# Nozomu Tsunoda

> Nozomu Tsunoda is a Tokyo-based lawyer and co-founder and Group CEO of LegalOn Technologies. A Kyoto University law graduate and former Mori Hamada & Matsumoto associate, he co-founded ZeLo in March 2017 and LegalForce, now LegalOn Technologies, in April 2017. His work spans AI contract review, international business expansion and a broader push into professional AI through On Technologies. He is also credited with the original story for the entrepreneurship manga Entrepreneur.

- **Role:** Co-Founder & Group CEO at LegalOn Technologies
- **Organizations:** LegalOn Technologies, ZeLo, On Technologies, AI and Law Technology Association
- **Education:** LL.B., Kyoto University, Faculty of Law, Withdrew; no completed graduate degree reported, Kyoto University, Graduate School of Law
- **Known for:** Placed first nationally in the written component of Japan’s old bar examination in 2010., Co-founded both a law firm, ZeLo, and a legal technology company, LegalForce, in 2017., Co-led the company that reported more than 9,000 global customers in August 2026.

## Career timeline

- **2010** — Graduated from Kyoto University Faculty of Law; passed the old Japanese bar examination, ranking first in its written component.
- **2012** — Registered as a lawyer with the Daini Tokyo Bar Association.
- **2013** — Joined Mori Hamada & Matsumoto, working in corporate law, M&A and disputes.
- **2017-03** — Co-founded ZeLo with colleague Masataka Ogasawara.
- **2017-04** — Co-founded LegalForce, later renamed LegalOn Technologies.
- **2018** — Secured Kyoto University Innovation Capital seed investment; refocused the product on AI contract review and search.
- **2019-04** — LegalForce formally launched its contract review product.
- **2022-09** — Became a senior managing director of the AI and Law Technology Association, according to his conference biography.
- **2022-12** — LegalOn announced US expansion and appointed Daniel Lewis US CEO.
- **2024** — LegalOn Cloud launched, broadening the product beyond contract review.
- **2025-07** — LegalOn announced a $50 million Series E led by Goldman Sachs growth equity and collaboration with OpenAI.
- **2025-10** — Established group company On Technologies and became its representative director.
- **2026-03** — Entrepreneur manga launched on X, with Tsunoda credited for original story.

## Achievements

- Placed first nationally in the written component of Japan’s old bar examination in 2010.
- Co-founded both a law firm, ZeLo, and a legal technology company, LegalForce, in 2017.
- Co-led the company that reported more than 9,000 global customers in August 2026.
- LegalOn announced $50 million in Series E financing in July 2025, with total funding reported at $200 million.
- Credited with original story for the manga Entrepreneur.

## Latest updates

- **2026-10** — Appeared on the October 11 CLUB CEO program discussing law in the AI era with younger participants.
- **2026-09** — A September 24 interview described his broader AI-driven management ambitions and plans across seven business domains.
- **2026-08** — LegalOn announced it had surpassed 9,000 customers globally.
- **2026-04** — Published a first-person account of learning to draw manga for Entrepreneur.

## Links

- Website: https://zelojapan.com/en/member/nozomu-tsunoda
- LinkedIn: https://jp.linkedin.com/in/nozomu-tsunoda-82ab41236
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/Tsunoda_LegalOn

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/nozomu-tsunoda
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-22