VCs can't get enough of legal startups. Andreessen Horowitz just invested in one taking work from patent lawyers.

Fearn, an innovative startup in the legal tech sector, is making waves by enabling inventors to draft their patents independently and efficiently. The company has successfully raised $5.5 million to develop AI-driven software that simplifies the patent creation process, allowing users to generate a patent draft with just a click. This groundbreaking approach is shifting the focus from traditional law firms to empowering companies to handle more of their legal work internally, particularly in the realm of patent drafting. With backing from notable investors including Andreessen Horowitz and Kindred Ventures, Fearn is poised to disrupt the legal landscape. According to Han Kim, Fearn's cofounder and CEO, the software allows anyone—from individual researchers to large R&D teams—to upload a technical document and receive a complete patent draft. The platform not only assesses the quality of the submission but also generates necessary patent illustrations and provides source citations. Fearn claims it can reduce the drafting time from weeks to mere minutes, charging a flat fee of $2,000 per draft. Fearn's founders, including Kim and Angela Gao, faced the challenge of entering the competitive startup scene as first-time entrepreneurs. Their determination led them to apply to Speedrun, Andreessen Horowitz's intensive startup boot camp, where they gained invaluable insights into the venture capital world. Investment in legal technology is on the rise, skyrocketing from approximately $1 billion in 2019 to over $4 billion last year. Companies like Harvey have exemplified the trend, demonstrating how AI can enhance the efficiency of legal professionals. However, Fearn is carving its niche by focusing on in-house legal capabilities, enabling companies to manage more legal tasks without relying heavily on outside counsel. The concept for Fearn emerged from Kim's experience working at Morrison Foerster, where he recognized the potential for automation in patent prosecution due to the structured nature of patent documents and the technical expertise required. He explained that many inventors often feel sidelined in the patent process, fearing that their ideas may not be accurately conveyed by lawyers who may not fully grasp the intricacies of their inventions. With a strong educational background—Kim in computational neuroscience and Gao in computer science—Fearn is entering a competitive field filled with other patent startups and general-purpose AI tools. However, the founders believe that their personal experiences and insights into the patent process give them a unique advantage. As Fearn continues to grow, it aims to reshape how inventors approach patenting, ensuring they are not merely passive participants but active contributors in protecting their innovations. Kim encapsulates this vision: “This really can be automated. It doesn't have to suck.”