A Manchester trained solicitor's app which helps law firms communicate more effectively with clients has scooped a £344,000 investment.
Lauren Riley, who attended law school in the city, appeared on The Apprentice in 2014.
She founded The Link App in 2014 after working in a law firm and becoming frustrated at outdated working practices, including having to send sensitive documents by email and post.
She has now secured funding from the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund.
The latest funding round brings the total invested into the business to over £500,000.
The investment will allow Lauren to expand the team and add further features to the system, including the ability to provide clients with milestones to monitor the progress of their case and upload documents, including their ID, directly from their mobile phone.
Lauren Riley said: "This latest round of investment will allow The Link App to expand our talented team and innovative product.
"The backing of Mercia and other experienced investors is key recognition of our progress to date and we are all excited about the innovation on the horizon.”
The Link App provides a secure and paperless way for firms to communicate with clients via an app or web portal.
Lawyers can send updates and forms directly to the client’s smartphone, while the client can fill them in and submit signatures instantly using the mobile app. It also allows clients to stay up-to-date with the progress of their case while saving lawyers’ time.
The Link App can be used by itself or integrated with existing case management systems.
Will Clark, fund principal at Mercia Fund Managers, which manage the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund, added: “Lauren has found a way to apply emerging communications technology to the legal sector to improve the information flow with its clients.
"The Link App has been commended by professionals at the highest level in the industry. This funding will allow her to further develop the product and establish a firm foothold in the fast-growing legal technology market.”
