Founded in 2018, Steno has focused on transforming the deposition landscape. Originally established as a court reporting agency, it offered non-recourse financing of deposition costs. However, in 2020 Steno broadened its reach by launching Steno Connect, a web-based video conferencing platform designed exclusively for remote depositions and exhibit handling.
The creation of Steno Connect responded to a growing demand from legal professionals for an alternative to Zoom for conducting depositions. There were rising concerns about the security of Zoom meetings, and many users found themselves unable to install Zoom’s client. However, as the ubiquitous use of Zoom among lawyers and law professionals has surged in recent years, coupled with enhanced security and functionality on the platform, there was a need to combine Steno Connect’s capabilities with Zoom’s features.
Today, Steno aims to achieve this synergy by transforming its web platform into a Zoom app. Dylan Ruga, President, and co-founder of Steno, stated that recreating the functionality of its platform as a Zoom app allows their customers to experience the best of both platforms. Notably, Steno has become the only court reporting agency with a Zoom integration, now available on Zoom’s app store.
The distinguishing feature that Steno Connect brings to Zoom is exhibit handling. This includes drag-and-drop functionality for uploading, previewing, numbering, sharing, and annotating exhibits during a deposition, all of which can be saved back to Steno. Users will also find the app convenient to use; once installed, it appears as a panel on the right side of the Zoom screen.
The lawsuit exhibits can be uploaded either by dragging them into the app or by selecting specific files. Once uploaded, lawyers can review the unmarked exhibits privately. When an exhibit needs to be marked, the lawyer simply selects ‘Introduce’, and with a few confirmations, the exhibit becomes numbered and introduced. All marked exhibits are stored back in Steno’s system, ensuring seamless availability post-deposition.
Steno continues to evolve its capabilities, having raised $15 million in a series B round in May. With this funding, it aims to further disrupt the deposition and litigation support services space. The company, initially conceived by Ruga for financing deposition costs, has since grown exponentially, offering a remote video deposition platform and a digital firm dashboard for firms to manage all litigation support services.
This innovation from Steno demonstrates their commitment to simplify and tour de force technological transformation in the complex legal landscape.