We were lucky to catch up with Stephanie Curcio recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Stephanie, thanks for joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
Being an intellectual property professional working at a large law firm, I got exposed to a lot of really interesting stuff. I got to work at the bleeding edge of technology; with innovators, who were not only incredibly smart, but also building new ways of doing things that shape society. It was an incredible gig. However, what struck me is that despite the IP system enabling innovators to push boundaries and make the impossible possible, the software tools that enable them to research and manage their IP are extremely outdated. How insane/ironic is it that the innovative heartbeat of major corporations and their legal counsel are so un-innovative?
I was first introduced to language-based AI technology in 2017 – when I ran into a friend from law school who was building a solution to tackle one of the many inefficiencies in the innovation lifecycle, patent search. I was completely captivated with the idea of leveraging AI to build better, modern, technology to change the way people interact with patent data. So, I quit my job and joined my friend to build NLPatent. I haven’t looked back since.
Stephanie, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I am an IP attorney and patent-tech entrepreneur. I serve as CEO & Co-Founder of NLPatent, an industry leading AI-based patent research platform used by top law firms, corporations, and research universities around the world. The platform takes an AI-first approach to patent search; it’s built from a proprietary Large Language Model trained on patent data to truly understand the language of patents and innovation. Users simply describe their invention in full sentences and conceptually relevant results are generated instantly; consistently outperforming human experts on speed and accuracy. The system is simple, intuitive, and iterative. Best of all, it explains the relevant sections of each patent it identifies, removing the “black box” often experienced by other AI-based platforms. It’s not only making patent professionals better at their jobs, it’s also democratizing the process, empowering anyone with an idea to search patent data as effectively, or better, than a human expert.
On a more personal note, my work at the intersection between AI and patent law has made me an expert on matters regarding AI/IP, including advising national patent offices on AI policy, speaking frequently on these topics at conferences around the world. I am also very involved in the IP community – I’m Chair of the American Intellectual Property Law Association’s Emerging Technologies Committee and represent Canada on the Board of the Global IP Alliance. I have received a number of accolades for my work and contribution to the IP industry – I’ve been recognized as a global leader in IP strategy (IAM Magazine, Strategy 300) for the last three years in a row and have been called a “Powerful Woman in IP” by media outlets. I have also just received the “DMZ Women of the Year Award” for 2024, recognizing inspirational women who have made remarkable contributions to the tech ecosystem.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
Our clients are not only busy professionals, they’re also highly educated in various different fields of technology and the law. They are naturally skeptical (many of them are lawyers!) and need information delivered to them in a succinct, efficient, and effective way. Being an intellectual property professional (and an attorney) myself, I had two advantages out of the gate: (1) I know how to communicate effectively with our target market; and (2) there is an inherent sense of trust, as I am “one of them”. Beyond this, I really put myself out there – I make an effort to attend a wide variety of events without having an agenda – I didn’t just go up to people and try to sell them on our solution. Rather, I’ve carefully built a network over many years and strive to offer valuable insights, exchange ideas, and form meaningful relationships. I always have an open mind and actively listen, forming trust and offering thought partnership. Finally, I’ve had some luck (being an early-mover in the AI for IP space really helped); I’ve been extremely fortunate to have some key, highly influential, mentors / supporters that were instrumental in vouching for my credibility and propelling my reputation in the IP community by giving me unparalleled opportunities build my personal and professional brand, positioning myself as a thought leader.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
Credibility and reputation, bar none. Being a thought leader in the AI for IP space has allowed me to educate the IP community on very important topics. Having these opportunities has not only built a great reputation and personal brand for myself, but has also brought a tremendous amount of credibility to the business. Connecting with prospective clients organically, offering to provide real value to their practice/businesses, was instrumental to our early success.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nlpatent.com/
- Instagram: @stephabie
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-curcio-10479862/
- Twitter: @stephabie