NLPatent secures $3 million to expand its AI-powered patent research platform across North America and Europe.
Toronto-based legaltech startup NLPatent has raised USD $3 million in new funding to expand its AI-driven patent research platform across North America and Europe.
The all-equity round, closed in September 2025, was co-led by Draper Associates and Mighty Capital, with participation from The LegalTech Fund, Storytime Capital, and The 51 Ventures. The raise follows a CAD $1.4 million seed round completed in 2023.
Founded by CEO Stephanie Curcio, a former intellectual-property lawyer, and CTO James Stonehill, a software engineer, NLPatent develops AI-powered tools that transform how professionals search, analyze, and visualize patent data. The platform serves more than 2,000 IP and R&D professionals at law firms, Fortune 500 companies and universities.
Curcio told Artificial Lawyer that the round reflects validation of the company’s approach: “To have world-class investors back us now is validation that we’ve nailed it.”
NLPatent says it will use the new funds to accelerate product development—including building “fully agentic workflows” for complex patent tasks—and strengthen its presence in North America and Europe.
The latest funding comes amid a surge of interest in AI-driven IP research, as legal and corporate innovation teams seek to manage the growing complexity of global patent data.