From Singapore University to Legal-Tech Pioneers: The Birth of Lexi
Harshit Garg and Kiran Mohan, both computer science engineering graduates from the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), embarked on divergent career trajectories after their studies. Garg pursued postgraduate legal studies in Melbourne, eventually becoming a barrister, while Mohan remained in Singapore to work as a software engineer. Their paths converged in Singapore in 2025 during a casual meeting, where they identified a significant gap in the global legal industry: the slow adoption of artificial intelligence compared to other sectors. This insight sparked the creation of Lexi, a groundbreaking legal-tech startup that has since captured the attention of the prestigious international accelerator, Y Combinator, securing initial funding and marking a milestone as the first Indian legal-tech company to receive such backing.
Founding Vision and Research Insights
According to Garg, co-founder and CEO, Lexi focuses on developing AI-powered legal associates tailored for lawyers. The founders conducted extensive research, engaging with approximately 200 lawyers and law firms across India, Australia, and Singapore. In India, their discussions spanned practitioners from district courts to the Supreme Court. Mohan, co-founder and CTO, noted that most legal services were still manual, with many lawyers struggling to take on new cases or clients due to time-consuming draft preparations. They realized that automating these processes could streamline document drafting, offering a comprehensive AI-driven solution.
Background and Launch Journey
Leveraging their AI specialization from university and industry experience, the duo brought unique skills to the table. Garg had previously founded an online ticket-booking platform before relocating to Australia, while Mohan led teams in blockchain infrastructure, security products, and scaling AI applications at a Singapore-based firm. In June 2025, they resigned from their jobs and returned to India to launch Lexi, a name derived from the Latin word for law. Garg, hailing from a family of lawyers in Punjab, handles the legal aspects, while Mohan, from Chennai, manages the technology. Their application to Y Combinator proved successful, with Garg explaining that securing $0.5 million in initial funding required a convincing 10-minute online pitch.
Growth and Current Operations
Headquartered in Chennai, Lexi now operates in India, Singapore, and San Francisco. The startup has onboarded over 100 law firms and lawyers, managing more than 7,000 cases. In the past six months, it has raised an additional $0.5 million from various sources, including venture capital firms. Mohan announced plans to raise another $2 million this year to scale product development and sales efforts.
Unique Selling Proposition and Technological Edge
In a market saturated with AI options, Lexi distinguishes itself by providing AI-powered associates that emulate the round-the-clock work of legal teams in top firms. Mohan emphasized that privacy is paramount, with all documents protected by end-to-end encryption and accessible only to the lawyer, ensuring customer data is never used for model training. Garg highlighted efficiency gains, such as drafting rental agreements in under two minutes instead of hours or days, with similar benefits for notices, affidavits, and other documents. The platform features separate AI models for India, Singapore, and the US, tailored to each country's legal system, and offers instant access to thousands of court judgments.
Future Plans and Expansion
Looking ahead, Lexi aims to deepen its capabilities throughout the case lifecycle. While current AI agents handle research, drafting, and contract analysis, Garg revealed plans to upgrade the platform for end-to-end case management, further revolutionizing legal workflows.
