During a series of meetings at ILTA’s annual conference, the author reflected on a recurring theme that surfaced in conversations with founders and legal technology vendors: focus is the defining factor behind successful startups. This insight was reinforced during an encounter with Alex Babin, an entrepreneur whose company, Hercules, was recently acquired by Aderant. Babin emphasized a principle he has seen proven repeatedly—early-stage companies rarely succeed when they attempt to develop multiple products at once. Concentrating energy, talent, and resources on a single, clearly defined solution is far more effective than spreading efforts too thin.
Walking through the exhibit hall, the author observed how many now-established legal technology companies began by solving one specific problem exceptionally well. Rather than competing head-to-head with larger platforms across broad functionality, these companies carved out niches where they could deliver targeted value. That pattern was evident in several vendors highlighted at the conference.
One such example was ModeOne, a company dedicated almost entirely to mobile device data collection. Since first appearing on the scene in 2022, ModeOne has built momentum by resisting the temptation to diversify prematurely. Its leadership has chosen to deepen expertise in mobile data rather than branching into unrelated products, reinforcing the idea that specialization can be a competitive advantage.
Another company following a similar path is ActiveNav, which has positioned itself squarely within the niche of data governance for law firms. Rather than offering generalized governance solutions, ActiveNav focuses on the unique regulatory, cultural, and operational challenges faced by legal organizations. That concentrated approach has allowed it to develop tools that resonate strongly with its target audience.
The theme of focus became even more apparent with the introduction of Tavrn, a relatively young startup attending ILTA for the first time. Founded by Pedro Paulino, Tavrn centers its entire platform on personal injury litigation, particularly the handling of medical records. Its flagship product transforms large volumes of medical documentation into streamlined chronologies tailored for legal analysis rather than clinical review. By filtering out irrelevant material and highlighting key records, the tool significantly reduces review time.
Beyond summarization, Tavrn automates medical record collection once authorizations are received—eliminating the repetitive follow-ups that traditionally slow cases down. The platform can also generate demand letters quickly and calculate medical charges relevant to a claim, benefiting plaintiff, defense, and subrogation attorneys alike. Additional features extend to document review and contextual AI-driven searches, with citations linking back to original sources.
For contingency-based practices, especially plaintiff firms, the efficiency gains are substantial. Reduced labor shifts the cost-benefit analysis toward accepting more cases, potentially increasing access to justice. The author concluded that startups with disciplined focus often outperform those chasing breadth too early. Whether they are eventually acquired or expand organically, these companies tend to deliver meaningful innovation. Tavrn exemplifies this model, and its trajectory reflects the enduring power of doing one thing exceptionally well.