DocuTouch

DocuTouch was a Seattle-based enterprise operating in the network management and business software sector, founded in 1998 by entrepreneur Mir Hajmiragha. The firm positioned itself as a provider of internet-based management software focused on document handling, exchange, and security. It primarily targeted document-intensive industries such as legal, financial, real estate, and mortgage markets, aiming to reduce the reliance on paper and its associated costs.

The company's core offering, launched as a beta plug-in for Microsoft Word 2000, was named DocuSign. This service enabled users to mark specific paragraphs within a document for digital signatures. The process involved an online Digital Signature Repository where documents were registered and securely stored on DocuTouch's servers, creating a permanent, unalterable record of the transaction. This functionality was designed to comply with the new legal standards for electronic consent and authentication set by the ESIGN Act of 2000. The business model included a per-document fee for consumers for tagging and storage, alongside tailored service plans for business clients.

DocuTouch secured $10 million in venture capital from backers including Timberline Venture Partners and Irwin Ventures. The company gained early traction, attracting over 700 users by mid-2000. In a significant market event, DocuTouch was acquired by Netupdate on August 22, 2001. Subsequently, the assets and patents of DocuTouch were purchased from NetUpdate by Tom Gonser, which became the foundational technology for the launch of DocuSign Inc. in 2003, a separate and succeeding entity.

Keywords: DocuTouch, Mir Hajmiragha, e-signature, digital signature, document management software, Netupdate acquisition, DocuSign precursor, legal technology, financial technology, document security, online notarization, document authentication, Timberline Venture Partners, Irwin Ventures, ESIGN Act, Word plugin, digital transaction, document repository