Patents may power the innovation economy, but the process to secure one remains stuck in the past. Most patent applications are still crafted manually, word by word, much like they were in the fax machine era. While other legal sectors have embraced automation and AI, intellectual property (IP) law has largely stayed behind. That’s exactly what DeepIP, a rising Franco-American startup, aims to change.
DeepIP, headquartered in Paris and New York City, just secured $15 million in Series A funding to shake up the outdated patent drafting process. Led by AI-focused fund Resonance, the round also saw backing from Headline (investors in Mistral AI), Serena Capital (known for Dataiku), and Balderton Capital. The new capital will fuel DeepIP’s expansion across the U.S. and Europe while advancing its AI-powered productivity assistant for patent professionals.
AI Steps In Where Patents Got Left Behind
Patents are the foundation of protecting innovation. From life-saving vaccines to new technologies, they’re essential for commercialization. Yet, the process of filing a patent remains slow, expensive, and highly technical.
Today, drafting a patent can cost anywhere from $20,000 to $100,000 over its lifetime. Approval takes between 2–4 years. Over a million applications are currently pending with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), with global filings rising at a steady 4.4% each year, hitting 3.5 million in total.
Despite this growth, patent lawyers are under pressure to move faster than ever. The time they have to prepare a patent has halved since the 1990s, yet the complexity of inventions and legal requirements has only increased. DeepIP is stepping in to change the equation.
Meet DeepIP: The AI Assistant Built for IP Lawyers
Founded in 2024 by François-Xavier Leduc and Edouard d’Archimbaud, both formerly of Kili Technology, DeepIP brings together cutting-edge AI talent and seasoned IP professionals. The team has deep roots in building secure, high-performing AI for organizations like Airbus, IBM, and the U.S. Department of Defense.
DeepIP’s AI tool isn’t just another generic assistant. It’s embedded directly into Microsoft Word—where most patent lawyers spend their time. This seamless integration allows practitioners to prepare, draft, and manage patents faster without disrupting their workflow.
The AI assists with summarizing complex documents, identifying gaps, simplifying legal jargon, and even recognizing patterns from previously filed patents. Impressively, it has already helped draft over 8,500 patent applications, cutting drafting time by half while improving accuracy and defensibility.
Built for Precision and Legal Rigor
Unlike AI platforms that risk “hallucinating” or generating inaccurate outputs, DeepIP’s system blends third-party models with proprietary tech and exclusive datasets to ensure precision. The assistant learns from each user’s writing style and client preferences, allowing it to mirror tone and formatting—a key detail in legal work.
Security is also front and center. DeepIP enforces a strict Zero Data Retention policy, meaning user data is wiped at the end of each session. It’s fully GDPR-compliant and holds both SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 certifications.
Traction and Trust from Top Law Firms
In just seven months, DeepIP has hit a seven-figure annual recurring revenue (ARR)—a remarkable pace for any B2B startup. Its tools are already used by top IP law firms across Europe and the U.S., including Jacobacci & Partners and Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner.
In October 2024, DeepIP announced a strategic partnership with Black Hills AI to further strengthen its IP management offerings.
A Future-Proof Tool for a Changing Industry
“We’re in a golden age of innovation, yet the systems to protect that innovation haven’t kept up,” says DeepIP CEO François-Xavier Leduc. “We built DeepIP in collaboration with 50 of the top U.S. IP law firms to ensure we were solving real, pressing problems. This isn’t about replacing lawyers—it’s about helping them do more, faster.”
That philosophy seems to resonate. “If you don’t buy this for the firm, I will buy it myself,” one IP lawyer reportedly told a colleague after testing the tool.
Investors are equally impressed. “DeepIP is the fastest startup I’ve ever seen reach 7-figure ARR in 7 months,” says Maxime Le Dantec from Resonance. “It’s proof of the massive productivity boost they’re delivering.”
Headline General Partner Jonathan Userovici adds: “AI is integrating into knowledge-based tasks. DeepIP is a perfect example—it augments lawyers rather than replacing them. It’s the missing piece in the modern patent process.”
As IP offices like the USPTO adapt—offering new guidance in 2024 on how AI-related inventions are reviewed—startups like DeepIP are poised to shape the future of legal tech.
