Serisha Barrat, 30, is the founder and chief executive of Lawyered Up. As a tech entrepreneur committed to having a positive effect on society she leads two ventures aimed at making a difference. One is Lawyered Up, which uses artificial intelligence to make legal help accessible to small businesses. The other is Boardroom, which is a dating app for professionals that verifies users through LinkedIn. Serisha says creating positive change drives every aspect of her work, from developing innovative solutions to fostering transparent and trustworthy online interactions. She understands the power of leveraging technology for social good. Lawyered Up also provides three hours every week of pro bono legal support for gender-based violence (GBV) victims. In addition, Lawyered Up, through its works with the organisation Art of Charity, is involved in several initiatives aimed at addressing gender-based violence and promoting awareness of GBV. Among Serisha’s achievements was speaking at the United Nations on ethics and artificial intelligence. She has also been a finalist for Standard Bank’s Top Women Leaders. Additionally, she was featured in Forbes for the resilience and effectiveness of her business during the Covid-19 pandemic.
BA, University of the Witwatersrand
LLB, Unisa
Lawyered Up exemplifies the transformative potential of technology for social good. My journey, punctuated by accolades such as being recognised as one of the top 50 inspiring women in tech in 2023 and among the top 100 most influential young Africans, fuels my commitment to driving positive change.
Lawyered Up not only sets a commendable example for other tech companies but also reaffirms our commitment to corporate social responsibility and having a positive effect in the community.
Yes, through their encouragement, I persisted despite numerous setbacks. Some days posed significant challenges, but their support kept me going.