PAIF

What PAIF does

PAIF (Patent Alliance Innovation Fund / 派富专利技术投资运营有限公司) is a privately held B2B professional services firm founded in 2015 and headquartered in Shenzhen, with offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Wuhan, Chengdu, Hong Kong, and San Diego. The firm was built by a team that originated from Intellectual Ventures (IV), and operates as a one-stop shop integrating three service divisions: IP and Technology Services (patent portfolio development, monetization, infringement risk analysis, R&D outsourcing/CRD, technology forecasting); Fundraising and Fund Management (equity/debt financing, technology and financial due diligence, M&A advisory, direct investments in tech companies); and STAR Market (科创板) listing advisory covering patent risk, innovation index evaluation, and post-listing market capitalization support.

The underlying technology stack is modest: the firm relies on patent big data combined with AI and manual expert analysis for technology forecasting and infringement risk work, and operates a Global Innovation Solution Network plus CRD platform to match enterprise demand with global supply. Underlying technology is therefore positioned as an enabler of professional advisory work rather than as a standalone product. PAIF's customer base of approximately 50 spans government agencies, large central and local state-owned enterprises, technology SMEs, and US and Israeli original technology companies, with sector focus on semiconductors/chips, pharmaceuticals/medical, new energy vehicles, and 3D printing.

Revenue mechanics are anchored in professional services fees across all three divisions, supplemented by principal investment activity in portfolio companies such as Paixin (派芯) and Paipa (派帕) where PAIF targets 5-10x returns over 3-5 years. Go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven, leveraging the founding team's network and bilingual (Chinese/English) outreach, with no publicly disclosed pricing and no disclosed funding rounds or revenue figures in the available data.

Name

PAIF

Legal name

派富专利技术投资运营有限公司 (Paif Patent Technology Investment Operation Co., Ltd.)

Website

https://paif.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PAIF (Patent Alliance Innovation Fund) is a Shenzhen-based B2B professional services firm, founded in 2015 by ex-Intellectual Ventures alumni, that provides integrated patent, technology R&D outsourcing, and financing/IPO advisory services to roughly 50 enterprise, SOE, government, and tech clients across China, Hong Kong, the US, and Israel.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Intellectual Property Services

SIC

Patent Owners & Lessors (6794)

akta.pro primary industry

Patent Prosecution & Portfolio Management (BPAHAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

IP Due Diligence & Freedom-to-Operate (FTO) Analysis (BPAHAMAG), IP Licensing, Transactions & Technology Transfer (BPAHAMAF), IP Valuation, Damages & Royalty Analysis (BPAHAMAH), IP Compliance, Anti-Counterfeiting & Enforcement (BPAHAMAK)

Keywords

• Patent services
• Intellectual property strategy
• Technology transfer
• R&D outsourcing
• Cross-border investment

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Patent Services: Revenue from patent strategy and prosecution, patent monetization, and patent risk analysis services. Includes patent portfolio development, patent pool construction, overseas/domestic patent acquisitions, and infringement risk mitigation.
2. Technology Services: R&D outsourcing services (研发外协) including demand-driven technology matching, expert brainstorming sessions, and technology industrialization promotion for mature patents.
3. Finance Services: Equity and debt financing services, technology and financial due diligence, M&A advisory, and STAR Market (科创板) listing guidance services for companies with original technologies.
4. Investment Returns: PAIF invests in tech companies and expects 5-10x returns on investment over 3-5 years from completed investment projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

PAIF is a one-stop international innovation institution providing integrated patent services, technology services, and financial services. The firm builds patent portfolios, monetizes patents, conducts infringement risk analysis, executes R&D outsourcing and technology forecasting, runs investment/financing and M&A advisory, and provides STAR Market listing guidance for innovative enterprises.

Product overview

PAIF (Patent Alliance Innovation Fund) is a one-stop shop providing integrated patent services, technology services, and financial services. The company operates four main service divisions: the Patent Sector covering patent portfolio development, monetization, infringement risk analysis, and patent pool acquisition; the Technology Sector offering R&D outsourcing (CRD), technology forecasting, and technology promotion; the Financial Sector providing investment/financing services, due diligence, and M&A advisory; and the STAR Market Board offering innovation index guidance and IPO consulting. The founding team comes from Intellectual Ventures (IV), a world leader in patent monetization and innovation services. PAIF connects global innovative technologies with Chinese enterprises seeking growth and international expansion.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Patent Portfolio Development (专利布局) Assists enterprises in building patent pools around their products, processes, and R&D to establish moats and defend against potential litigation risks. For enterprises with IP-intensive operations and large R&D organizations.
• Patent Monetization (专利运营) Takes inventory of existing patents and develops plans to achieve industrial transformation and commercial value from patent assets. For enterprises seeking to maximize the value of their existing patent portfolios.
• Patent Infringement Risk Analysis & Mitigation (侵权预警及风险规避) Provides patent infringement risk analysis, risk avoidance strategies, and overseas interest protection for enterprises preparing for listing and financing. For companies seeking STAR Market listing and financing compliance.
• Overseas/Domestic Patent & Patent Pool Acquisition Acquisition services for overseas and domestic patents and patent pools to help enterprises expand their intellectual property portfolios. For enterprises seeking to expand their IP portfolio via acquisition.
• R&D Outsourcing (研发外协) Demand-driven service connecting enterprises with global solutions at maturity level 3 or above; organizes expert brainstorming sessions for technical bottlenecks; assists technology owners in industrializing patents and technologies. For enterprises with internal R&D gaps and technology owners seeking commercialization.
• Technology Forecasting (技术预测) Uses patent big data, AI, and manual analysis to predict product technology trends and forms, protecting innovations through new patent applications. For enterprises and inventors seeking to anticipate technology directions.
• CRD - Collaborative R&D (协同研发) Builds a technology-based platform for open innovation, leveraging PAIF's global solution network to help clients increase R&D output through collaborative research and development. For enterprises needing external innovation solutions to R&D bottlenecks.
• Investment & Financing Services (金融板块) Provides investment or financing services to enterprises with original technologies that have completed sample and industrial design product development; conducts rapid screening and deep due diligence on patents, technology, industry, and teams. For high-tech companies with original technology seeking capital.
• Due Diligence & Fundraising (尽调) Provides patent and technology due diligence services for financial investors, including quick highlight reports and detailed DD reports on tech and patent pros and cons, plus infringement risk analysis. For investors and acquirers evaluating IP-intensive assets.
• M&A Financial Advisory (并购顾问) Uses global innovative technology and industrial resources to quickly understand technology advancement and industry prospects, promoting point-to-point connections with potential domestic cooperative enterprises. For enterprises pursuing M&A transactions and cross-border partnerships.
• IP Strategy & Risk Mitigation (知识产权战略与风险规避) Provides IP strategy development and risk mitigation services to help companies avoid patent infringement lawsuits, particularly for companies pending listing and financing. For enterprises seeking preemptive IP risk management.
• STAR Market Innovation Index Guidance (科创板创新指标达标辅导) Evaluates whether companies meet innovation indicators for STAR Market listing, provides guidance and resource matching; assists listed companies with market value management using innovation resources. For enterprises preparing for or already listed on China's STAR Market (科创板).

Quantifiable outcome

• 50 customers served across China, Hong Kong, US, and Israel markets
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Intellectual Ventures (IV)foundingOthersPAIF's founding team originated from Intellectual Ventures, the global leader in patent/technology monetization and innovation services. IV served as the foundational experience and network source for PAIF's business model of integrated patent, technology, and financial services. PAIF founder Yan Sheng was President for Greater China Region at IV before founding PAIF. Dr. James Wang and Tina Wang were also part of IV/Invention Development Fund (IDF) China's founding team.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Innoget: Innoget is an open innovation and technology transfer marketplace that connects enterprises with global solution providers. It overlaps with PAIF's R&D outsourcing and global technology sourcing (CRD) platform.
• IPwe: IPwe operates a blockchain-based patent marketplace and IP analytics platform. It competes with PAIF's patent monetization and transaction services from a tech-enabled, emerging-player angle.

Direct peers

• IPValue Management: IPValue Management is a patent licensing and monetization firm that, like PAIF, helps companies extract value from patent portfolios through licensing, transactions, and strategic advisory.
• Ocean Tomo: Ocean Tomo provides IP valuation, patent brokerage, and IP-based financial services. It is one of the closest direct comparables to PAIF, combining IP advisory with investment and monetization activities.

Regional players

• Unitalen (集佳知识产权): Unitalen is one of China's largest IP agencies, providing patent prosecution, trademark, and IP litigation services. It is a geographically-focused comparable for PAIF's China patent practice.
• Hankun Law Firm (汉坤律所): Hankun is a leading Chinese law firm specializing in private equity, M&A, and capital markets. It competes with PAIF's financial advisory and fundraising services for the same high-tech and growth-stage client base in China.
• Zhong Lun Law Firm (中伦律所): Zhong Lun is one of China's largest full-service law firms with a significant IP and corporate/PE practice. It is a regional competitor for PAIF's IP strategy and M&A advisory work in China.

Broad incumbents

• Clarivate (formerly CPA Global): Clarivate is a large, established IP data and services platform offering patent analytics, IP management software, and IP services. It competes with PAIF's patent strategy and IP intelligence offerings as part of a much broader portfolio.

Others

• Anaqua: Anaqua provides IP management and analytics software used by corporates and law firms. While not a direct service competitor, it serves as an enabling technology provider in the IP services value chain that PAIF operates in.
• Intellectual Ventures: PAIF's founding team originated from Intellectual Ventures. While IV is a larger, broader entity, it is the closest historical antecedent and continues to operate in patent invention, acquisition, and licensing—the same core space PAIF occupies at a smaller scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/cn.paif.1
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/paif

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

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 PAIF