This past June, Venio Systems proudly announced our new technology partnership with Proteus Discovery Group, a litigator-led eDiscovery services firm known for its rigor, responsiveness, and tailored client service. As a technology company committed to delivering practical innovation across the EDRM spectrum, we view this partnership as a powerful alignment of vision and execution.
To explore what brought our organizations together, I sat down with Austin Hagen, Vice President of Operations at Proteus. Austin led the due diligence on Proteus’s side and offers an insider’s view on why Venio stood out in a competitive field. We also discussed Proteus’s unique perspective on client service, technology selection, and how they see eDiscovery evolving.
Zef Deda: Austin, thank you for joining me. We’re excited to welcome Proteus into the Venio partner ecosystem. To begin, can you share what prompted Proteus to explore a new hosted eDiscovery platform at this point?
Austin Hagen: Thank you, Zef. We have long maintained a technology-agnostic approach to eDiscovery. Our role is to deliver the right tool for the right matter. What we identified was a distinct need among a segment of our clients for a nimble, end-to-end platform that could balance robust functionality with user-friendly execution. In this, we were looking for a solution that would complement our existing offerings. The goal was to expand thoughtfully and with integrity.
Zef: That approach certainly came through during the evaluation process. What stood out about Venio that led you to champion this partnership?
Austin: Several things. Venio offers powerful processing and production capabilities, real-time dashboards and reporting, and granular security controls – all essential to our operations. Just as important was the intuitiveness of the platform and your team’s willingness to engage in meaningful dialogue. We appreciated your transparency and your willingness to understand how we work. That alignment of mindset and method matters a great deal to us.
Zef: You mentioned alignment, which I know is central to how Proteus evaluates partnerships. Could you elaborate on how our two organizations align culturally or philosophically?
Austin: Absolutely. At Proteus, our company’s Core Values are Delivery, Commitment, Sincerity, and Adaptability. We deliver results without excuses, and we expect the same from our partners. During our discussions, it became clear that Venio values efficiency, responsiveness, and continual innovation. Venio’s focus on client enablement, which allows teams to control their own data environments when appropriate, reflects a shared belief in empowering clients, not gatekeeping tools. We also noted that your team, much like ours, thrives on feedback and iteration. That spirit of continuous improvement was a critical factor in our decision-making.
Austin: I would like to ask you something in return, Zef. From your perspective, what makes Venio’s platform particularly relevant in today’s eDiscovery landscape?
Zef: That is a great question. The legal industry is facing a volume and complexity of data that demands tools be both powerful and adaptable. Venio was built with this in mind. We offer an end-to-end, cloud-enabled eDiscovery platform that can scale for complex litigation, yet remain accessible for smaller teams. One of our differentiators is the balance between control and simplicity – we enable project managers and legal teams to move fast, stay compliant, and remain cost-aware. That ability to scale without sacrificing precision is increasingly vital.
Austin: As we look ahead, we know that AI is going to shape how discovery teams work. How is Venio investing in AI capabilities, and how do you see that evolving?
Zef: AI is an area of focused, intentional development. We are integrating machine learning to optimize everything from early case assessment to predictive tagging. But our philosophy is rooted in transparency. AI features must be explainable and support defensibility. We are not interested in abstract automation; we are focused on practical use cases that improve speed and reduce cost while preserving attorney oversight. As the tools mature, we expect to see increased adoption.
One final question for you, Austin. What would you say to a legal team evaluating their current tech stack and wondering whether they should add or change platforms?
Austin: I would advise them to begin with their use case, not the technology. Ask: What outcomes are we trying to drive? Where is our current workflow creating friction, cost, or risk? Then engage with vendors who will listen, not just sell. A good technology partner is one that understands context, not just capability. That was our experience with Venio. You met us where we are, and together we built a roadmap that made sense for our team and our clients.
Zef: That is well said, and it reflects why we are so excited about this partnership. Austin, thank you for your insights and for your trust in Venio.
We look forward to continuing to build together as the eDiscovery space evolves.
