Legal AI startup Harvey has acquired Hexus, a company specializing in product demonstration and training tools, as it seeks to bolster its capabilities and maintain a competitive edge in the rapidly evolving legal technology market. The acquisition, announced recently, brings Hexus’s engineering expertise in-house to accelerate development of solutions for corporate legal departments. Harvey, already a prominent player in the legal AI space, continues an aggressive expansion strategy fueled by significant venture capital investment.
Hexus founder and CEO Sakshi Pratap confirmed the deal, stating that her San Francisco-based team, along with engineers currently located in India, will integrate into Harvey’s operations. Pratap will lead a new engineering team focused specifically on enhancing Harvey’s offerings for in-house legal counsel. The financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed, but Pratap indicated a structure prioritizing long-term team alignment.
Harvey Strengthens Position in Competitive Legal AI Market
The move comes as Harvey aims to solidify its position as a leader in applying artificial intelligence to the legal profession. The company’s valuation has surged in recent months, reaching $8 billion after a $160 million funding round led by Andreessen Horowitz last fall. This brought total funding in 2025 to $760 million, with backing from Sequoia Capital, Kleiner Perkins, and others. The legal tech industry is attracting substantial investment, with numerous startups vying to disrupt traditional legal processes.
Hexus itself had raised $1.6 million from investors including Pear VC and Liquid 2 Ventures prior to the acquisition. The company focused on enabling businesses to create engaging product demos, training videos, and user guides, leveraging AI to streamline content creation. Pratap highlighted that Hexus’s experience in building enterprise AI tools in related fields will be valuable to Harvey’s growth.
Origins and Rapid Growth of Harvey
Harvey’s origins are rooted in the potential of large language models (LLMs) to transform legal work. Co-founder and CEO Winston Weinberg reportedly began exploring the application of OpenAI’s GPT-3 to legal questions while working as an associate attorney. Initial testing demonstrated a high degree of accuracy, with attorneys indicating they would approve a significant portion of AI-generated responses without modification. This early success spurred the company’s formation.
The company secured its first investment from the OpenAI Startup Fund in July 2022, following a direct outreach to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. According to Weinberg, the OpenAI fund remains a major investor in Harvey. This close relationship with OpenAI provides Harvey with access to cutting-edge AI technology, a crucial advantage in the legal tech sector.
Expanding Client Base and Focus on In-House Legal
Harvey currently serves over 1,000 clients across 60 countries, including a majority of the top ten U.S. law firms. However, the company is increasingly focusing on the needs of in-house legal departments, recognizing the growing demand for AI-powered solutions within corporations. This strategic shift is reflected in Pratap’s new role and the focus of her engineering team. AI-powered legal solutions are becoming increasingly attractive to companies seeking to reduce costs and improve efficiency.
The acquisition of Hexus is not solely about technology; it’s also about talent. Pratap’s background includes engineering roles at major tech companies like Walmart, Oracle, and Google, bringing a wealth of experience to Harvey. The integration of Hexus’s India-based engineering team, once a Bangalore office is established, will further expand Harvey’s development capacity.
The legal industry is undergoing a significant transformation driven by advancements in artificial intelligence. Companies like Harvey are at the forefront of this change, offering tools that automate tasks, improve research, and enhance decision-making. However, challenges remain, including data privacy concerns, the need for regulatory clarity, and ensuring the responsible use of AI in legal contexts.
Looking ahead, Harvey will likely prioritize the integration of Hexus’s technology and team, with a focus on delivering new features and capabilities for in-house legal departments. The company’s continued success will depend on its ability to innovate, adapt to changing market conditions, and address the ethical and legal considerations surrounding the use of AI in the legal profession. The timeline for the full integration of the Hexus team and the launch of new in-house focused features remains uncertain, but is expected within the next year.
