Funding the Patents
That Shape Tomorrow
NL Patent AI Capital backs seed-stage founders building foundational AI and deep-tech intellectual property. We invest at the intersection of invention and impact, partnering with the builders of tomorrow's most valuable technology.
Why AI IP Is the Next Frontier
Deep tech is entering a period of compounding returns. The firms that own foundational IP today will define entire industries tomorrow.
AI-Native Patents
We focus on companies building proprietary AI methods, novel neural architectures, and machine learning infrastructure that cannot be easily replicated by competitors or incumbents.
Defensible IP Moats
True competitive advantage in deep tech comes from intellectual property — patents, trade secrets, and proprietary datasets that compound in value over time.
Seed-Stage Entry
By entering at the seed stage, we partner with founders before their IP matures — providing the capital and strategic guidance needed to secure and commercialize breakthrough inventions.
Global Deal Flow
Deep tech innovation is global. We source deals across North America, Europe, and Asia, bringing a cross-border perspective and international network to every investment decision.
Founder-First Partnership
We believe the best IP starts with the best founders. We prioritize long-term partnership over short-term returns, providing hands-on operational support throughout the company-building journey.
Technical Due Diligence
Our team includes deep technical advisors who evaluate the depth, novelty, and commercial applicability of every IP portfolio before we commit a single dollar of capital.
Where We Invest
We concentrate our capital in sectors where proprietary AI and deep-tech IP can generate structural competitive advantages.
AI & Machine Learning
Foundation models, novel training methods, inference optimization, and AI hardware designed to push the state of the art in artificial intelligence.
Biotech & Life Sciences
AI-accelerated drug discovery, computational biology, and genomics platforms protected by robust patent portfolios with clear clinical pathways.
Advanced Manufacturing
Next-generation materials, additive manufacturing, and precision engineering technologies that combine AI with physical-world innovation.
Space & Aerospace
Propulsion systems, satellite technology, autonomous navigation, and space manufacturing with deep IP protection across key jurisdictions.
Climate & Energy
Clean energy storage, carbon capture, and grid optimization technologies underpinned by patented scientific breakthroughs.
Cybersecurity & Privacy
Cryptographic protocols, zero-knowledge systems, and AI-driven threat intelligence platforms with proprietary algorithmic approaches.
Backing Transformative Companies
A selection of investments that demonstrate our commitment to deep tech and AI IP at the frontier of human possibility.
SpaceX
Advanced aerospace manufacturing and space transportation technology with deep proprietary IP in propulsion systems and rocket reusability.
Tesla
Electric vehicle and clean energy innovation underpinned by extensive AI, battery chemistry, and autonomous driving intellectual property portfolios.
Robinhood
Democratizing financial services through proprietary algorithmic trading infrastructure and AI-driven personalization technology for retail investors.
Built for the Deep Tech Decade
Founded in 2020, NL Patent AI Capital was created with a single belief: the most durable value in technology is created at the patent layer. We are a seed-stage firm focused exclusively on deep tech and AI intellectual property.
With $110M in assets under management and the strategic backing of Draper Associates, we partner with visionary founders who are building the foundational technologies of the next generation. Our team brings decades of combined experience in venture capital, patent law, and technical research.
We are based in San Francisco, CA — at the center of the global innovation ecosystem — and maintain active deal flow across every major deep tech hub worldwide.
Learn Our Story
Thinking on Deep Tech & AI IP
Perspectives from our investment team on the trends shaping the future of AI intellectual property and deep technology.
December 10, 2025
Patent Strategy in the Age of Generative AI
How AI companies should think about building defensible IP portfolios in an era where the technology itself is rapidly commoditizing.
November 18, 2025
Why Seed Stage Is the Right Entry for Deep Tech
The structural advantages of early-stage investing in capital-intensive, IP-rich technology sectors and how to manage the unique risks.
October 22, 2025
Valuing AI Intellectual Property: A Framework
A practitioner's guide to assessing the commercial value of AI patents, trade secrets, and proprietary training datasets at the seed stage.
Ready to Build the Future?
If you are a founder working at the intersection of AI and intellectual property, we want to hear from you. We invest at the idea stage — no revenue required, just breakthrough technology.