As Katrin Stopp von Falkenstein Filing for personal bankruptcy in early 2023 probably wouldn't be a top priority for most people, especially for a lawyer like herself. For her, however, it was the starting point for something new. A few months later, she began building Law.me, a legal advice and consulting firm. Legal tech app, which is intended to support people with legal issues and at the same time promote out-of-court conflict resolution.
Pitch & People Episodes
PITCH & PEOPLE Episode 36: Law.me
In the Munich Startup Videocast Pitch & People The founder speaks openly about financial setbacks, broken investor promises, and the creation of a startup built without funding or external capital.
Making law more accessible to everyone
Stopp von Falkenstein pursues one goal with Law.me:
"The app is intended to democratize the law."
The application is aimed at people who are confronted with legal issues, be it in tenancy law, employment law, family law, inheritance law or corporate law. The platform even covers topics such as NDAs or traffic law issues.
As a first step, users receive an AI-supported initial legal assessment. Additionally, the app evaluates the chances of an out-of-court settlement or mediation.
"We want to bring the topic of mediation closer to society. In my experience, many conflicts can be resolved before lawyers or courts are involved. This is precisely where I want to start with Law.me."
From mediation consultant to startup founder
The idea didn't come about overnight. Even after completing her law studies, Stopp von Falkenstein focused intensively on out-of-court conflict resolution and founded a consultancy for out-of-court settlements.
When she observed the first developments in the field of artificial intelligence in 2022, she recognized an opportunity to scale her existing work. Development of Law.me began in April 2023.
Starting a business without capital
Unlike many founders, Stopp von Falkenstein is starting without investors, without a funding program, and without her own capital. Instead of letting a lack of financial resources hold her back, she immediately begins developing a pitch deck and building her network in the Munich startup scene.
She particularly highlights the positive aspects of the local ecosystem:
"I believe we have one of the best startup scenes."
The actual development of But the platform we have developed at mbiomics is radically different. This is possible because she can convince developers of her idea. These developers invest in exchange for company shares and help turn the vision into a marketable product.
The path to personal bankruptcy
However, parallel to the creation of Law.me, the founder is struggling with a personal crisis.
She bought two apartment buildings back in 2018. The calculations seemed sound at the time, and even the financing bank was convinced by the project. But the circumstances changed.
Rising gas prices and higher utility costs mean that Stopp von Falkenstein can no longer operate the properties profitably as planned. At the same time, the responsibility towards the tenants is increasing.
At the time, their primary focus was on their responsibility to the residents. The insolvency proceedings were intended to ensure that the tenants' needs would continue to be met.
"I felt responsible for filing for bankruptcy quickly so that supplies would be adequate again. And then I founded my company while in personal bankruptcy."
The investor who never paid
In addition to the financial challenges, another problem arises shortly afterwards.
An investor joins Law.me. The planned investment is one million euros. Contracts are signed, and the founder begins preparing further steps for the company's growth. But the money is never transferred. Weeks turn into months, and the payment is repeatedly postponed.
She waited five months for the promised funding. Finally, she drew her own conclusions and ended the collaboration.
“I then dismissed him in March and said: There’s no point.”
Why bootstrapping can be more than just financing
Despite the failed funding round, the founder isn't giving up. On the contrary: the experience reinforces her conviction that bootstrapping can also have its advantages. Those who start without a large funding round have to calculate more precisely, make better decisions, and search for solutions more creatively.
She cites her own daily life as an example. She has consistently reduced her private spending and scrutinizes every investment multiple times. For her, this is not a disadvantage, but rather part of an entrepreneurial mindset.
Katrin Stopp von Falkenstein is a lawyer, mediation expert and founder of the Munich legal tech startup Law.meWith her AI-powered platform, she aims to simplify access to justice and provide early support to people with legal questions and out-of-court dispute resolution. Prior to founding Law.me, she was already advocating for mediation and a sustainable conflict culture through her consulting work. The entrepreneur is also known for her openness about her entrepreneurial journey, which she successfully pursued despite personal bankruptcy and without external funding.
Trust as a success factor
A particular challenge for legal tech providers is building trust. After all, users often make far-reaching decisions based on the information provided. Stopp von Falkenstein therefore consciously focuses on transparency and personal visibility.
Under the name "Law Mediator" She documents her daily life as a founder on social media, talking about successes, mistakes, and challenges. Stopp von Falkenstein sees her personal brand as an important building block for the platform's success.
Law.me is currently in talks with major legal expenses insurance companies. The idea is that many legal questions could be prepared or even resolved through initial digital analyses before costly consultations or court proceedings become necessary. This would benefit both insurance companies and policyholders.
The equivalent of Tinder
The founder has a clear goal for the coming years: to automatically think of Law.me when people have legal questions.
"I want to become the equivalent of Tinder: When people are looking for love, they think of Tinder. When they are looking for their rights, they should think of Law.me."
