August, an AI platform purpose-built for midsize law firms, has raised $7 million in seed funding to accelerate its mission of delivering customizable AI workflows for legal teams across the globe. The round was led by NEA and Pear VC, with participation from Stanford Law School and notable angel investors, including Gokul Rajaram, Geoff Charles (Ramp), David Azose (OpenAI), and Kevin Zhang (Bain Capital Ventures).
The funds will help scale August's modular AI system, which allows firms to tailor AI agents to specific workflows, laws, and client demands.
August was created to serve midsize law firms—a segment representing over 50,000 firms and 500,000 lawyers globally. While large firms have adopted complex AI platforms, midsize practices have often been left behind by tools built for Big Law.
“August gives midsize law firms the freedom to shape AI around their own playbooks, whether they’re advising clients in Miami, Sydney, or Mumbai,” said Rutvik Rau, Co-founder & CEO of August. “Our approach combines modular technology with personalized onboarding led by both attorneys and engineers, helping firms consistently deliver high-quality legal services that unlock growth and enhance client relationships.”
August’s modular AI agents are designed to fit directly into a firm’s existing workflows, adapting to local legal frameworks and document standards. This flexibility allows teams to speed up tasks like contract review, diligence, discovery, and drafting—without compromising on accuracy.
The company has already onboarded firms across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Hicksons, a prominent Australian firm, used August to review 5,000 negligence files 90% faster. In India, tax firm ELP reduced diligence time by 60%. A litigation team in Florida used August to process 40,000 pages in a $100M dispute, saving seven figures in legal costs.
"We conducted a process to find the best option and we chose August because they had the most accurate platform and were the most willing to work with us to solve our specific challenges," said David Fischl, Partner at Hicksons.
With its new capital, August plans to expand its engineering, legal, product, and sales teams. The company is also investing in deeper AI capabilities to support more use cases and languages.
In addition to building out its tech, August aims to refine its onboarding experience—pairing attorneys and engineers to support each firm’s unique requirements. Its AI can be deployed behind internal firewalls, addressing data residency and compliance needs across regions.
Founded in 2023, August was created by Rutvik Rau, Thomas Bueler-Faudree, and Joseph Parker. The trio met at Columbia University’s machine learning lab and combined their backgrounds in AI, legal practice, and enterprise software. Their experience includes stints at midsize law firms, Blackstone, PayPal, and DoorDash.
“We were immediately impressed by August’s founding team—their rare combination of AI expertise, legal insights, and executional strength stood out clearly during their time at PearX," said Mar Hershenson, Founding Managing Partner at Pear VC. "Rutvik, Thomas, and Joseph are visionary founders uniquely positioned to redefine how midsize law firms adopt AI."
Alongside NEA and Pear VC, the round attracted backing from Stanford Law School and well-known angel investors active in AI and enterprise software.
“We see tremendous potential in the midsize legal market, where firms are eager for innovation yet underserved by existing solutions,” said Tiffany Luck, Partner at NEA. “August directly addresses this gap, enabling midsize firms to deliver exceptional client value and drive significant growth.”
