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As a part of the Morning Lazziness collection about empowering girls who encourage and do unimaginable issues with their concepts in society, I had the pleasure of interviewing Kara Peterson.
Kara Peterson is the co-founder of Descrybe.ai, a Boston-based justice tech startup she launched in July 2023. The corporate leverages AI to democratize entry to the legislation and tackle the access-to-justice disaster in the USA. Kara leads Descrybe.ai’s advertising and enterprise improvement technique. She additionally co-founded and co-hosts the present Constructing AI Boston, which celebrates AI’s transformative potential and promotes its accessibility.
Kara is a acknowledged advocate for accountable AI and AI for good, in addition to for advancing girls in expertise. A frequent speaker at conferences and on podcasts, Kara has garnered quite a few accolades for Descrybe.ai, together with a 2024 Anthem Award for Greatest Use of AI, a Webby Award nomination, and two American Authorized Know-how Awards for Startup of the Yr and AI Innovation. She was additionally named a “Lady of Authorized Tech 2024” by the American Bar Affiliation. In 2024 she was chosen as a member of the Worldwide Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS) and now serves as a Webby and Anthem Awards choose.
What impressed you to develop into an entrepreneur within the AI trade, and what led to the creation of your present enterprise?
I didn’t plan on changing into an AI founder. I obtained pulled in after a private authorized battle in the course of the pandemic confirmed me how wildly inaccessible the authorized system actually is. I bear in mind pondering: If that is practically unimaginable for us — with privilege, training, and tech expertise, what hope do most individuals have?
We noticed a possibility to vary that, so we constructed Descrybe.ai, the inexpensive, AI-powered authorized analysis instrument we want we had again then. It’s now serving to hundreds of individuals a day discover and perceive courtroom opinions, and we’re simply getting began.
As a lady in tech and entrepreneurship, what distinctive challenges have you ever confronted, particularly within the AI house, and the way did you navigate them?
There’s the standard stuff — being underestimated, interrupted, and handed over. However the deeper problem is working in an trade that also rewards hype over substance and tends to uplift the identical sorts of voices again and again.
I’ve discovered to belief my instincts, keep laser-focused on the individuals we’re constructing for, and cease losing power making an attempt to squeeze right into a mould that was by no means constructed for me. I additionally discovered a neighborhood of fellow builders who share my values — that’s been all the pieces.
How do you handle the extreme calls for of constructing an AI-driven enterprise whereas sustaining private well-being and stability?
If I’m being trustworthy, I don’t all the time handle it effectively. It’s a continuing juggling act that requires relentless recalibration. I’ve discovered to simply accept that stability isn’t a hard and fast state — it’s extra like a shifting goal.
What helps is understanding my private purple flags for burnout and truly listening to them. And when the individuals closest to me say I appear exhausted… they’re often proper. I attempt to hear, even when my intuition is simply to push via.
So simple as it sounds, routine helps. I’ve two canines, and the rhythm of their day by day walks is a lifesaver — it forces breaks, anchors the day, and creates house to reconnect with my household, even after I really feel glued to a display.
What networking methods or communities have helped you most in constructing significant connections within the AI and tech ecosystem?
Truthfully, the most effective connections haven’t come from huge conferences or completely polished LinkedIn posts; they’ve come from actual conversations. Coffees. Slack threads. Late-night brainstorms with individuals who care extra about affect than hype.
I’ve been fortunate to search out communities in authorized tech, girls in AI, and the Boston AI ecosystem stuffed with good, mission-driven people who find themselves constructing with intention. These aren’t transactional areas — they’re collaborative, beneficiant, and prepared to share what’s working (and what’s not).
If there’s a technique, it’s this: present up with curiosity, give earlier than you ask, and don’t be afraid to DM somebody who evokes you. The people who find themselves actually doing the work have a tendency to reply.
How do you method mentorship—each receiving it and providing it—and the way has that influenced your progress as a founder on this house?
Probably the greatest issues about working in AI is that we’re all studying it in actual time, and all levels of life and profession are welcome. I’ve been extremely fortunate to have mentors who didn’t simply supply recommendation, however made introductions, opened doorways, and instructed me the onerous truths after I wanted to listen to them.
I attempt to pay that ahead by being beneficiant with my time, particularly with girls coming into the sphere. Mentorship doesn’t need to be formal — generally probably the most impactful assist is simply an trustworthy dialog when it issues most.
What methods have confirmed simplest in buying clients or purchasers in your AI services or products?
We’ve leaned closely into the authorized tech influencer ecosystem as a result of belief issues on this house. Attorneys aren’t going to take an opportunity on a brand new instrument except it’s vetted by individuals they respect. So we let the product communicate for itself and made positive it was fixing an actual, painful downside: authorized analysis that’s too costly or too onerous to make use of.
It additionally took time for individuals to comprehend we weren’t simply speaking about making the most effective instruments at a worth individuals can really afford—we meant it. However they consider us now.
That mentioned, we’ve additionally constructed belief by displaying up in sudden locations, equivalent to conferences, bar associations, even on the radio. Typically, simply being actual and accessible goes additional than any gross sales pitch.
Which advertising strategies (digital, content material, occasions, and so on.) have labored finest in your model, and the way do you measure their affect?
Content material has been big for us, particularly clear, jargon-free storytelling about what our instrument really does and who it’s constructed for. While you ditch the jargon and simply clarify the worth, individuals reply.
Podcasts and LinkedIn have been nice for attain, and authorized tech influencer advertising has helped us construct belief in the appropriate circles. Exhibiting up the place our customers are—whether or not that’s bar associations, conferences, or sudden locations like radio—has additionally made a distinction.
We observe what issues: search quantity, web page views, repeat visits, and adoption. Awards and press have undoubtedly helped validate what we’re doing (shoutout to the Webbys and Anthems!), however the greatest win continues to be individuals utilizing the instrument and coming again for extra.
Are you able to share a significant setback or roadblock in your AI startup journey, and the way you strategically overcame it?
We bootstrapped Descrybe from day one—not as a result of we needed to, however as a result of we wished to. It gave us the liberty to construct on our personal phrases, keep near our mission, and focus fully on the individuals we’re making an attempt to serve.
Removed from being a constraint, bootstrapping turned a framework for innovation. With no exterior stress to chase hype or inflate options, we zeroed in on what actually issues: making authorized analysis quicker, smarter, and extra accessible. That readability helped us transfer shortly, keep scrappy, and earn real belief.
It additionally meant we might worth issues in a approach that truly feels truthful. We’re not right here to squeeze each greenback however to vary the sport. And that’s been our greatest aggressive edge.
What’s one piece of recommendation you’d supply to girls who’re simply starting their entrepreneurial journey in AI or rising tech?
Count on imposter syndrome to indicate up—then give your self permission to inform it to close the hell up.
Significantly. It’s not an indication you’re not prepared. It’s an indication you’re doing one thing daring and unfamiliar. Don’t wait to really feel assured to start out constructing. Confidence comes from motion, not the opposite approach round.
And when unsure, bear in mind: the individuals who belong listed below are those constructing it. That features you.
Is there a quote, mantra, or philosophy that constantly guides your choices as an AI entrepreneur?
I really consider AI is our alternative to do effectively by doing good. We will construct profitable firms that truly clear up significant issues. For me, it’s by no means been about chasing hype — it’s about utilizing highly effective expertise to make issues higher, extra truthful, and extra accessible. If we get that proper, the success will observe.
What Are The 5 Issues You Want To Overcome Self-Doubt and Construct Confidence?
- Say the quiet wins out loud. Even when it feels awkward. Even for those who’re not “purported to.” Confidence builds once you cease minimizing what you’ve earned.
- Transfer earlier than you’re prepared. Ready for the right second is simply worry in disguise. Motion creates momentum, and momentum quiets the doubt.
- Discover your individuals—and consider them. Encompass your self with those who replicate your power again to you, particularly when you possibly can’t see it your self.
- Rewrite the failure script. Most errors are simply plot twists. Be taught the lesson, sharpen your edge, and maintain going.
- Construct one thing that truly issues. Self-doubt has much less energy once you’re engaged on one thing greater than your ego. Mission is the most effective antidote to worry.
In case you might encourage a motion that will convey probably the most quantity of excellent for the best variety of individuals, what would that be?
I consider AI offers us a once-in-a-generation alternative to fully reimagine how our society works — who advantages from expertise, and who will get left behind. The shift AI brings is very large, however it doesn’t need to deepen inequality. It may be a catalyst to unfold alternative extra broadly and construct techniques that serve everybody, not only a privileged few.
However that form of change received’t occur by chance. It requires a deliberate, collective alternative, and, actually, it received’t be straightforward. Nonetheless, I believe we’ve the possibility to get it proper. And if sufficient of us push for it, we simply would possibly.
How can our readers additional observe your work on-line?
Yow will discover me on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kj-peterson, or take a look at Descrybe.ai, our free AI-powered authorized analysis platform, at www.descrybe.ai.
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