Private Equity · IP Due Diligence · New York
Patent Intelligence Group is an independent provider of patent IP due diligence for private equity investments and acquisitions — based in New York, serving PE firms and investors worldwide.
Independent Patent IP Due Diligence for Private Equity Investments and Acquisitions
When a company’s value rests on its patents, you need to know if those patents will hold. We assess the full patent portfolio of your investment or acquisition target — scoring invalidity risk, identifying active IPR proceedings, analyzing prosecution history, and delivering a valuation impact model your deal team can take directly into the investment committee.
Serving
Private Equity Deal Teams
Portfolio Operations
M&A Investment Committees
Technology & Industrial Sectors
Clean Energy & Grid Technology
The Problem
Financial Diligence Is Thorough. IP Diligence Usually Isn't.
Private equity firms model revenue to two decimal places. They stress-test the cap table and scrub the customer contracts. But the patents that justify the valuation — the IP moat that protects the business from competition — often get a checkbox review from outside counsel and a one-paragraph mention in the IC memo. That gap is where expensive surprises come from.
IPR Proceedings Can Invalidate the Thesis
A competitor can file an Inter Partes Review challenging a core patent at any time — before or after close. If the challenged patent is what justifies premium pricing, licensing revenue, or competitive moat, an IPR institution materially changes the investment thesis. Most PE firms find out weeks later.
Prosecution History Creates Hidden Risk
How a patent was argued during examination determines what it actually covers. Arguments made to overcome rejections — file wrapper estoppel — can limit claim scope in ways that make infringement theories unenforceable. This risk lives in the prosecution file, not the patent itself.
Post-Close Monitoring Rarely Happens
IP diligence stops at close. But patent risk continues for the entire hold period. Competitors file IPRs. Courts issue claim construction orders that narrow enforcement scope. Without continuous monitoring, these developments quietly erode the IP value you paid for.
Outside Counsel Answers Questions You Ask
IP counsel provides legal opinions when retained. They don't proactively monitor PTAB dockets, score invalidity risk across a portfolio, or translate patent events into valuation impact. That independent, investor-grade layer of intelligence is what Patent Intelligence Group provides.
Two Products
Diligence Before Close. Intelligence After.
A fixed-price assessment for the deal. Continuous monitoring for the hold period.
Patent IP Assessment
Fixed-price engagement · 10 business day delivery · includes two advisory calls
Complete IP Due Diligence for Your Investment or Acquisition
A comprehensive assessment of the target company’s full patent portfolio — every material patent scored, every active proceeding analyzed, and a valuation impact model your deal team can use. Written for investors, not attorneys.
- Executive summary with overall moat score and investment recommendation
- Full patent portfolio scorecard — every patent assessed and scored
- Active proceedings deep-dive — IPR, district court litigation, ITC
- Prosecution history red flag analysis on all material patents
- Competitive patent landscape — who else is filing in the same space
- Valuation impact model — base case, downside, and upside scenarios
- Post-close action plan with owners and deadlines
- Two one-hour advisory calls included
Portfolio IP Monitoring
Monthly retainer · per portfolio company · requires initial assessment
Continuous Intelligence Through the Hold Period
After close, patent risk doesn’t stop. Our monitoring service watches every proceeding, every filing, and every deadline — and fires an alert the day something material happens. Your deal team is always current, never surprised.
- Real-time IPR alerts — petition, institution, trial, final decision
- Litigation developments flagged with investment implications
- Moat score updated on every material event
- Competitor patent activity monitored continuously
- Monthly portfolio IP summary report
- Quarterly board-ready IP summary
- Exit readiness flags as hold period matures
Step by Step
Each Step in Detail
The framework is modular — each step produces an independent deliverable. Start where your case is. Complete the full sequence for an investor-ready package
1
Infringer Identification
Two pages written for a deal partner who will read it in five minutes before an IC meeting. No legal language. One overall moat score, the three most material risks, and a clear recommendation: proceed as valued, proceed with valuation adjustment, or investigate further before closing. The valuation adjustment — expressed in dollars — is stated plainly.
Deal Partner
2
Portfolio Scorecard
Every patent in the portfolio assessed and scored — grouped by technology area, color-coded by risk level. The deal team can see at a glance which patents are load-bearing and which are decorative. Includes a summary table and individual scorecards for the 10–15 most material assets, each with an invalidity risk score, prosecution health rating, and enforcement value assessment.
Deal Team
3
Active Proceedings Analysis
Every active IPR proceeding, district court litigation, ITC investigation, and reexamination assessed individually. For each proceeding: what’s at stake, what’s the likely outcome based on petitioner win rate and prior art quality, what’s the timeline, and what does it mean for your investment thesis. Written in investor language, not legal language.
Deal Team
4
Prosecution History Analysis
The section most financial diligence misses entirely. We review prosecution histories on all material patents for red flags: claim amendments that limit enforcement scope, arguments made during examination that create file wrapper estoppel, continuation strategy gaps, and terminal disclaimer issues. Each flag is translated into its practical impact on the investment thesis.v
Deal Team
5
Competitive Patent Landscape
Who else is filing in the same technology space. Whether competitors are building blocking positions. Whether NPEs are accumulating relevant prior art patents. Whether a major player is assembling a portfolio that could threaten the target post-investment. This section directly addresses whether the IP moat is likely to get stronger or weaker over the hold period.
Deal Team
6
Valuation Impact Model
The number the deal partner needs. Three scenarios expressed as dollar adjustments to enterprise value — base case (current IP position), downside (active proceedings resolve against the company), and upside (proceedings resolve favorably and moat is confirmed). This model goes directly into the IC discussion and supports a defensible pricing position in negotiation.
Deal Partner
7
Post-Close Action Plan
The handoff document for whoever manages the portfolio company after close. Specific actions, owners, and deadlines. IPR responses required. Prosecution gaps to address. Outside counsel recommendations where specialized expertise is needed. Organized as 30-day, 90-day, and 12-month priorities.
Portfolio Operations
Step by Step
Each Step in Detail
The framework is modular — each step produces an independent deliverable. Start where your case is. Complete the full sequence for an investor-ready package
Call 1 of 2
Report Walkthrough
Scheduled at delivery · typically day 10–12 of the engagement
10 min
Methodology overview — how to read the scoring, what the moat score means, how the valuation model was constructed
15 min
Executive summary walkthrough — overall score, top three findings, valuation adjustment recommendation stated and defended
20 min
Key patent deep-dives — the two or three most material patents, why the scores are what they are, what the active proceedings mean for the thesis
15 min
Q&A and next steps — open questions answered, pre-close actions confirmed, Call 2 scheduled
After this call, the deal team understands the findings and can walk into an investment committee meeting with confidence.
Call 2 of 2
Follow-Up Advisory
Scheduled within 30 days of delivery · after internal review
10 min
Internal review debrief — what questions came up from the IC, what did outside counsel say, what did the deal team push back on
20 min
Contested findings — address any findings that were challenged internally, defend the scoring where warranted, update where new information has emerged
15 min
Post-close planning — walk through the action plan, confirm who owns what, discuss whether any items require outside counsel engagement
15 min
Monitoring conversation — given what we found, here is what we would watch on your behalf through the hold period and what that ongoing service looks like
After this call, you have a clear post-close IP plan — and the information you need to decide whether continuous monitoring makes sense for this portfolio company.
The Engagement
From Kickoff to Delivery in 10 Business Days
A structured process that fits the pace of a live deal — with a progress check at day five so there are no surprises at delivery.
1
Day 1
Kickoff
Scope confirmed in writing. Data access established. Timeline set.
2
Days 2–5
Research
Portfolio mapped. Proceedings pulled. Prosecution histories reviewed. Competitor landscape analyzed.
3
Day 5
Progress Check
Brief email update. Material findings flagged early. No surprises at delivery.
4
Days 6–9
Report Written
All seven sections drafted. Scores finalized. Valuation impact model built.
5
Day 10
Delivery + Call 1
Report delivered. Walkthrough call scheduled same day or next. Written Q&A summary within 24 hours.
Who We Serve
Built for the Decisions Private Equity Firms Make
Patent IP due diligence is relevant at every stage of the PE investment lifecycle.
Deal Teams Evaluating Investments or Acquisitions
Independent IP risk assessment that fits the pace and format of a live deal process. Fixed price, 10-day delivery, structured output that integrates directly into your IC memo.
Portfolio Operations Teams
Continuous monitoring of portfolio company IP through the hold period. Real-time alerts on IPR proceedings and litigation developments — so nothing falls through the cracks post-close.
Investment Committees
A valuation impact model that translates IP risk into dollar adjustments to enterprise value — base case, downside, and upside — that supports a defensible pricing position and a credible IC discussion.
Deal Teams Preparing for Exit
An exit readiness assessment that identifies what a buyer’s diligence team will find — and what it will cost you — 12 to 18 months before you initiate a sale process. Time to remediate before it becomes a negotiating lever for the buyer.
Why Patent Intelligence Group
Engineering Background. Legal Training. Investment Framing.
The analytical layer between a case presentation and a confident investment decision.
Fixed
Price — no hourly billing, no scope creep
10
Business day delivery — built for live deal timelines
2
Advisory calls included with every assessment
NY
Based in New York · serving PE firms and investors worldwide
Common Questions
Patent Intelligence Services — Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the questions private equity firms, litigation finance funds, and investors ask most often about our services.
What does Patent Intelligence Group do?
Patent Intelligence Group provides independent patent intelligence for private equity firms, litigation finance funds, and investors. For private equity, we provide IP due diligence for investments and acquisitions — assessing the full patent portfolio of target companies, scoring invalidity risk, identifying active IPR proceedings, and delivering valuation impact models. For litigation finance, we provide claim charts, litigation viability assessments, and full investment diligence packages. For all investor clients, we offer MoatWatch™ — ongoing patent monitoring and competitive surveillance. Patent Intelligence Group is based in New York and serves clients worldwide.
Who provides independent patent IP due diligence for private equity firms?
Patent Intelligence Group provides independent patent IP due diligence for private equity firms evaluating investments and acquisitions. Our PE Diligence service is a fixed-price engagement that assesses the full patent portfolio of the target company — covering invalidity risk scoring, active IPR proceedings, prosecution history analysis, competitive patent landscape, and an IP-adjusted valuation impact model. The assessment is delivered in 10 business days and includes two one-hour advisory calls. Patent Intelligence Group is based in New York and serves PE firms and investors worldwide.
What is IPR risk and why does it matter for investors?
IPR stands for Inter Partes Review — a proceeding before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) in which a third party challenges the validity of a granted patent. For investors, IPR risk is material when a company’s valuation depends on its ability to enforce patents or defend a licensing revenue stream. When an IPR is instituted, PTAB has found a reasonable likelihood that at least one patent claim is invalid. An active IPR on a core patent can reduce expected enforcement value by 20 to 60 percent. Patent Intelligence Group scores IPR risk as part of every PE diligence assessment and monitors IPR proceedings continuously through MoatWatch™.
What is MoatWatch and who is it for?
MoatWatch™ is Patent Intelligence Group’s ongoing patent monitoring and competitive surveillance service. It is designed for private equity firms monitoring portfolio company IP through the hold period, hedge funds tracking patent risk in equity positions, and litigation finance funds monitoring the patent health of funded matters. MoatWatch tracks IPR proceedings, litigation developments, competitor patent filings, and patent events — delivering real-time alerts when material events occur and monthly intelligence reports summarizing developments across a monitored portfolio.
How is Patent Intelligence Group different from outside IP counsel?
Outside IP counsel answers the questions you know to ask and bills by the hour. Patent Intelligence Group provides fixed-price, structured assessments written for investors — not attorneys. Our PE diligence reports translate patent risk into valuation impact models with specific dollar figures that deal partners can take directly into an investment committee discussion. Our monitoring service fires automatically when material events occur. And our scoring methodology produces a single moat durability score that investors can track across a portfolio. We are not a law firm. We are the independent analytical layer between a patent portfolio and the investors who need to evaluate it.
What is prosecution history and why does it matter in patent diligence?
Prosecution history is the complete record of communications between a patent applicant and the USPTO during the patent examination process — including claim amendments and arguments made to overcome rejections. It matters in patent diligence because arguments made during prosecution can create file wrapper estoppel, limiting the scope of claims in litigation and reducing infringement coverage. Claim amendments made to overcome prior art rejections can also reveal weaknesses that a challenger would exploit in an IPR. Patent Intelligence Group reviews prosecution histories on all material patents as part of every IP assessment — the section of patent diligence that most financial due diligence misses entirely.
What is patent litigation funding diligence?
Patent litigation funding diligence is the independent analysis conducted before a litigation funder agrees to finance a patent infringement case. It evaluates infringement strength, patent validity, damages potential, and litigation risk to determine whether a case is worth funding. Patent Intelligence Group provides structured diligence reports specifically designed to meet the evaluation standards of top litigation finance firms — including claim charts, litigation viability assessments, IPR vulnerability analyses, and full investment diligence packages.
What diligence should a litigation funder conduct before investing in a patent case?
Before committing capital to a patent enforcement case, a litigation funder should independently verify infringement through structured claim charts, assess patent validity and IPR vulnerability, evaluate the damages model and the accused infringer’s ability to pay, and score the overall litigation risk. Patent Intelligence Group’s Patent Litigation Funding Readiness Framework™ evaluates all these dimensions and produces investor-ready diligence packages structured to meet the evaluation standards of top litigation finance firms — giving funders an independent, conflict-free analytical layer before they commit capital.
What is a claim chart and why do litigation funders require one?
A claim chart is a document that maps each element of a patent claim to corresponding features of an accused product or process, demonstrating how the product infringes the patent element by element. Claim charts are essential evidence in patent litigation and are required by most litigation funders before they will consider investing in a case — because they provide objective, structured proof that infringement exists rather than a legal opinion that it might. Patent Intelligence Group produces detailed, investor-grade claim charts as a standalone report and as part of its full diligence packages.
Who We Are
Independent Patent Intelligence for Investors — Built by an Engineer and a Lawyer
Patent Intelligence Group provides independent patent intelligence services for private equity firms, litigation finance funds, and investors worldwide. We are not a law firm. We are not a litigation funder. We are the independent analytical layer between a patent portfolio and the investors who need to evaluate it.
Our founder is a New York and Texas licensed patent attorney with 20+ years of patent prosecution and litigation experience — combined with an engineering background that allows direct technical analysis of claims and accused products. Every report is written for investors, not for the file: scored, quantified, and structured for the decision it supports.
Get Started
Not Sure Which Service You Need?
Tell us about your situation — a PE deal in diligence, a litigation funding case under evaluation, or a portfolio position you need monitored. We will recommend the right service and be ready to start within 48 hours.
Or call us directly: 646-397-3003 · New York, NY
Patent Intelligence Group provides independent analytical services only. Nothing on this page constitutes legal advice. Our reports are analytical tools to support investment decisions — not legal opinions.