Built for the fundraise and the exit

Patents that survive due diligence.

AI, blockchain and robotics patents drafted by MIT-trained engineers who understand your stack — filed fast and built to hold up when investors or acquirers look under the hood.

We reply within 1 business day · Your idea stays confidential

Patents for teams at

loommixbookthetaistariwaygoclimatelevelbodygrammetadatamarkablerobotics
Client results

Real companies. Real patents. Real outcomes.

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Why founders choose APA

Typical law firm
Online filing service
Best choice
American Patent Agency
Engineers who understand AI, blockchain & robotics
Varies
MIT-trained team
Track One experience — cases issued in 2–4 months
Varies
Real cases in 2–4 mo
Deep prior-art search before you file
Varies
AI-assisted + engineer review
Patents tested in acquisitions
Varies
Loom · Prediction.io
International (PCT) + partners abroad
Varies
Canada · Europe
With us

Patents without the usual headaches

MIT engineers read your code
model.train(data)
block = sha256(tx)
arm.grip(force=2.4)
Engineer: got it

Without explaining your technology to a lawyer who doesn't get it

Track One = months, not years
Standard examyears…
Track One2–4 months
Issued

Without waiting years for approval — with Track One, real cases issued in 2–4 months

Built to pass due diligence
Acquirer due diligence
Claims
Prior art
Ownership
PASSED

Without a portfolio that falls apart in an acquirer's review

The moment of truth

One day, an investor or a buyer will open your patents.

If they're weak

The deal falls apart.

  • The investor walks away — or cuts your valuation
  • A competitor copies your product, legally
  • Years of R&D, unprotected
  • You find out at the worst possible moment
DEAL CLOSED
If we wrote them

The deal closes.

  • Prediction.io passed Salesforce's due diligence in days
  • Loom: first patent with us in 2017, acquired for $975M in 2023
  • Pioneer Energy raised $34M+ — every patent passed review
  • You negotiate from a position of strength
How it works

From idea to issued patent in 4 steps

1

Strategy call

Your technology, your roadmap and your deadline — fundraise, launch or exit.

2

Prior-art search

AI-assisted search across 10M+ US patents and filings, reviewed by our engineers.

3

Drafting & filing

Provisional to lock your priority date, then a full application with broad claims.

4

Prosecution to issuance

Track One when speed matters. We answer the USPTO until your patent is granted.

Services

Everything your IP needs, under one team

Prior Art Search

Know if your idea is new before you spend on filing.

Provisional Application

Lock the earliest priority date and use “Patent Pending” for 12 months.

Patent Drafting

Utility and design patents written for AI, blockchain and robotics.

Prosecution & Track One

Fast issuance — including portfolios filed by other firms.

International (PCT)

One application, protection pursued worldwide with our partners.

Portfolio Management

An IP strategy that grows with your product and your valuation.

20+
Years operating
100+
Issued U.S. patents
42
Patents issued in 6 months or less
2–4 mo
Fastest with Track One
In their words

Founders who've been through the process

We hired APA after evaluating several firms in the San Francisco Bay area. In addition to being the most technically competent, they tailored the IP portfolio development process to our specific needs and schedule.
Simon ChanFounder & CEO, Prediction.io (acquired by Salesforce)
I engaged with American Patent Agency to take over a large patent portfolio for Mixbook. It was one of the best decisions we've made at the company.
Aryk GroszPresident & CTO, Mixbook
The team at APA was quick to understand our technology, and the patent was issued in an incredibly short three-month time period!
Ryan RogowskiCo-Founder & CEO, Waygo
Your patent team

Engineers first. Then patent professionals.

Dan Hussain

Dan Hussain

Founder
  • MIT — Electrical & Biomedical Eng.
  • Carnegie Mellon — M.S.
  • Worked with NASA & Siemens
Stephen Hou

Stephen Hou, J.D.

Vice President & COO
  • MIT — 4 degrees, Phi Beta Kappa
  • NYU School of Law
  • Mentor, MIT VMS & Harvard i-lab
Kerim Fouli

Kerim Fouli, Ph.D.

Chief Scientific Officer
  • Postdoc, MIT Research Lab of Electronics
  • Ph.D. Telecommunications, INRS
  • 20 years in emerging tech & licensing
Shirley ShiShirley Shi, Ph.D.Senior Engineer
Maryann RuiMaryann RuiPatent Engineer
Andrew ZhangAndrew ZhangPatent Engineer
Andrew DoanAndrew DoanPatent Engineer
Misha OljacaMisha OljacaPatent Drawings
Amir HussainAmir Hussain, Ph.D.Chief Admin. Officer
Meet the full team & advisors →

APA is a fit if you…

  • Build AI, blockchain, robotics or other deep tech
  • Are raising, launching or preparing for an exit
  • Need patents fast — on a real deadline
  • Have a portfolio stuck with another firm

We're probably not a fit if you…

  • Want the cheapest filing possible
  • Don't plan to commercialize the invention
  • Need trademark or copyright work only
Global protection

File in the US. Protect it worldwide.

We file international PCT applications and work with partner firms abroad. For Prediction.io, all PCT claims were approved in four and a half months.

United StatesUSPTO filing & prosecution
PCTInternational applications
CanadaRiches, McKenzie & Herbert LLP
EuropeFR Kelly
FAQ

Questions founders ask us

How fast can I get a patent?

Under standard USPTO examination it often takes years. With Track One prioritized examination, our clients have had patents issued in as little as two to four months — Everywhere Apparel was approved 45 days after submission and Waygo in three months. Timing always depends on the invention and the examiner.

Can AI and software inventions be patented?

Yes, when claims are drafted around a concrete technical improvement rather than an abstract idea. This is our specialty — our team publishes on AI patentability and disclosure requirements.

Should I file a provisional first?

Often, yes. A provisional application secures your priority date quickly, stays confidential, and gives you 12 months to evaluate the market and use “Patent Pending” before filing the full application.

Can you take over patents filed by another firm?

Yes. Mixbook moved a large portfolio to us from a slower vendor — we issued patents in as little as two to three months and more than 40 patents issued.

Can you protect my invention outside the US?

Yes. We file international applications under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) and work with partner firms in Canada and Europe.

Do you use AI to write patents?

We use leading AI tools to speed up searching and drafting. Every application is written, reviewed and signed off by our engineers and patent professionals.

How much does it cost?

It depends on the invention and the scope of protection you need. On the first call we review your technology and deadline and give you a clear estimate before any work starts.

Raising or heading to an exit? Get your patents ready first.

Tell us about your technology and your deadline. A patent engineer will reply within 1 business day.

Talk to a patent engineer →
Talk to a patent engineer →