Hona – a leading client engagement software platform for law firms – announced that it raised $9.5 million in a Series A funding round led by Costanoa Ventures with participation from Ludlow Ventures, Soma Capital, and Y Combinator.
The company modernizes communication between law firms across personal injury, immigration, criminal defense and bankruptcy practices and their clients by automating manual client communication and data collection. These funds enable Hona to further enhance platform capabilities and expand its customer base.
The lack of communication is among the main disciplinary complaints filed against attorneys in the U.S. And the legal process is complicated and lengthy with significant gaps between case milestones that can leave clients frustrated and unsure about next steps.
Nearly half of the negative reviews on Google for law firms mention poor communication. And Hona addresses the inefficiencies and communication gaps with a suite of tools designed to streamline communication, including a step-by-step visual case tracking system. By automating updates, data collection and client communication, Hona empowers law firms to increase client satisfaction and referrals.
Since launching, Hona has helped more than 500 law firms and their 300,000 clients across the country track their cases. In April 2024 alone, Hona facilitated over one million texts from law firms, underscoring its effectiveness in keeping clients informed and engaged. On average, law firms utilizing Hona see 5-star reviews increase by up to 20% in the first month of use.
Hona connects to a law firm’s system of record (or case management software) for providing automated updates to clients. And clients access a custom portal – which includes a visual case tracker as legal staff progresses a case through their system. Plus, it features simple guides that map out next steps with educational videos that simplify legal jargon and processes to keep clients better informed and manage expectations.
To provide additional support to legal staff and save time, attorneys have the option to utilize Hona’s AI Chatbot “Lia” to quickly address client queries with relevant and legal-specific assistance and educational resources.
The company was launched in 2021 after Hona’s CEO and co-founder Manny Griffiths experienced a maze of complications and poor legal communication over two years when supporting his wife after a car accident.
KEY QUOTES:
“It’s not just clients who feel the impact of poor communication during legal proceedings; law firms do too. Frequent calls for case updates, legal explanations and administrative questions are time-consuming and divert resources away from resolving cases. Our tools already save legal teams an average of 30 hours per month on redundant updates.”
– Manny Griffiths, Co-Founder and CEO of Hona
“Hona is transforming the standard of communication in the legal industry. In an era where instant communication is expected, Hona bridges the gap between lawyers and their clients, providing real-time information and fostering trust throughout the process.”
– Amy Cheetham, Partner at Costanoa Ventures
