In 2023, creators and businesses worldwide filed over 23 million IP applications, from patents and trademarks to industrial designs. Europe alone saw 3.3 million filings, reflecting growing innovation activity.
But the process remains complex and fragmented. Companies seeking protection in multiple countries must work with local patent firms in each jurisdiction, leading to endless paperwork, scattered communication, and high legal costs.
iPNOTE’s platform unifies all trademark and patent filings into a single, cloud-based system. Today, this legal tech startup, founded in 2021 by certified patent attorney Alex Levkin, has raised $1 million in seed funding to expand its AI-powered intellectual property (IP) management platform. It is designed to simplify and automate how companies protect their ideas across borders.
The round was led by AltaIR Capital, with participation from Hi2 Venture Fund and several angel investors, including partners at Erdem Kaya Patent and founders of high-tech startups such as Super, Lokalise, and Chainstack.
With the new funding, iPNOTE plans to advance its AI agent, expand its presence in Europe and the UK, and enter the US market to serve a broader base of multinational clients.
Tackling the chaos of global IP protection
Founded by Alex Levkin in 2021, iPNOTE is a legal tech platform that automates global IP management using artificial intelligence. The company’s AI paralegal streamlines communication between enterprises and local IP attorneys, reducing registration costs by up to 30% and transforming complex, manual workflows into seamless automation.
Levkin told TFN, “After years of managing international IP work and seeing the inefficiencies firsthand, I set out to replace slow, intermediary-heavy workflows with an AI-driven, direct-to-provider model.”
The company’s virtual assistant (AI paralegal) can manage up to 90% of routine communications with patent attorneys and service providers. The AI handles everything from document reviews and attorney follow-ups to deadline tracking and payment processing.
If the AI encounters a complex issue, it automatically escalates the matter to a human expert for verification, ensuring both accuracy and accountability.
“Companies face enormous challenges when protecting their ideas globally. Our mission is to remove that complexity by providing a single AI-powered interaction point that automates the annoying ping-pong with IP attorneys. This funding will help us bring our enterprise solution to life and prove that IP management can finally be as seamless as any modern SaaS experience,” said Alex Levkin, founder and CEO of iPNOTE
Direct competitors include established legal tech companies and IP management platforms such as FoundationIP, Anaqua, and Lecorpio, which primarily focus on manual or less automated IP lifecycle management software. iPNOTE stands out by integrating autonomous AI-driven workflows with a global reach spanning over 130 countries, uniquely combining AI efficiency with human professional oversight.
What’s next?
Since its launch, iPNOTE has processed more than 2,000 IP cases across 130+ countries, saving millions in filing costs. The company has also launched an IP Leaders Network, connecting executives from organisations like GEA Group, Roche, Supplant Company, and Grupo AlEn to exchange insights and shape the future of AI-driven IP management.
Looking ahead, iPNOTE aims to deepen its market penetration in Europe, the UK, and the US, continue enhancing its AI capabilities, and grow its network of enterprise clients. The company’s successful processing of thousands of IP cases and the launch of its IP Leaders Network position it as a transformative player in global IP management.
“iPNOTE shows how AI can give companies global IP coverage without the burden of managing hundreds of lawyers. By automating the creation, protection, and maintenance of IP rights, iPNOTE saves time and resources while making global protection accessible,” said Igor Ryabenkiy, Founder and Managing Partner at AltaIR Capital.
Jerry Wang, Founder and CEO of Hi2 Global, added, “iPNOTE’s technology offers real solutions—automating IP management while extending coverage across more than 100 emerging and frontier markets.”
