In 2020, a young startup named Xayn was gaining attention for its privacy-centric, on-device AI technology built primarily for smartphones. Over the ensuing years, however, the company pivoted strategically, transitioning its focus toward developing specialized artificial intelligence tailored specifically for the legal sector. Today, the Berlin-based firm, now operating under its new name Noxtua, has announced the completion of a substantial Series B funding round totaling $92.2 million (€81.2 million).
The fundraising was spearheaded by C.H. Beck, Germany’s preeminent legal publisher, whose extensive database hosts nearly all of the country’s legal case histories and judicial documentation. This pivotal partnership positions Noxtua uniquely, granting unparalleled access to the largest digital archive of legal material within the German-speaking world—some 55 million documents—to enhance its flagship sovereign AI product, Beck-Noxtua.
Joining C.H. Beck as significant new investors are Northern Data Group, a notable specialist in high-performance computing; CMS, Germany’s largest law firm; and global legal giant Dentons. Existing investors including Global Brain, KDDI Open Innovation Fund, and entrepreneur Dominik Schiener also participated in this round.
The partnership with Northern Data carries particular importance. Recognizing geopolitical sensitivities surrounding data sovereignty and hosting jurisdictions, Noxtua has collaborated explicitly with Northern Data on a fully domestically hosted infrastructure located entirely within Germany’s borders. This arrangement underscores the company’s commitment to meeting stringent German and European standards around data privacy and sovereignty.
Noxtua’s proprietary artificial intelligence platform promises a transformative capability tailored exclusively for the German legal sector. The software leverages customized versions of transformer-based AI models specifically trained on millions of jurisdiction-specific documents, hence enabling it to effectively research, analyze, and draft intricate legal texts compliant with Germany’s rigorous legal frameworks.
Explaining the necessity for a distinctly European solution, Noxtua’s CEO and co-founder Dr. Leif-Nissen Lundbæk stated that mainstream foundation models trained predominantly on U.S. or U.K. data often fall short in precision required for German legal matters. Noting government involvement and regulatory implications inherent in legal activities, Lundbæk emphasized the critical need for AI models designed explicitly with national legal contexts in mind.
Noxtua’s foundational technology emerged initially from academic research at distinguished institutions including the University of Oxford and Imperial College London, and further evolved through close collaboration with partners such as CMS.
Professor Dr. Klaus Weber, a member of C.H. Beck’s executive board, highlighted the strategic significance of the collaboration, expressing that Noxtua exemplifies the company’s dedication to digital innovation. “Noxtua’s vision of a sovereign European legal AI aligns perfectly with our values,” Weber remarked, calling the venture central to the publisher’s ongoing innovation strategy.
Now armed with fresh capital and robust strategic partnerships, Noxtua looks set to become a critical player at the intersection of artificial intelligence, law, and data sovereignty within the European technological landscape.
