enlighten technologies

What enlighten technologies does

Enlighten Technologies, Inc. is a privately held Iowa-based software company founded in 1999 that develops secure videoconferencing and legal information tools. Its core product is the proprietary e-SDN (enlighten Secure Data Network) platform — a web-based, server-side software stack using HTML5 and WebRTC that provides encrypted video bridging, secure data storage, and disposable video calling for confidential communications. The company also operates wholly-owned subsidiaries LAWCHEK and Lawsonline, which aggregate directories of attorneys, expert witnesses, court reporters, process servers, and other legal professionals across all 50 states, alongside a library of more than 20,000 legal forms and sample documents covering contracts, domestic/family, incorporation, name change, real estate, wills and estates, and intellectual property. Additional sub-products include Letter Pro, a pre-drafted letter template service.

The company operates a multi-stream revenue model combining freemium and subscription-based videoconferencing, annual legal directory listings, legal forms subscriptions, and resale/custom design of videoconferencing equipment. Its go-to-market blends direct enterprise sales into courts, government agencies, and alternative dispute resolution providers with self-service, web-based access for individuals and small businesses. Anchor customers include JAMS (exclusive nationwide provider via partnership with Zephyr), William Mitchell College of Law, the Iowa State Association of Counties, and the Iowa Communications Network (ICN). The company serves primary customers in law firms, courts, and government agencies, with stated plans to expand into medical, insurance, and real estate markets.

Name

enlighten technologies

Legal name

enlighten technologies, inc.

Website

https://enlightentech.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Enlighten Technologies is a privately held Iowa-based software company, founded 1999, that provides secure web-based videoconferencing via its proprietary e-SDN platform and operates legal directories, legal form libraries, and letter template services primarily for law firms, courts, government agencies, and alternative dispute resolution providers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Secure Videoconferencing Software

NAICS

Software Publishers (513210), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (5182)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Secure/Encrypted Messaging (BPAMACAG)

Keywords

• Secure videoconferencing
• Legal directories
• Legal forms library
• Encrypted video communications
• Video bridging services

Headquarters

HQ city

Cedar Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Videoconferencing Services: Business class videoconferencing suite rentals offering video bridging and encrypted security services. Free tier available for basic usage with no time limits. Premium services include secure meeting rooms, password protection, and advanced features.
2. Legal Directory Listings: Directory listings for legal professionals (attorneys, expert witnesses, process servers, etc.) with processing time of approximately 10 business days for standard listings. Premium options include logo and banner advertisements.
3. Legal Forms Subscription: Access to legal form books and documents for personal and educational use. Includes forms for contracts, domestic/family, incorporation, name change, real estate, wills & estates, and intellectual property.
4. Equipment Sales and Custom Design: As a reseller of videoconferencing equipment, the company offers off-the-shelf units. As a custom designer, the company offers equipment tailored to meet clients' specific needs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

enlighten technologies is a software development company that builds and operates the e-SDN (enlighten Secure Data Network) web-based videoconferencing platform providing video bridging, encrypted communications, and secure data storage. The company also operates the LAWCHEK and Lawsonline legal directories and a library of more than 20,000 legal forms and pre-drafted letters serving attorneys, courts, government agencies, corporations, and consumers.

Product overview

Enlighten Technologies offers a portfolio of secure communications and legal industry products. The core product is the e-SDN (enlighten Secure Data Network) platform, a web-based videoconferencing and secure data storage service providing encrypted video communications, video bridging, and secure network connectivity. Supporting the core platform are the LAWCHEK and Lawsonline sub-brands providing legal directories of attorneys, expert witnesses, and other legal professionals, plus legal form books covering seven categories: Contracts, Domestic and Family, Incorporation, Name Change, Real Estate, Wills and Estates, and Intellectual Property. Additional offerings include Letter Pro for pre-drafted letter templates across home, medical, banking, business, federal, insurance, auto, school, credit, shopping, state, and personal categories. The company serves the legal, medical, insurance, and real estate markets, with customers including courts, law firms, corporations, and government agencies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• e-SDN™: enlighten™ Secure Data Network - secure server side software applications for videoconferencing and web-based data storage
• Lawchek™
• Lawonline™
• Letter Pro™

Products and services

• e-SDN (enlighten Secure Data Network) Web-based secure videoconferencing and data storage platform providing video bridging, encrypted security services, and real-time video, phone, fax, and data communication for businesses, law firms, courts, and government agencies. Includes a free tier with disposable video calls and premium business class suite rentals.
• LAWCHEK Legal Directories Online directories of legal professionals including attorneys, court reporters, expert witnesses, process servers, private investigators, interpreters, arbitrators, and videographers, organized by state and city with attorney ratings.
• Lawsonline Legal Portals Legal portals and directories providing web-based resources for the legal community, including attorney listings and legal professional search tools.
• Legal Forms Library (Form Books) Library of over 20,000 legal forms and sample documents organized into seven form books covering Contracts, Domestic and Family, Incorporation, Name Change, Real Estate, Wills and Estates, and Intellectual Property. Provided in a question-and-answer format for personal and educational use.
• Letter Pro Pre-drafted letter templates for home and business use covering categories including home, medical, banking, business, federal, insurance, auto, school, credit bureau, shopping, state, and personal matters.
• Videoconferencing Equipment (Reseller and Custom Design) Sale of off-the-shelf videoconferencing equipment as a reseller, plus custom-designed equipment tailored to client specifications for businesses needing dedicated communication hardware.

Quantifiable outcome

• 81% of law firms affected by COVID-19, driving adoption of video conferencing
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and historical.

• Zephyr Legal TechnologiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026JAMS chose Zephyr and enlighten as exclusive providers of videoconferencing technology for its nationwide network of offices. Partnership enables world-class resolution services for complex disputes.
• JAMScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026JAMS selected Zephyr and enlighten as exclusive providers of videoconferencing technology for their nationwide network of offices, serving alternative dispute resolution needs.
• William Mitchell College of LawminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026The Consortium partnership with William Mitchell College of Law enables innovative, cooperative legal education through e-SDN platform, creating opportunity within the larger legal community.
• Iowa Communications Network (ICN)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2000ICN provides connectivity for counties using enlighten technology to access programs, connect courthouses, and enable telemedicine users. Enlighten systems can connect to ICN for use by authorized users including judicial branch.
• QWEST (now CenturyLink)historicalTechnology or Integration · 1 January 1999Early partnership formed in 1997-1999 when LAWCHEK, Ltd. researched cost-effective ways to keep in contact with employees. QWEST (now CenturyLink) collaboration led to the founding of enlighten in January 1999 and development of broadband convergence technology.
• 3COMhistoricalTechnology or Integration · 1 January 1999Involvement in project collaboration with 3COM alongside PictureTel and Williams Communications took the e-SDN product to cutting edge capabilities. Project involvement at Legal Tech show in New York.
• PictureTelhistoricalTechnology or Integration · 1 January 1999Project collaboration with PictureTel alongside 3COM and Williams Communications developed e-SDN product capabilities for turnkey videoconferencing solution.
• Williams CommunicationshistoricalTechnology or Integration · 1 January 1999Project collaboration with Williams Communications alongside 3COM and PictureTel advanced e-SDN product to cutting edge of videoconferencing capabilities.
• Macmillan PublishershistoricalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLAWCHEK first published legal form books through MacMillan Spectrum Publishing in 1996. Historical distribution partnership for legal form publications.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Twilio Video: Programmable video API used by developers and enterprises to embed secure video into applications. Represents the API-first, developer-oriented alternative to enlighten's closed platform approach.
• Doxy.me: Browser-based telemedicine video platform popular among small clinics and providers. Comparable as a horizontal secure-video platform that could converge with enlighten's stated expansion into the medical market.

Broad incumbents

• Avaya Spaces: Unified communications and video collaboration suite from Avaya, broadly serving enterprises and government. Overlaps with enlighten's secure communications positioning.
• RingCentral: Cloud communications provider offering video meetings as part of a unified communications platform for businesses of all sizes. Adjacent competitor in business communications.
• Microsoft Teams: Microsoft's collaboration platform with integrated video calling, encryption, and compliance features. Increasingly the default for large enterprises, law firms, and government legal departments.
• Cisco Webex: Enterprise-grade video conferencing with end-to-end encryption and HIPAA/SOC2 compliance, used by courts, government, and legal organizations — directly competes with enlighten in secure meeting space.

Direct peers

• Lifesize: Provider of cloud video conferencing and meeting room solutions targeted at business and government customers. Closely comparable to enlighten in offering secure, professional-grade video meetings as a subscription.
• BlueJeans by Verizon: Cloud-based video conferencing platform with secure meeting features, formerly independent and now part of Verizon. Comparable to enlighten in serving business and government customers with encrypted video.
• GoToMeeting (LogMeIn/GoTo): Established video meeting service targeting SMBs and professional services firms. Comparable to enlighten's subscription-based, secure business-class videoconferencing.
• Zoom Video Communications: Dominant general-purpose video conferencing platform used widely by law firms, courts, and government agencies. Most direct competitor for videoconferencing market share in the legal vertical.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about enlighten technologies