Neo Factory

What Neo Factory does

Neo Factory is a small Nantes-based private company (1-10 employees) that delivers intellectual property and innovation support services to B2B clients, primarily through its Novaneo sub-brand. The core offering is the proprietary "Innovation Capture" methodology — a three-step framework (Stimulate, Strengthen, Pilot) that detects patentable inventions, runs inventor-to-inventor discussions, develops complete invention blueprints, and scores each invention for patentability and technical relevance, all on a fixed-cost-per-step basis. Deliverables are operationalized through a secured digital platform that gathers, historicizes, and shares the invention maturation process with credited actors, allowing clients to pause or accelerate individual cases and control budget per step.

Underlying technology is procedural rather than algorithmic: it combines a codified facilitation methodology with a secured SaaS-style workspace for invention documentation and stakeholder collaboration. The company claims a 30% reduction in patent application writing costs for clients using its blueprint output and supports prior-art searches via a strategic partnership with Novagraaf, a global industrial property attorney. Beyond Novaneo, Neo Factory also operates physical offices and coworking space in Nantes city centre, providing a secondary workspace-services revenue stream unrelated to the IP methodology.

The business model is B2B professional services with a pay-as-you-go, step-based subscription pricing structure; each of the three methodology steps carries a fixed cost and clients progress at their own pace. The target segment is horizontal — companies of all sizes with active innovation/patent management needs — with no named customers or vertical specialization disclosed. Track-record metrics cited on the company site include 150+ inventions captured, 25 patent filings facilitated, 20 prototypes, and 15 industrializations, indicating a boutique-scale operation rather than a scaled SaaS business.

Name

Neo Factory

Legal name

Neo Factory

Website

https://neo-factory.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Neo Factory is a Nantes-based B2B services firm that helps companies detect, mature, and document patentable inventions through its proprietary three-step Innovation Capture methodology and secured Novaneo platform, serving innovation-driven organizations of all sizes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Innovation and Intellectual Property Management Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

akta.pro primary industry

Testing, Inspection, Certification & Commissioning (TICx) Technical Services (BPAHAIAL)

Keywords

• Innovation management services
• Patent portfolio optimization
• Intellectual property consulting
• Invention maturation methodology
• IP strategy services

Headquarters

HQ city

Nantes

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Innovation Capture Service: B2B professional services revenue through a three-step methodology for invention maturation. Each step has fixed costs, and clients can progress at their own pace. The service provides complete invention blueprints to patent attorneys, optimizing their time and reducing patent application writing costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Neo Factory sells the Novaneo Solution, a B2B three-step Innovation Capture methodology (Stimulate, Strengthen, Pilot) that helps companies detect patentable inventions, build complete invention blueprints, and pilot their IP portfolio with fixed-cost step pricing. The methodology is delivered alongside a secured digital platform that records and shares the invention maturation process with credited actors, and is offered in cooperation with IP firm Novagraaf for prior art searches and IP positioning advice. The company also rents offices and coworking space in Nantes under the Neo Factory brand.

Product overview

Neo Factory operates as a dual-brand structure offering both physical workspace solutions and intellectual property services. The core product is the Novaneo platform—a secured SaaS solution for invention maturation and patent portfolio management—augmented by the 'Innovation Capture' methodology. The company also provides physical offices and coworking spaces in Nantes under the Neo Factory brand, while the Novaneo brand handles all IP-related services. The two offerings are related through shared company ownership but serve distinct markets: physical workspace users versus companies seeking to optimize their patent positioning and invention workflows.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Novaneo: A platform solution for innovation capture and patent portfolio optimization, helping companies stimulate innovation, strengthen relevant inventions, and pilot strategic decisions.

Products and services

• Novaneo Solution A B2B three-step methodology (Stimulate, Strengthen, Pilot) plus secured platform that helps companies detect patentable inventions, build complete invention blueprints, and pilot their IP portfolio with fixed-cost step pricing; sold to innovation leaders at companies of all sizes.
• Neo Factory Offices and Coworking (Bureaux & Coworking) Office and coworking space rental located in central Nantes, France, offered under the Neo Factory brand.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30% decrease in patent application writing observed based on the Novaneo solution

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• NovagraafcoreTechnology or IntegrationIndustrial Property Attorney partnership for prior art searches and IP positioning advice. Novagraaf covers all Intellectual Property needs of companies on all continents. The partnership allows Neo Factory to provide comprehensive IP services, with Novagraaf handling formal IP searches while Neo Factory focuses on invention capture and maturation.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• IProva: AI-assisted invention and patent creation software for enterprise R&D and IP teams. Highly comparable to Neo Factory / Novaneo because both target the upstream invention-to-patent pipeline rather than post-grant IP administration.
• Brightidea: Enterprise innovation management software for capturing, evaluating and advancing employee ideas and inventions. Comparable to the 'Stimulate' step of Novaneo and serves similar R&D and innovation leaders.
• Wazoku: Innovation management platform focused on idea capture, crowdsourcing and portfolio prioritization. Directly comparable to the front-end of the Novaneo methodology for innovation-driven corporates.
• Planbox: Innovation management platform supporting idea capture, evaluation and execution across the enterprise. Comparable target buyer (corporate innovation/R&D leadership) and overlapping workflow with Neo Factory.
• InnovationCast: Innovation management software for idea and invention pipeline management. Closely comparable to Novaneo's front-end invention detection and maturation workflow for corporate innovation teams.
• IdeaScale: Enterprise innovation management platform used by corporates to capture and advance employee-driven ideas and inventions. Comparable buyer (innovation/R&D leaders) and overlapping use cases with the Stimulate/Strengthen steps of Novaneo.
• Wellspring (KPMG): Innovation management software and advisory for corporate R&D and IP portfolios. Comparable value proposition around invention pipeline management and IP portfolio decision support for enterprise clients.

Broad incumbents

• Anaqua: Large, established IP management and analytics software platform serving corporate IP and legal teams. Comparable as it sits in the same enterprise IP workflow Neo Factory targets, but operates at significantly greater scale and breadth across the full IP lifecycle.
• Clarivate (IPfolio): Global IP analytics and management suite, including the IPfolio IP management platform. Highly comparable buyer base (corporate IP teams) but vastly broader portfolio and deeper R&D investment than Neo Factory.
• Questel: International IP management and patent analytics software provider serving corporate IP departments. Comparable customer segment and use cases (patent portfolio decision support), but operates as a much larger established vendor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/neo-factory

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Neo Factory