When I encounter obstacles along my journey, I turn to these verses for strength and reassurance. They remind me of the greater purpose and power at work within me, motivating me to persevere and press on, even when faced with challenges.
– What’s the most unusual hobby or talent you have outside of your work as a founder?
I have a passion for writing, so I often find myself jotting down my thoughts on paper. Recently, I started a blog on a medium account where I write most of the things also seen on my LinkedIn. So if you go to my Instagram page, you will just find my writing instead of pictures of me. I enjoy capturing my thoughts in writing because you never know when they might come in handy personally, and you never know whose day they might brighten or inspire.
Challenges in AI Development:
– What challenges have you encountered in developing and implementing AI technology within your SaaS platform, and how have you overcome them?
It’s been quite a learning curve for me. it’s one thing to know how to use chatgpt and another thing to know how to build a product on top of chatgpt. Engineering AI for legal applications presents unique challenges, as it requires tailoring the AI to fit specific contexts precisely. We’re already planning to develop our model, which will operate independently rather than relying on OpenAI’s API.
One of the biggest hurdles I’ve faced is managing people. As an entrepreneur, motivating team members, especially during the pre-funding stage, can be incredibly challenging. Motivating people to stay with you and give their time can be very challenging. If they do not really believe in the vision they are not going to stay.
Looking ahead, we’re gearing up to kickstart a funding round by the end of the next quarter. I’ve set this timeline to allow us to build sufficient traction before approaching investors. In today’s climate, investors are a lot more frugal. They don’t want to just give out money based on an idea. They want to see that it actually works.
Scalability and Flexibility:
– How do you approach scalability and flexibility in your SaaS and AI solution to meet the evolving needs of your clients?
For me, it all boils down to your understanding of your user’s experience. One thing about scalability is that A one-size-fits-all approach rarely suffices because each user has unique needs. By gathering feedback and insights from our users, we can tailor our solutions to be flexible and adaptable to various user profiles.
One of the strategies we have adopted is to target our audience in groups. For now, our two main target audiences are business owners and lawyers. One of the things that we started doing already is reaching out to communities of entrepreneurs and communities of legal professionals to gather valuable insights.
We have what we call a Community Plan. Our community plan involves deploying customized instances of our software to specific user communities. We then allow the community to manage its own users while we monitor and tweak the features according to their needs.
For instance, the document requirements of a community of vocational business owners differ significantly from those in real estate. So we’re able to tweak the entire experience based on those communities and then have unique instances specifically for those communities.
Additionally, we’re investing in backend infrastructure enhancements to ensure that our platform can efficiently handle larger user groups simultaneously. This proactive approach will enable us to scale effectively and provide a seamless user experience for all our users.
Trends in SaaS and AI:
– What trends do you foresee in the SaaS and AI space, and how are you preparing your company to adapt to these changes?
In the realm of legaltech, our focus is on integrating Ramen AI for legal strategy. Our drive stems from observing industry trends and recognizing the need for a product that seamlessly integrates user interaction with data.
We’re diligently working towards providing lawyers with essential data to craft case strategies, including analysis of similar cases and their successful strategies. We do not want the platform to be merely one that you interact with manually; we aim for the platform to automatically supply research data across different workflow stages upon request. As users plan and strategize, the AI conducts research, furnishing relevant data at each stage, effectively functioning as a brain that can think for you at any stage of the legal workflow. This will also help to reduce the cost of service considering the fact that every stage of the workflow comes with a certain cost. This is beneficial to the lawyer because now he can handle a lot more clients at the same time.
Future Role of AI in SaaS Platforms:
– How do you envision the role of AI evolving within SaaS platforms in the future, and what innovations do you plan to introduce to stay ahead of the curve?
I believe that AI will revolutionize the integration of data into everyday processes, thereby empowering professionals and business owners to scale faster. With seamless access to critical information and data, users can make informed decisions more efficiently.
If we can make good use of AI we are going to see bigger economies coming out from the African continents and a lower reliance on foreign services. Compared to traditional software products, AI platforms are easier to adopt, with shorter learning curves. As a result, we anticipate a rapid proliferation of such products in the market. I also envision an Africa where our economies can scale much faster because of easier access to information and decision-critical data.
Closing Thoughts:
– Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers, whether it’s advice for aspiring entrepreneurs or insights into legaltech in Africa?
I would say entrepreneurship is an exhilarating journey. It’s possible as long as you’re ready to put in the work and do what’s necessary. Be the type of person who seeks knowledge, can jump into a new arena, and figure your way out.
It’s like building a plane while freefalling off a cliff—you may not have all the answers at first, but you’ll figure it out along the way. Action and results should be your focus; don’t get stuck in endless planning. Even now I think there’s a lot that I don’t know about, but then as we move along we’re going to learn a lot and figure it out as we go. So just jump in and learn as much as you can very fast.
I would add that if you do not have a strong relationship with God, strive to have one. Many successful entrepreneurs prioritize their spiritual well-being, recognizing its importance in their journey. So, dive in, embrace the learning curve, and trust in your abilities to navigate the highs and lows of entrepreneurship.
– Any upcoming events or plans we should look out for?
In the coming months, we’re excited to introduce some powerful new features to our platform. One of the highlights will be document analysis, allowing lawyers to engage in conversations with uploaded documents, and enhancing their workflow efficiency. Additionally, we’re expanding our AI assistant to include research-related capabilities, empowering users with comprehensive data insights.
If you’re eager to explore these advancements, I encourage you to join our platform at Ramen. legal and sign up for access. For those interested in staying updated but not quite ready to dive in, you can subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive insights and updates. We’re committed to continuously enhancing our product to better serve your needs, and we look forward to having you on board.
For more information, visit:
RamenLegal website: https://ramen.legal
You can also reach out via the social media platforms:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RamenLegal
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ramenlegal/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ramenlegal
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