Intellectual property development requires significant capital investment, with costs ranging from $30,000 to $50,000 for patent prosecution alone, and additional hundreds of thousands for commercialization. Yet traditional financing mechanisms often struggle to properly value and fund IP assets, leading to missed opportunities and underutilized innovations.

The fundamental challenge lies in bridging the gap between innovative potential and financial resources while managing the inherent risks and uncertainties of IP development.

This page brings together solutions from recent research—including blockchain-based IP valuation systems, hybrid debt-equity financing models, crowdfunding platforms for patent industrialization, and global innovation discovery networks. These and other approaches focus on creating sustainable funding pathways while protecting inventor interests and facilitating broader market adoption.

1. Blockchain Crowdfunding Platform for Patent-Based Value Coin Transactions

Sung Yong LEE, 2022

A blockchain-based crowdfunding platform that connects inventors with investors to enable industrializing patents and technologies. The platform issues value coins based on patent valuation and funding amounts. Investors can fund patents using electronic coins, with successful commercialization yielding returns in electronic and value coins.

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2. Decentralized Network System with AI-Driven Patent Assessment and Automated Bid Analysis for Research Collaboration and Funding Optimization

Erich Lawson Spangenberg, 2021

Improving the transfer of technology from lab to market by leveraging AI and a decentralized network to optimize bidding, funding, and collaboration for research projects. The system uses AI to assess patent quality, prevent duplication, generate disclosures, and support idea evaluation. It also enables automated bid analysis to optimize funding and partnership matching. The decentralized network connects labs, universities, and companies to streamline technology transfer, reduce costs, focus on prioritized opportunities, and increase partnership success.

3. System for Dividing Intellectual Property Rights into Tradable Stocks for Separate Cyber Money and Cash Transactions

ABM HOLDINGS CO LTD, 2021

Splitting intellectual property rights into tradable stocks to enable investors to buy and sell ownership shares. The intellectual property is divided into stocks for cyber money and stocks for cash transactions. This allows the owner to commercialize the IP by paying a seed money or activity fee. When the IP is sold or licensed, the purchase price is distributed to investors instead of going to the original owner. This increases investment returns by distributing licensing fees. The IP rights are listed on separate markets for cyber money and cash transactions.

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4. Patent Investment System with Debt and Equity Financing, Diversified Portfolio Pooling, and Performance Analysis Tools

ERICH LAWSON SPANGENBERG, Brian Joshua Berman, 2021

A combined patent debt and equity financing system that allows investors to invest in patents through loans or equity, and provides tools to analyze and manage patent investments. The system allows the pooling of patents across multiple owners to create diversified portfolios. It also involves a fantasy draft-like game where users can pick patents they think will perform well. The system provides analysis and tracking of patent performance to inform investment decisions.

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5. Patent Financing Platform with Integrated Risk Diversification and Patent Analysis Capabilities

ERICH LAWSON SPANGENBERG, Brian Joshua Berman, 2021

A platform for financing patents using debt, equity, or a combination of both. The platform enables patent owners to access financing options for their patents in a more flexible and optimized way. It allows pooling of patent owners with multiple technology areas to spread risk and diversify financing. The platform analyzes patent characteristics to generate reports on patentability, prior art, and novelty. This data is used to provide tailored financing options like debt or equity based on the patent's potential value.

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6. Method for Aligning Financial Returns with Defined Intellectual Property Rights through Innovation Services

BELLATOR PTY LTD, 2020

Method for innovation services providers to innovate and define intellectual property rights for businesses in a way that aligns financial returns with the value of the IP to the business. The method involves the innovation services provider proposing and defining IP rights for improvements they make to the business's processes, equipment, or systems. The financial return to the services provider is determined based on the value of the IP to the business. This incentivizes the provider to focus on high-value improvements and provides a more direct and transparent way for the business to compensate the provider.

7. System for Evaluating Intellectual Property and Linking to Financial Assessment

ERICH LAWSON SPANGENBERG, DANIEL LAWRENCE BORK, PASCAL ASSELOT, 2020

Assessing and connecting owners of intellectual property to financing. The evaluation includes generating an IP rating that can be a factor used to determine a credit rating for an owner, determining a potential price for the intellectual property if properly used, and proposing a relative value for the intellectual property if properly used.

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8. Modular Intellectual Property Pledge Financing Platform with Sequential and Independent Module Access

DING JIAN, 2020

A comprehensive platform for one-stop intellectual property pledge financing that enables efficient matching of intellectual property pledgers with banks and provides related services. The platform has modules like right confirmation, due diligence, evaluation, pledge, investment, disposal, and legal affairs. It connects these modules in sequence for a complete financing process. However, users can also access specific modules as needed without following the full sequence. The platform aims to address the lack of a platform to quickly and efficiently match banks and pledgers for intellectual property pledge financing.

9. Cloud-Based Service with Secure Dual Interfaces for Entrepreneur-Investor Connectivity and Multilingual Translation

Anoushka Narayan, 2019

A cloud-based service that connects entrepreneurs and venture capitalists globally to facilitate funding of innovations. The service provides a secure portal with separate interfaces for entrepreneurs and investors. Entrepreneurs can publish and present their intellectual property for review by interested investors. They retain control over their ideas until granted access. The system allows translation to facilitate multilingual exposure. The aim is to provide a global platform for entrepreneurs to connect with investors regardless of geographic proximity.

10. Method for Engaging Innovation Service Providers for Deferred-Cost Intellectual Property Development

BELLATOR PTY LTD, 2018

A method for organizations to innovate and secure intellectual property rights without upfront costs. The method involves identifying and selecting innovation service providers to engage with for research and development. The organization briefs the selected providers on the desired capability and specifies a financial return for each innovation. The providers confidentially define the innovations as IP rights before disclosure. The return is determined based on the IP value. This allows cost-free innovation with IP ownership by the providers. The organization can later buy the IP. The providers agree through heads of, joint venture, and framework agreements.

11. Open Platform for Connecting Innovators, Researchers, and Funding Entities with Integrated Collaboration and Disclosure Features

JASON BARKELOO, 2018

A system to connect innovators, researchers, and funding sources to accelerate the dissemination of scientific knowledge and funding of research projects. The system involves an open platform where innovators can disclose their technologies and researchers can access them. Funding sources can browse and fund selected projects. Collaborations between innovators, researchers, and sources result in manuscripts that can become published articles. The platform aims to streamline funding, dissemination, and collaboration compared to traditional journals and grant applications.

12. Online Platform for Direct Pledge Financing of Intellectual Property Rights

GUO QIANG, Guo Qiang, 2018

Direct pledge financing of intellectual property rights on the internet that allows independent financing of intellectual property without requiring the asset to be part of a larger business. The method involves an online platform for evaluating and financing intellectual property pledges directly. This enables early stage financing of transformative ideas before they can generate income. The pledge amount is based on a comprehensive evaluation of the intellectual property's potential value and marketability. If the borrower defaults, the pledged IP can be auctioned online to repay the loan.

13. Technology Partnership System with Shared Ownership and Revenue for Initiative Innovation

Shenzhen Yuchen Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd., 2018

A partnership model for technology innovation that aims to increase employee and team enthusiasm and initiative in innovation by sharing ownership, resources, and revenue. The model involves creating a technology partnership system where the company and employees collaborate on innovation projects. In passive innovation, formed intellectual property belongs to the company. But in initiative innovation, the company and project team share IP. This encourages proactive innovation by giving employees a stake in the project outcomes. The company provides resources, revenue sharing, promotion, and external docking to boost initiative.

14. Crowdfunding Platform Integrating Intellectual Property Rights Assessment and Funding Mechanism

JOYFUN INC, 2017

A crowdfunding platform that enables project creators to secure intellectual property (IPR) protection for their projects while crowdfunding. The platform connects project creators, IPR experts, and crowdfunding. Creators submit projects for IPR review. The experts determine IPR feasibility. If feasible, the platform funds IPR acquisition. Creators can choose to cover costs directly or via a fund. This links IPR protection and crowdfunding. The platform also tracks project progress, IPR status, and funding.

15. Marketplace System with Social Learning and Decision Support for Invention Publication and Collaboration

Teleshuttle Tech2, LLC, 2016

Marketplace system for facilitating publication, development, and adoption of useful inventions using social learning and decision support processes. The system provides a platform for inventors to publish and collaborate on ideas, seek support to obtain patents, and potentially monetize ideas through compensation mechanisms. It leverages mechanisms like ratings, analysis, collaboration, and analytics to identify, assess, categorize, and draw attention to good ideas. The marketplace aims to enhance inventor value beyond patent protection, provide alternative reward systems, and foster open dialog for idea development.

16. Intellectual Property Investment System with Two-Step Guarantee and General Investment Process

KIM HYOUNG CHEOL, PARK HYOUNG PHIL, 2016

An investment system for intellectual property rights that allows investors to invest in the value of IP assets by using a two-step investment process of guarantee investment and general investment. In the first step, a primary investor evaluates the collateral value of an IP and sets a guarantee amount. In the second step, secondary investors can then invest in the IP through a public offering. This allows leveraging the IP as collateral to attract more investment. The guarantee investment provides initial capital and risk mitigation, while the general investment attracts further capital. The system decides IP value based on market principles.

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17. Network-Based Platform for Intellectual Property Monetization with Expert Analysis and Beneficiary Connectivity

Park Eui-jun, PARKUIJUN, PARK EUI JOON, 2016

Program and method for monetizing intellectual property through a network-based platform that connects IP owners, IP experts, and potential IP beneficiaries. The platform allows IP owners to have their rights analyzed by experts, then connects them with beneficiaries who can use the IP. Contracts are signed to share profits. The platform also rates experts based on analyses and offers preferences and higher fees to top-rated ones. This enables easier IP monetization by accurately identifying valuable IP, connecting owners with beneficiaries, and leveraging experts' expertise.

18. Intellectual Property Asset Financing Mechanism with Conditional Rights Assignment and Reversion

Bluelron, LLC, 2016

A financing mechanism for intellectual property (IP) asset development that allows startups and individual inventors to obtain patent protection without upfront costs. The mechanism involves assigning the IP to a holding company, making regular payments over the life of the asset, and retaining exclusive rights as long as payments are timely. If payments are missed, some or all rights revert to the holding company. This provides initial financing for IP development while mitigating risks for the holding company.

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19. Method for Aggregating and Valuing Intellectual Property Rights for Transactional Trading

MP&S Intellectual Property Associates LLC, 2015

Method for aggregating intellectual property rights from multiple owners, valuing them collectively, providing services to the owners, and trading the aggregated IP as a transaction. The method involves an IP aggregator acquiring rights from multiple owners, aggregating them, valuing the aggregated IP based on factors like exclusivity, competitive IP, potential, opportunities, etc., providing services to owners, and trading the aggregated IP as a transaction. This aims to maximize IP value, minimize valuation differences, and add value through services.

20. Method for Funding R&D Projects Through Financial Instruments Representing Fractional Intellectual Property Ownership

SINGH PRATEEK, 2015

Funding research and development (R&D) projects by allowing financial market investors to invest in R&D projects. The method involves valuing the intellectual property expected from a research project, calculating the fraction of IP needed to fund the project, creating financial instruments representing ownership of that fraction, pricing the instruments, and selling them to investors. This provides a way for investors to invest in R&D with reduced perceived risk by owning a fraction of the expected IP.

These patents demonstrate a variety of innovative ways of securing partnerships and funding for intellectual property. Some concentrate on financial instruments for patent commercialization, such as crowdfunding platforms built on blockchain. Others use cloud-based platforms to link innovators with possible investors and incubator programs to foster innovation.

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