Navigating the legal regulations can be a daunting task for many start-ups and small businesses, particularly in Africa’s diverse and evolving market. This is the challenge that Jessie Atuama Abugre, a lawyer and entrepreneur, set out to solve with Zuputo – a groundbreaking legal tech company.
Read on to know how!
A legal mind with a vision for innovation
Jessie Atuama Abugre’s journey into entrepreneurship is deeply rooted in her passion for law and technology. Armed with a bachelor’s degree in law from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and a Qualifying Certificate from the Ghana School of Law, Jessie started her career in commercial litigation.
However, her desire to make a broader impact led her to pivot into technology transactions law, where she found herself at the intersection of tech and legal frameworks. Working closely with tech companies across Africa, Jessie witnessed first-hand the challenges start-ups face, particularly with legal compliance and high costs associated with traditional legal services.
This experience sparked her entrepreneurial spirit, driving her to create a solution that would bridge the gap between complex legal systems and the needs of emerging businesses.
Turning challenges into opportunities
Launched in early 2023, Zuputo is on a mission to simplify legal and compliance processes, making them accessible, affordable and tailored for African businesses.
With Jessies’s unique blend of legal expertise and entrepreneurial spirit, she and her team are not just building a business— they are pioneering a movement to empower Ghanaian and at large African entrepreneurs to thrive in a competitive landscape.
“The idea had been brewing since 2019,” Jessie recalls, “motivated by the realisation that many start-ups struggle with regulatory complexities and high legal costs.” The name Zuputo, derived from the Gurune language of Ghana’s Frafra people, means “brain”, symbolising the company’s role in navigating the legal maze for its clients.
“Working closely with tech firms emphasised the urgent need for legal services that are not only accessible and affordable, but also streamlined,” she noted.
From concept to reality
Turning the idea of Zuputo into a reality involved meticulous planning and collaboration. Jessie and her co-founders aligned their vision and conducted thorough market research to understand the pain points in the legal sector. “We wanted to ensure that our platform would address specific challenges faced by African businesses,” Jessie explains.
By engaging with initial clients and refining their offerings based on feedback, Zuputo was able to create a user-friendly interface that meets local regulatory requirements. Partnerships with legal professionals across Ghana and other African countries have also been instrumental in building a robust network that supports the platform’s offerings.
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Cofounders
“I shared this vision with my incredible co-founders—Kwame Owusu Afram, Chief technology Officer (CTO) and Nana Adwoa Amponsah-Mensah, Chief Operating Officer (COO) – who believed in the mission just as passionately as I did. Together, we brought Zuputo to life, each of us contributing unique strengths to create Zuputo.
What Zuputo is today is the result of the shared efforts of my incredible co-founders and me. I am looking forward to the future and all the impact we will continue to make,” she narrated.
Tailored solutions
Zuputo offers a diverse range of products specifically designed to cater for the unique needs of African businesses.
- These include customisable legal document templates through Zuputo Legal Templates, and comprehensive compliance assessments tailored to African regulations with Zuputo Compliance Check.
- They provide services for intellectual property registration across the continent, helping businesses secure their innovations.
- Zuputo also offers expert legal and regulatory advice for start-ups and SMEs through their advisory services, along with in-depth contract reviews to optimise business agreements.
- Additionally, their Zuputo Lawyer Network grants clients access to top lawyers across Africa, ensuring high-quality legal support.
Uniqueness
What sets Zuputo apart is its deep understanding of the African legal landscape. Unlike generic international legal solutions, Zuputo blends advanced technology with specialised legal expertise to deliver services that are not only comprehensive but also cost-effective and accessible.
“We are specifically focused on the African market, which allows us to tailor our solutions to the unique regulations and business practices of each country,” Jessie notes. This localised approach ensures that Zuputo’s services are relevant and impactful, providing real value to African entrepreneurs.
Recognition
Zuputo’s innovative approach has not gone unnoticed. The company has received recognition as a start-up to watch and was selected as one of the ten start-ups in the Tretton37 Startup Boost Programme.
Additionally, Zuputo was a finalist at the Harvard Business School African Business Conference (HBS ABC) New Ventures Competition and received prestigious grants from the Tony Elumelu Foundation and Standard Chartered Women in Tech. These accolades are a testament to Zuputo’s potential to transform the legal sector in Africa.
Vision
Looking ahead, Jessie envisions Zuputo expanding its reach across all 54 African countries within the next five years. “Our goal is to become the leading provider of legal tech solutions on the continent,” she says. By continuously innovating and enhancing the platform’s capabilities, Zuputo aims to foster a more inclusive and efficient business environment through technology.
Challenges
Despite its successes, Zuputo faces challenges typical of any start-up, including navigating diverse regulatory landscapes across African countries and securing funding for expansion. Educating the market about the benefits of legal tech solutions is another hurdle, as adoption rates remain relatively low. However, Jessie remains optimistic, viewing these challenges as opportunities to further refine and adapt Zuputo’s offerings.
Thoughts on the sector
Jessie sees immense potential in Africa’s legal tech sector, which is rapidly evolving with growing interest from start-ups and investors. “There is still a significant gap in terms of adoption and awareness,” she observes, but believes that the sector offers vast opportunities for innovation, particularly in addressing the unique challenges faced by businesses across diverse regulatory environments.
Building a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem
To thrive, Jessie believes entrepreneurs need access to funding, mentorship and networking opportunities. She also advocates for capacity-building resources, including training on regulatory compliance and technological advancements.
“Government policies that encourage innovation and simplify business registration processes would also be beneficial,” she added.
Advice
For aspiring entrepreneurs, Jessie’s advice is: “Stay resilient and adaptable. Understand the market needs, build a strong team and focus on creating value”. She emphasises the importance of solving real problems and seeking mentorship to navigate the entrepreneurial journey.
Contact details
- Email: [email protected]
- LinkedIn: Zuputoinc
- Twitter: @Zuputinc
- Website: [www.zuputo.com] (http://www.zuputo.com)
