AI platform Valla’s CEO described as “groundbreaking”
Danae Shell, the creator of DIY legal platform Valla, has been recognised as one of the UK’s most groundbreaking women entrepreneurs.
Danae, who has become a TikTok star for her practical tips on employment law, is on a personal mission to make legal services affordable for the millions of workers that can’t afford legal fees.
There is evidence of widespread non-compliance with employment laws in the UK today. A recent report by the Resolution Foundation found that every year 12.4 million employees, that’s 37% of the workforce, are impacted by violations ranging from discrimination to unpaid holiday entitlement.
Valla is an AI-enabled legal platform that empowers UK workers to raise a complaint, settle with employers or go to tribunal without huge legal costs, supporting those who previously had nowhere to turn for legal help.
Now the success of the Edinburgh-based company, launched in 2022, which employs 7 people and 15 specialist legal coaches and has grown its sales 10-fold, has led to Danae Shell receiving an Innovate UK Women in Innovation Award worth £75,000 to further develop the platform.
Valla’s success is particularly impressive given the company was in danger of collapse just two years ago after the 2022 investment market crash.
Danae said:
“On New Year’s Eve 2023, I had no exec team, no revenue and very little time to take action. What I did have was belief. Belief from my team, investors and advisors, and also my own personal belief that this was worth all my energy.
“We had seen the impact we were already making with customers, we could see the huge opportunity in the market and we just needed to find a way to grab it.
“So, we adapted. Our product team became an artificial intelligence R&D department overnight, testing every new GenAI feature as it emerged. We rebuilt our service delivery processes as we learned what the tech could and couldn’t do, and started seeing dramatic improvements in the product.”
For 27-year-old Lewis Lawrence, who worked in the energy sector, Valla’s help proved to be game-changing.
“I was mistreated at work from the moment that I handed in my notice; my boss at the time told me it was going to be the worst month of my time there and set out on making my remaining time at the company unbearable. I had seen him be physically abusive to other people on work trips. It definitely did take a strain on my mental health, I had sleepless nights thinking about what might happen next because he knew where I lived. So, when he terminated my notice period and then pretended I had refused to work my notice, I had to seek justice.
“I couldn’t afford to get a solicitor. I did contact a couple of solicitors and they were either too expensive or said it wouldn’t be worth it because my winnings would just go on solicitor’s fees.
“Then someone mentioned Valla to me and everything started to become manageable. I used their timeline to help me put my story in perspective and my Valla coach went above and beyond, helping me to prepare legal documents including witness statements.
“I was so nervous going into the court, but despite having no legal experience, I presented my case with confidence and professionalism – I just know they weren’t expecting it – and it resulted in a significant payout for unfair dismissal.”
This year’s Women in Innovation Awards drew 1,452 applications from women business leaders across the UK, 52% up on last year. This record-breaking engagement highlights the high demand for innovation support and potential to drive economic growth from women leading businesses. In total, £3.75 million in government funding is being awarded, with each recipient receiving 50% more than previous years.
Emily Nott, Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at Innovate UK, said:
“Innovate UK’s Women in Innovation Awards spotlight the UK’s most groundbreaking women entrepreneurs. This year’s winners have shown incredible leadership and creativity. We’re thrilled to support them in scaling their businesses and inspiring the next wave of women innovators. Their success stories will undoubtedly pave the way for more women to enter and thrive in the world of innovation.”
Danae added:
“For women to know that it’s not just the more junior roles that you can get to, but you can get to those executive levels, and then you can lead your own company in exciting new ways, I hope that’s really inspiring.
“I would love to sit here and tell you that I think it’s easier for women these days, but I don’t think it is. I think in some ways, we’ve actually regressed. If you look at the actual funding environment for female founders, the numbers in terms of how much capital is invested in them is actually lower than it was a decade ago. So there’s still a lot of work to be done here.
“I’ve been in tech my whole career. I started as a software engineer and ended up in senior positions. What happened was a lot of people started coming to me with problems at work, and what really shocked me was I didn’t really know what to do about it. And I thought, goodness, why? Valla was born there.”
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland, Kirsty McNeill, said:
“Congratulations to the four fantastic Scottish women whose passion, resilience, and innovation will help inspire a new generation of leaders.
“I am pleased the UK Government, through Innovate UK, is celebrating and supporting these and trailblazing entrepreneurs who are driving change and helping to build a future of innovation and economic growth across the country.”
