The intellectual property management software industry in the US focuses on tools and services that help businesses manage their patents, copyrights, and trademarks. Companies in this sector develop software solutions for tasks like licensing, compliance, and rights management, promoting efficient governance of intellectual assets. With the increasing value of intellectual property often reflected in company valuations, the industry is experiencing steady growth. SaaS platforms are shaping its future by offering cloud-based access, fostering collaboration, and enabling streamlined processes. As digital transformation continues, businesses will increasingly turn to innovative tech to safeguard their intellectual property.


In this article, we explore 19 noteworthy investors, primarily venture capital firms, situated across key hubs in California, New York, and Massachusetts. Established between 1976 and 2023, these investors vary in size from small teams to large organizations employing over 10,000 individuals. In 2024, these investors together made significant deals in the intellectual property management software space, underscoring their active role in shaping this vital industry. Their combined investment strategies reflect a strong interest in technology that safeguards and optimizes intellectual property management processes.


Top 19 Intellectual Property Management Software Investors in the US


1. Y Combinator

  • Website: ycombinator.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States (USA)
  • Founded year: 2005
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 802
  • LinkedIn: y-combinator

Y Combinator is a prominent startup accelerator and venture capital firm based in San Francisco, California, founded in 2005. It provides funding and mentorship to early-stage technology companies through a structured program that helps entrepreneurs launch and grow their businesses. Y Combinator has successfully launched over 4,000 startups, making it a key player in the technology startup ecosystem. Among its notable transactions, Y Combinator has invested in Cognition IP, a company focused on intellectual property management, and MarqVision (Marq AI), which raised $16 million in a Series A round in 2024. These investments highlight Y Combinator's engagement in the intellectual property management software sector, alongside its broader investment strategy in various technology domains.


2. Plug and Play Tech Center


Plug and Play Tech Center is an innovation hub and venture capital firm based in Sunnyvale, California, founded in 2006. The firm connects startups with corporations to foster growth and innovation, offering various programs including accelerator initiatives and investment opportunities. In 2024 alone, they made 253 investments, showcasing their active role in the venture capital landscape. Notable transactions include investments in iCustoms, which raised $2.2 million in a Seed Round in March 2024, and Quolaw, which raised an undisclosed amount in a Seed Round in November 2012. These transactions indicate their engagement with companies that may operate within or adjacent to the intellectual property management software industry, highlighting their potential relevance in this sector.


3. 500 Global

  • Website: 500.co
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States (USA)
  • Founded year: 2010
  • Headcount: 201-500
  • Number of deals in 2024: 98
  • LinkedIn: 500-startups

500 Global is a venture capital firm and startup accelerator based in San Francisco, California, founded in 2010. The firm focuses on early-stage technology companies, providing funding, mentorship, and resources to help founders scale their businesses. With a significant number of investments, including notable transactions such as CapLinked, which raised $2.1 million in Series A and $900,000 in Seed Round, 500 Global demonstrates its commitment to supporting innovative startups. CapLinked's focus on secure document sharing and management is particularly relevant to the intellectual property management software context, indicating that 500 Global may have an interest in this sector. Other investments include Tradespace, AllVirtuous, and TRATO, showcasing a diverse portfolio that could encompass various technology-driven solutions.


4. Insight Partners

  • Website: insightpartners.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: New York, New York, United States (USA)
  • Founded year: 1995
  • Headcount: 201-500
  • Number of deals in 2024: 64
  • LinkedIn: insight--partners

Insight Partners is a venture capital firm based in New York, specializing in providing investment and advisory services to high-growth technology and software companies. Founded in 1995, the firm manages over $75 billion in assets and has a team of 201-500 professionals dedicated to supporting portfolio companies through capital investment and operational expertise. Notably, Insight Partners has invested in Anaqua, a leading intellectual property management software provider, and has also participated in multiple funding rounds for FilmTrack, a company that focuses on rights management in the media and entertainment industry. These transactions highlight Insight Partners' commitment to investing in software solutions that facilitate the management of intellectual property, making them a relevant player in this sector.


5. Deep Tech Fund (an Alumni Ventures Fund)

  • Website: av.vc
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Manchester, New Hampshire, United States (USA)
  • Founded year: 2023
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 258
  • LinkedIn: deep-tech-fund-av-focused-fund

The Deep Tech Fund (an Alumni Ventures Fund) is a venture capital firm based in Manchester, New Hampshire, founded in 2023. It is part of Alumni Ventures, which connects accredited investors and institutions with diversified venture portfolios. The fund has a strong focus on high-quality investment opportunities within the startup ecosystem. Notably, the Deep Tech Fund has participated in significant transactions in the intellectual property management software sector, including a $6.5 million Seed round for Tangibly, a SaaS platform for trade secret management, and a $4 million Pre-Seed round for Patented.ai, a provider of intellectual property software. These investments highlight the fund's commitment to supporting innovative solutions in the intellectual property management space.


6. Accel

  • Website: accel.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Palo Alto, California, United States (USA)
  • Founded year: 1983
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 101
  • LinkedIn: accel-vc

Accel is a venture capital firm founded in 1983, based in Palo Alto, California, specializing in investing in startups and early-stage companies primarily in the technology sector. The firm has a global presence with offices in San Francisco, London, India, and China. Accel has been involved in notable transactions in the intellectual property management software context, including significant investments in DocuSign, which raised $85 million in Series E funding in 2014 and $55.7 million in Series D funding in 2012. Additionally, Accel participated in funding rounds for Ironclad, a digital contracting platform, which raised $150 million in Series E funding in 2022, $100 million in Series D funding in 2020, and $8 million in Series A funding in 2017. These investments highlight Accel's commitment to supporting companies that provide essential tools for managing contracts and intellectual property.


7. SV Angel

  • Website: svangel.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States (USA)
  • Founded year: 2009
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • Number of deals in 2024: 44
  • LinkedIn: sv-angel

SV Angel is a venture capital firm based in San Francisco, California, founded in 2009. The firm specializes in investing in early-stage and growth-stage technology companies, providing not only financial backing but also strategic advice and access to a broad network of industry experts. Among their notable transactions, SV Angel has invested in Ironclad, a company that raised $8 million in Series A funding in 2017 and focuses on contract lifecycle management, which is closely related to intellectual property management. Additionally, they participated in earlier funding rounds for Ironclad, indicating a sustained interest in the company's growth. SV Angel's mission is to foster innovation and support startups in navigating business challenges, making them a valuable player in the technology investment landscape.


8. Tiger Global

  • Website: tigerglobal.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: New York, New York, United States (USA)
  • Founded year: 2001
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 25
  • LinkedIn: tiger-global-management

Tiger Global Management, LLC is a prominent investment firm based in New York, specializing in both public and private equity investments. Founded in 2001, the firm manages approximately $50 billion and focuses on innovative companies leveraging technology. Tiger Global's investment strategy includes a diverse range of sectors, with notable transactions in the legal tech space, such as their lead investment in BRYTER, a German legal tech company, and Litify, a Brooklyn-based company that develops solutions for legal needs. Additionally, their investment in Arianee, a web3 solutions platform, indicates a broader interest in technology that could intersect with intellectual property management. These transactions highlight Tiger Global's commitment to supporting companies that enhance legal processes and technology, making them a relevant player in the intellectual property management software landscape.


9. Bessemer Venture Partners

  • Website: bvp.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States (USA)
  • Founded year: 1911
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 78
  • LinkedIn: bessemer-venture-partners

Bessemer Venture Partners is a venture capital firm founded in 1911, based in San Francisco, California. The firm specializes in providing funding and investment management services to startups and growth-stage companies across various sectors, including technology and healthcare. Notably, Bessemer has been involved in significant transactions related to intellectual property management software, such as leading a $8 million Series A financing round for Brainbase, a technology platform designed for managing licensing agreements. This investment highlights their commitment to supporting innovative solutions in the intellectual property space. Additionally, they have participated in funding rounds for companies like Finjan Holdings, which, while not exclusively focused on intellectual property management, operates in the cybersecurity domain, an area closely related to IP protection. Overall, Bessemer's diverse portfolio and specific investments in relevant companies position them as a significant player in the intellectual property management software industry.


10. New Enterprise Associates (NEA)

  • Website: nea.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Menlo Park, California, United States (USA)
  • Founded year: 1977
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 57
  • LinkedIn: new-enterprise-associates

New Enterprise Associates (NEA) is a prominent venture capital firm based in Menlo Park, California, founded in 1977. With a focus on investment management and advisory services, NEA specializes in supporting startups, particularly in the technology and healthcare sectors. The firm emphasizes long-term relationships with entrepreneurs, providing not only funding but also strategic guidance to help navigate the challenges of building successful businesses. NEA has been involved in various transactions, including investments in companies like iManage, which is relevant to the intellectual property management context due to its focus on document and information management solutions. Although NEA's investments span multiple sectors, their active participation in technology investments positions them as a potential investor in the intellectual property management software industry.


11. Salesforce Ventures


Salesforce Ventures is a venture capital firm based in San Francisco, California, founded in 2009. The firm specializes in investing in innovative enterprise software companies, providing funding, strategic guidance, and access to a network of industry leaders to help startups grow from seed to IPO. In 2024, Salesforce Ventures made a notable investment in IP Copilot, raising $4.2 million in a seed round, which directly ties them to the intellectual property management software sector. Additionally, their investments in DocuSign, which raised significant funds across multiple rounds (including $85 million in Series E and $27 million in Series C), and Ironclad, which raised $100 million in Series D, showcase their commitment to supporting companies that enhance document and contract management processes, further emphasizing their relevance in the intellectual property management context.


12. Liquid 2 Ventures

  • Website: liquid2.vc
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States (USA)
  • Founded year: 2015
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • Number of deals in 2024: 91
  • LinkedIn: liquid-2-ventures

Liquid 2 Ventures is a venture capital firm based in San Francisco, California, founded in 2015. The firm specializes in investing in technology startups at the pre-seed and seed stages, as well as growth-stage companies. They provide capital, mentorship, and access to a vast network of industry insiders to help founders navigate their entrepreneurial journeys. Notably, Liquid 2 Ventures has been involved in several transactions, including multiple rounds of funding for Patlytics, which raised $14 million in Series A, $4.5 million in Seed Round, and an undisclosed amount in Pre-Seed Round. This involvement with Patlytics indicates their interest in companies that may be related to intellectual property management, enhancing their relevance in this sector. Additionally, they have participated in funding rounds for other technology-focused companies, showcasing their commitment to supporting exceptional founders in building lasting companies.


13. General Catalyst


General Catalyst is a venture capital firm founded in 2000, based in San Francisco, California. The firm specializes in early-stage and growth investments, providing capital and strategic guidance to help startups and growth-stage companies scale their operations effectively. In 2024, General Catalyst has been particularly active, with 144 investments, focusing on various sectors including technology and healthcare. Notable transactions include investments in companies like Podqi, Avail, Wordsmith AI, Loci, and Pincites, all of which are in the technology space. While these transactions do not directly relate to intellectual property management software, the firm's broad investment strategy indicates a potential interest in related sectors.


14. Goldman Sachs

  • Website: goldmansachs.com
  • Type: Private Equity
  • Headquarters: New York, New York, United States (USA)
  • Founded year: 1998
  • Headcount: 10001+
  • Number of deals in 2024: 59
  • LinkedIn: goldman-sachs

Goldman Sachs is a prominent investment bank and financial services firm founded in 1998, headquartered in New York, New York. With a workforce exceeding 10,000 employees, the firm provides a diverse range of services including investment banking, asset management, and wealth management. Goldman Sachs serves a wide array of clients, including corporations, financial institutions, and individuals, helping them navigate complex financial challenges. In recent years, Goldman Sachs has made significant investments in the intellectual property management software sector, including a notable investment in LegalForce, which raised approximately 13.7 billion yen in a Series D round. LegalForce specializes in contract review support and AI contract management systems, utilizing natural language processing technology to enhance contract management processes. Additionally, Goldman Sachs has invested in other technology firms such as HighQ and LeaseQuery, further demonstrating their commitment to supporting innovative solutions in the legal and contract management space.


15. Silicon Valley Bank

  • Website: svb.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Santa Clara, California, United States (USA)
  • Founded year: 1983
  • Headcount: 5001-10000
  • Number of deals in 2024: 31
  • LinkedIn: silicon-valley-bank

Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) is a commercial bank founded in 1983, located in Santa Clara, California, specializing in providing financial services to the innovation economy, particularly tech startups and venture capital firms. With a focus on business banking, global payments, and asset management, SVB helps clients navigate financial challenges and support their growth. Notably, SVB has participated in significant funding rounds for companies relevant to intellectual property management, such as Icertis, which raised $75 million in a convertible note in October 2022, and FilmTrack, a leader in content and rights management that secured $10 million in venture debt in 2015. These investments highlight SVB's engagement with companies that operate within the intellectual property management software sector, reinforcing its role as a key player in this space.


16. FJ Labs

  • Website: fjlabs.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: New York, New York, United States (USA)
  • Founded year: 2015
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 169
  • LinkedIn: fj-labs

FJ Labs is a venture capital firm based in New York, founded in 2015, that specializes in investing in marketplace and network effect businesses. With a portfolio of over 1,000 companies, many achieving unicorn status, FJ Labs provides capital and strategic guidance to startups across various industries, including e-commerce and logistics. Notably, they have participated in significant transactions relevant to intellectual property management software, such as their investment in Brainbase, which focuses on managing licensing agreements, and Jus Mundi, a LegalTech startup that integrates AI into its search engine. Their diverse investment strategy and involvement in the LegalTech space highlight their potential relevance to the intellectual property management software sector.


17. Battery Ventures

  • Website: battery.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Boston, Massachusetts, United States (USA)
  • Founded year: 1983
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 23
  • LinkedIn: battery-ventures

Battery Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Boston, Massachusetts, founded in 1983. The firm specializes in technology investments, providing venture capital and private equity to companies at various growth stages. Battery Ventures offers a range of services to its portfolio companies, including business development, talent acquisition, marketing, and leadership analytics, to help them scale effectively. Notably, Battery Ventures has participated in significant funding rounds for companies like Ontra, which focuses on legal document automation, and Nitro, a provider of document productivity solutions. These transactions indicate Battery Ventures' engagement in sectors that overlap with intellectual property management, highlighting their potential interest in this area.


18. Bain Capital Ventures


Bain Capital Ventures is a venture capital firm founded in 1984, based in San Francisco, California. The firm specializes in investing in early-stage startups across various sectors, including fintech, healthcare, and AI. They provide operational expertise and strategic support to founders, helping them navigate challenges in scaling their businesses. Notable transactions include their participation in DocuSign's Series F funding round, which raised $233 million, highlighting their interest in technology that facilitates document management and signatures. They also invested in Invoke Solutions, which has raised funds in multiple rounds, indicating their commitment to supporting innovative solutions. Their recent investment in EvenUp, a company focused on legal technology, further demonstrates their engagement in sectors that may intersect with intellectual property management. This diverse portfolio showcases Bain Capital Ventures' capability to support software solutions that could be relevant to the intellectual property management industry.


19. Kleiner Perkins

  • Website: kleinerperkins.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Menlo Park, California, United States (USA)
  • Founded year: 1972
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 38
  • LinkedIn: kleiner-perkins

Kleiner Perkins is a prominent venture capital firm based in Menlo Park, California, founded in 1972. The firm specializes in investing in early-stage and growth companies, particularly in the technology and life sciences sectors. With a history of backing over 900 ventures, Kleiner Perkins has established itself as a key player in the venture capital landscape. Notably, they have invested in RPX Corporation, which focuses on patent risk management and litigation services, making it relevant to intellectual property management. Additionally, their investments in DocuSign, which raised significant funds in multiple rounds, highlight their commitment to technology that enhances document management and transaction processes. These transactions reflect Kleiner Perkins' strategic approach to supporting companies that operate at the intersection of technology and intellectual property management.



Intellectual Property Management Software Insights: Key Investors in the US


InvestorHeadquarterSizeFoundedDeals 2024
Y CombinatorSan Francisco, California, United States (USA)51-2002005802
Plug and Play Tech CenterSunnyvale, California, United States (USA)501-10002006253
500 GlobalSan Francisco, California, United States (USA)201-500201098
Insight PartnersNew York, New York, United States (USA)201-500199564
Deep Tech Fund (an Alumni Ventures Fund)Manchester, New Hampshire, United States (USA)51-2002023258
AccelPalo Alto, California, United States (USA)51-2001983101
SV AngelSan Francisco, California, United States (USA)1-10200944
Tiger GlobalNew York, New York, United States (USA)51-200200125
Bessemer Venture PartnersSan Francisco, California, United States (USA)11-50191178
New Enterprise Associates (NEA)Menlo Park, California, United States (USA)51-200197757
Salesforce VenturesSan Francisco, California, United States (USA)11-50200958
Liquid 2 VenturesSan Francisco, California, United States (USA)1-10201591
General CatalystSan Francisco, California, United States (USA)51-2002000144
Goldman SachsNew York, New York, United States (USA)10001+199859
Silicon Valley BankSanta Clara, California, United States (USA)5001-10000198331
FJ LabsNew York, New York, United States (USA)11-502015169
Battery VenturesBoston, Massachusetts, United States (USA)51-200198323
Bain Capital VenturesSan Francisco, California, United States (USA)51-200198436
Kleiner PerkinsMenlo Park, California, United States (USA)11-50197238


Want to find more investors focusing on the intellectual property management software industry?

If you want to find more investors that are active in the intellectual property management softwareindustry, you can do that with Inven. We built this list and analysis throughInven's Investor Search, and there are a lot more private equity, venturecapital, and corporate investors like these globally.

With Inven, you'll also get to know:

  • Deal History: Number of deals and their sizes.
  • Portfolio: Companies they've invested in.
  • Contact data: Key dealmakers, including their emails and phonenumbers.
  • ...and much more!