Business

Sakal Ventures by Kris Bort Has Become the Gold Standard For Late Stage Pre-IPO Investment

Published

6 years ago

October 10, 2020

Finding the correct wealth managers is often very difficult, as most charge exorbitant fees and show little return. With Covid-19 reshaping the current financial landscape, it has been very difficult for people to correctly predict where the market will go, and what sectors to invest in. If you are looking to put your mind at ease, and sleep at night knowing your financial future is secure, Sakal Ventures is the fund for you. Kris Bortnovksy, or Kris Bort, as he is known in the financial world, is the founder of Sakal and has been in finance all his life. He earned his Broker license at a young age and was the top producer at the wealth management firm he worked for, producing over 7 figures for the company, very early in his career. He has taken his financial success to the next level as a founding partner for Sakal Ventures, and he has a team in place that every other wealth management firm can only dream of. From AJ Arora, the technology sector growth wizard, to Anthony DeBenedictis, who is a Wall Street veteran and titan of capital management, and master of analytics and MIT graduate, George Ebner, Bort has assembled a dream team at Sakal.

Although the fund has a broad and flexible investment authority and invests globally across the spectrum, and is sector agnostic, a majority of the capital is deployed into sectors like technology, cybersecurity, plant based foods, and artificial intelligence. Bort identifies these as the best sectors as they have the best multiples, and he has made his clients millions in these specific sectors. The winning strategy used by Sakal is to identify and invest in significantly misplaced securities due to a transitional phase, a secular shift in consumer behavior, cyclical tailwinds, or revolutionary technologies. An example of this can be seen in a company called “Unity” from the gaming sector, where Sakal identifies the benefits from the secular shift and trend of the gaming ecosystem.

The barrier to entry is six figures for Sakal, but it has proven to be well worth it for many of Bort’s clients, as this investment has changed their lives. Bort conducts rigorous market analysis and makes investments only where there is a significant risk/reward. Sakal continues to flourish because of their precise ability to spot modern trends in the market. The ability to spot market trends and shifts in consumer demand is a major reason for Sakal’s sustained prosperity.

The secret sauce may sound easy on paper, but in practice, it is a different ballgame. This is why Sakal has achieved continuous financial success, as they seek to capitalize on the dislocation between current market price and intrinsic value of a security, with a valuation focus on the revenue growth and long-term earnings power of a company. Many individuals have achieved success in their respective field, but you can only work for so long, so why not have your money work for you? With Sakal, this is precisely what they do, and Bort’s dream team has changed the lives of many, by exponentially growing returns and helping investors attain financial prosperity. Sakal does this by focusing on companies that possess a wide economic moat, strong cash flow generation, as well as visionary thinking. Sakal has a proven track record, and with Bort steering the ship, this has been the fund of choice for many investors over the years.y

Business

Click for Counsel: YesLawyer Wants to Make Lawyers as Accessible as Wi-Fi

Published

1 week ago

April 1, 2026

Matthew Wiles

Photo Courtesy of: YesLawyer

Byline: Andi Stark

For many people facing a legal problem, the most difficult part is not understanding their rights but finding a lawyer willing to speak with them in the first place. Long wait times, unclear pricing, and administrative hurdles often delay even the most basic consultations. YesLawyer, an AI-enabled plaintiff firm operating across all 50 states, is testing whether technology can shorten that gap.

Founded in 2024 by 25-year-old entrepreneur Rob Epstein, the platform offers free intake, automated screening, and, in many cases, same-day conversations with licensed attorneys. The idea is simple: reduce the friction between a client’s first request for help and an actual legal discussion. In this interview, Epstein explains how the system works, where artificial intelligence fits into the process, and what problems the company is trying to address in the broader legal system

Q: When you say you want lawyers to be “as accessible as Wi-Fi,” what does that mean in practical terms?

A: It’s a way of describing speed and availability. Someone dealing with a workplace dispute, a serious injury, or an immigration issue should be able to move from an online form or phone call to a real conversation with counsel in hours, not weeks. YesLawyer is structured so that a client begins with a free case evaluation, goes through automated conflict checks and basic screening, and, in many instances, speaks with a lawyer the same day.

Q: How does the process work once someone contacts the platform?

A: We use a structured workflow. It starts with a short questionnaire and an initial conversation to capture basic facts. That information feeds into conflict checks and internal review. The system then proposes a match with a licensed attorney and provides a calendar link for a virtual consultation, often within 24 hours. After the meeting, the client receives a written legal plan outlining next steps, deadlines, and estimated fees.

Q: Where does artificial intelligence fit into that process, and where does it stop?

A: AI is used for organizing and routing information, not for giving legal advice. It helps with conflict checks at scale, case categorization, and structured summaries so attorneys can focus on the substance of the matter. Every consultation is conducted by a licensed lawyer, and all decisions about strategy or next steps are made by humans.

Q: What problem is this model trying to solve in the current legal system?

A: Delay and cost are still major barriers. Many civil plaintiffs face long waits just to get a first appointment, along with high retainers and hourly billing that make early legal advice risky. We try to respond with faster consultations, flat-fee options, and financing. The idea is to remove administrative friction so lawyers spend less time on logistics and more time speaking with clients.

Q: Some critics say platforms like this blur the line between a technology company and a law firm. How do you describe YesLawyer?

A: We describe ourselves as a national, AI-enabled plaintiff firm that connects clients with independent attorneys. That structure does raise regulatory questions, especially around responsibility and oversight. We focus on licensing verification, attorney-written case plans, and clear communication about fees and services.

Q: You’ve said the main bottleneck is “systems” rather than people. What do you mean by that?

A: The issue isn’t that lawyers don’t want to help more people. It’s that the systems around them make it hard to scale their time. Intake, scheduling, and document handling take hours. Automating those parts means attorneys can handle more matters without being overwhelmed by repetitive tasks.

Q: Does this model risk favoring only the most profitable cases?

A: That’s a real concern in legal technology. Automation often works best for repeatable, high-volume disputes. Our view is that lowering administrative cost can actually make it easier to take on smaller or more complex cases that might otherwise be turned away. Whether that holds over time depends on the data.

Measuring Impact Over Time

YesLawyer’s attempt to compress the timeline between inquiry and consultation reflects broader changes in how legal services are being delivered. As artificial intelligence becomes more common in administrative work, firms are experimenting with new ways to reduce wait times and clarify costs.

The company’s early growth suggests that many clients value faster access to an initial conversation, even before considering long-term representation. Whether this platform-based model becomes widely adopted or remains one of several emerging approaches will depend on regulatory developments, lawyer participation, and measurable outcomes for clients. For now, YesLawyer’s experiment highlights a central question in modern legal practice: how quickly can help realistically be made available to the people who need it.