Many in the sports world today are tasked with reviewing documents such as name, image and likeness (NIL) agreements or agent representation contracts. These are necessary processes, but it is often the case that legal jargon and implicit meanings can make these documents difficult to fully understand.
Raleigh startup DocuLingo, founded by Taylor Wrice, uses AI to help people in various positions in the sports industry sift through the details to fully and clearly comprehend documents.
As a former football star himself, Wrice had the unfortunate experience of being a top college prospect only to find himself unable to play—all due to miscommunication and incomplete understanding of recruiting-related documents. Wrice later gained even deeper respect for the importance of understanding contracts while working in a consulting position with the U.S. Department of Defense.
DocuLingo is specifically focused on analyzing documents in the sports industry due to Wrice’s own experience and a common susceptibility for miscommunication in the industry, Wrice said.
“Why I focus mainly on sports is because of that level of miscommunication,” Wrice said. “Usually, if there’s a term that’s off even by one word, you’ll notice that it can change the entire definition of what that contractual term actually looks like.”
The startup addresses the issue via AI-powered document analysis that identifies risks and main takeaways, and then provides recommended actions based on those identifications. DocuLingo also allows users to translate documents into more than 30 different languages, as well as into everyday, simple English with minimized legal jargon.
For entities such as sports teams that are using DocuLingo, this analysis cuts the time it takes to review documents and contracts. It can also save them money by helping them to conduct reviews on their own rather than face a need to consult with a third-party law firm. The ability to translate into simple English, meanwhile, will be particularly helpful for individual athletes and families using the startup’s tools, Wrice said.
Beyond making it easier to understand and interpret complex documents, DocuLingo also allows companies to run those documents through an AI analysis specifically designed for compliance. The analysis will indicate whether a contract or similar proposal is in strong standing with regard to relevant regulations, such as those relating to NIL policies.
Finally, DocuLingo’s incentive tracker technology also helps users track performance-based incentives in contracts, such as an athlete’s touchdowns or GPA.
Focusing on the sports niche
While there are may startups that use AI to translate or simplify documents, DocuLingo is distinguishing itself by honing in on the sports industry.
“We are focused on specific niches like sports,” Wrice said. “And right now, there isn’t anything out there.”
DocuLingo’s focus on the sports industry allows the startup to offer specialized features such as the incentive tracker alongside broader features such as AI-driven translation.
Wrice said he has spoken with several teams and companies currently using DocuLingo who have expressed appreciation for the unique nature of the tool. Many agencies have to rely on several tools at once to achieve what DocuLingo does on one platform, Wrice said.
“We are pretty much a, not all-in-one, but we have multiple features that can execute at pretty much an affordable price,” Wrice said.
Expanding into other verticals
DocuLingo functions as both a business-to-business startup and a business-to-business-to-consumer startup, and is currently focused on growing through the B2B side.
The startup offers two subscription models for access to DocuLingo. Within each model, there are different tiers and prices of monthly subscriptions based on the number of users accessing DocuLingo or the number of documents being processed.
Sports+ is designed for athletic departments, brands and sports agencies, with features including the incentive tracker technology and advanced audit and compliance analysis.
Core+, the startup’s other subscription model, is targeted at large global trade companies with features such as advanced data security and API integrations.
Eventually, Wrice said the startup plans to have features specifically tailored toward individual users and families.
DocuLingo is currently focused on growing within the sports industry and refining its tools based on feedback from users, Wrice said. The startup was recently awarded a $10K MICRO Grant from the NC IDEA Foundation.
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Startup: DocuLingo
Founder: Taylor Wrice
Founded: 2025
Team size: 4
Location: Raleigh
Website: doculingo.com
Funding: Bootstrapped
As the startup works to capture a market of over $210 billion at the intersection of sports companies, brands and global businesses, Wrice indicated that expansion into other verticals will likely be in DocuLingo’s future as well.
Due to his experience working for the U.S. Department of Defense, Wrice said he specifically anticipates further expansion into the global trade vertical.
“I’m just excited about where it’s going,” Wrice said. “I think we—even the last six months—have been able to scale pretty quickly when it comes to our reputation in the area. We’re looking forward to representing the Raleigh-Durham area, especially in the global landscape.”
