OpenIntake

What do they actually do

OpenIntake provides a voice-based AI “front door” for law firms. When prospective clients call a firm (often after hours), the AI answers the phone, runs a complete intake conversation to capture contact and case details, and—if qualified—books a consultation directly into the firm’s calendar and connected CRM or practice‑management system (OpenIntake site, Terms).

The product is live today with a public audio demo, focuses on full intake + scheduling 24/7, and emphasizes quick onboarding (typically under a week) and integrations so data flows into the firm’s existing tools. The company also states it handles client data securely with encrypted/HIPAA‑compliant processes (OpenIntake site, Terms).

Who are their target customer(s)

• Solo attorneys who can’t staff evenings/weekends: They miss after‑hours calls and lose potential clients to voicemail because no one is available to answer promptly.
• Small firms (2–20 lawyers) without a dedicated intake team: Front desk staff get overwhelmed during peak times, leading to long hold times and manual data entry that slows follow‑up.
• High‑volume plaintiff practices (PI, workers’ comp, family law): They need fast triage and qualification; slow callbacks or missed calls mean lost matters and revenue.
• Firms with heightened compliance/confidentiality needs: Partners are wary of sharing sensitive information with third‑party receptionists or leaving details on voicemail.
• Growing firms seeking clear intake ROI: Practice managers struggle to track which calls become paying clients and whether additional intake staffing is justified.

How would they acquire their first 10, 50, and 100 customers

• First 10: Founder‑led outreach via YC and personal networks, plus direct calls to local solos and small firms, offering hands‑on setup and short, low‑risk pilots tied to booked consults and quick integrations.
• First 50: Layer in lightweight outbound (SDR + targeted email/calls), webinars and bar‑association events, early case studies/testimonials, and partner referrals (answering services/consultants) to convert time‑boxed pilots.
• First 100: Standardize a two‑week paid pilot and self‑serve onboarding for smaller deals, launch marketplace/integration listings and co‑marketing with CRM/practice‑management vendors, and scale partners/resellers and PPC to drive steady trials.

What is the rough total addressable market

Top-down context:

There are roughly 420k–450k law firm businesses in the U.S., depending on source (IBISWorld, Statista). Virtual receptionist services used by law firms commonly price in the low‑hundreds to low‑thousands per month (Ruby pricing via MyCase, LawRank overview).

Bottom-up calculation:

If OpenIntake focuses on a subset of 150,000 U.S. solo and small firms and captures $300/month on average per firm, that implies a U.S. SAM of ~$540M/year (150k × $300 × 12). Even at 100,000 firms at $350/month, the SAM is ~$420M/year.

Assumptions:

• Initial focus is U.S. solos and small firms (a majority of firms by count).
• Average revenue per firm approximates mainstream virtual receptionist pricing ($245–$705+/month tiers).
• Assumes firms adopt for after‑hours/overflow intake rather than full in‑house replacement.

Who are some of their notable competitors

• Ruby (Ruby Receptionists): Well‑known virtual receptionist for small firms, including legal; offers 24/7 human reception, intake, and scheduling with published pricing tiers used as a market reference (Ruby via MyCase pricing overview).
• Smith.ai: Hybrid AI + human receptionist service with legal focus, offering call answering, intake, and integrations; positions an AI receptionist with human backup for law firms (Smith.ai pricing overview).
• Posh Virtual Receptionists: Legal‑oriented virtual receptionists with 24/7 coverage, appointment scheduling, and integrations (e.g., Calendly, Rocket Matter) targeting small law firms.
• LEX Reception: Legal‑focused answering service offering 24/7 human reception, intake, and scheduling; markets bilingual support and CRM integrations for law firms (pricing model explainer).
• Answering Legal: Reception service dedicated to law firms with custom intake and 24/7 coverage, a common alternative to in‑house or after‑hours staff for small practices.