Why King’s?
Nnamdi: I thought I wanted to do investment banking. Studying law was a way of buying myself time to decide. I have an older brother who studied at King’s for a year, so I heard positive things. I eventually decided that law was what I wanted to do.
Feargus: I started out with a career in computer science, before my sight began to fail me. At the time, the technology to support me just didn’t exist.
My wife and I started figuring out what a new career path might look like for me. We landed on something text-based and there’s nothing more text-based than law!
I chose King’s due to its strong support network for students with disabilities and excellent reputation. While at Trinity College Dublin, I was a member of the Debating Society. We visited King’s once on a splendid night out! I really loved the campus and its location.
What are your favourite memories of King’s?
Nnamdi: My year at King’s was really enjoyable. I got very integrated with different societies and attended a few of the African Caribbean Society’s events.
Feargus: There are so many! I still have strong relationships with some of the people I met. I made friends with students from all over the world.
I was 32 when I started. Being around 19-21-year-olds gave me a passion for mentorship.
I always remember exam time, too, as I had to dictate my exams to a scribe. The staff were incredibly helpful.
Congratulations on winning our Business & Entrepreneurial Award. How did Definely come about?
Feargus: Nnamdi and I met while working on the same deal when we were both lawyers at Freshfields, so we were in the trenches together!
Nnamdi was one of the first people who I felt really respected the toil it took for me to do the work. Though we worked on similar tasks, the efficiency gap between us was enormous. One day, Nnamdi asked me: ‘If you could create your dream solution for navigating legal documents and finding the information you need, what would it look like?’
Nnamdi: It was from this initial conversation that Definely was born. I approached a contractor to build an AI prototype. It was very ‘buggy’ and slow, yet feasible.
When I started, I didn't have an entrepreneurial background, so I didn’t know what I was doing! It took a few years to get the project up and running. We launched Definely in 2020.
How does it feel to win this award together?
Nnamdi: King’s gave me the skills I needed to take on the world. Being recognised by that same institution is very special. To receive it alongside Feargus is amazing.
Feargus: I read lists of people who have achieved amazing things and think, ‘They’ve done so much’. To be included among those people is very surreal.
Receiving the award together feels very appropriate. Nnamdi and I started our journey in 2013, and through our career and our friendship we’ve stuck together.
What’s been your proudest career moment?
Nnamdi: Feargus and I started out with just an idea. Never in my wildest dreams did I think Definely would grow into what it’s become now. Every day is a proud moment.
Feargus: I’m proud I had the courage to leave Freshfields and join Nnamdi on this journey. Seeing the platform evolve made me very proud. We’re at the cutting-edge of technology and legal AI, and using that to make people’s lives easier.
What are the biggest challenges?
Nnamdi: Every day is a challenge! Being able to survive and grow as a business in this economy is challenging. The fact that we’re here is something we don’t take for granted.
Feargus: Learning how to make leadership decisions quickly and living with those decisions is a challenge.
Breaking down barriers to legal access is a huge part of Definely's work. Why is this so important?
Nnamdi: Feargus and I have been able to combine our perspectives to create a product that serves everyone.
I remember reading a piece in the Financial Times about a lawyer who used Definely. This person had a visual impairment and he spoke about the positive impact the product had on his work. This was a proud moment.
What’s next?
Nnamdi: We’ve just launched a new product, which builds on the AI function to make our existing technology even more powerful. It’s exciting to build something people want to use. We've also recently closed a $30m Series B funding round bringing our total funding to over $40m and we are excited to keep reinvesting in the business to fuel further growth.
Some 30% of our revenue comes from the US, so we’re focused on expanding there. I’ve just received my US visa and I’ll be moving there later this year.
Feargus: We’ll also be focusing on what our customers want and how we can work with them to better meet their needs.
What advice would you give to alumni wanting to follow in your footsteps?
Nnamdi: A lot of people don’t know how powerful it is to have a dream or an idea. It may seem small and impossible, but if you work on it every day it adds up.
Feargus: Courage is a huge factor in pursuing a dream. Surround yourself with people who support you and will be honest with you. Look at the two of us and what we’ve done, then tell me that nothing is possible.