Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2018

Start-up name: Linkilaw
Founder: Alexandra Isenegger
Started in: London
Based in: 2015
Business description: Start-up-friendly legal firm aiming to demystify business law

A 2017 report from YouGov reported that UK small businesses suffer with eight legal issues per year and are collectively losing £7m an hour as a result of neglecting their legal obligations.

So, it’s no surprise that 25 year-old Alexandra Isenegger impressed the judges with her legal platform that’s tackling this problem head on with a targeted solution for small firms.

Founded back in 2015 when Isenegger was just 23, London-based Linkilaw helps connect start-ups with affordable and verified legal advice.

Offering advice on everything from commercial and company law, Intellectual Property, employment, and commercial property, Linkilaw has helped over 3,000 businesses to date.

Businesses in need of legal assistance submit a confidential request for help before receiving proposals from pre-approved lawyers which they can either accept or reject.

And the site is free for users with payment only required if a small business enlists the help of a lawyer.

This USP has been compelling and, supported by an acquisition of legal comparison site LawyerFair last year, the company has seen 12% growth month on month.

Named among the Forbes 30 under 30, Isenegger has helped establish a firm following for her business by contributing regularly to sites such as Quora while her work ethic is nothing short of inspiring.

The University of London LLB graduate regularly wakes up at 5am every day to get tasks done; dividing her priorities into an A-D category system, focusing on getting all the As and Bs done by the time her head hits the pillow again.

Young entrepreneur Isenegger faced off stiff competition from Highly Commended Young Entrepreneur of the Year Myles Hopper, the 3o year-old co-founder of recipe box company Mindful Chef, and Abbas Kazmi, the founder of the “friendliest” VC firm Collegiate Capital, who was named Commended Young Entrepreneur of the Year.