Sabah-born Patsnap founder Jeffrey Tiong joins Endeavor’s global

• Founder selected at Endeavor’s 70th International Selection Panel
• AI-powered intellectual property platform serves more than 10,000 customers across over 50 countries

Sabah-born Jeffrey Tiong, founder and CEO of Patsnap, has been selected as an Endeavor Entrepreneur following the organisation’s 70th International Selection Panel. The appointment brings Tiong into Endeavor’s global network of founders and expands Endeavor Malaysia’s entrepreneurial community.

Headquartered in Singapore, Patsnap began as a patent search tool before developing into an artificial intelligence-powered platform for intellectual property due diligence and research and development decision-making.

The company attained unicorn status in 2021 and now serves more than 10,000 customers in over 50 countries. Its users include multinational corporations such as Tesla, Micron and Bose, as well as major law firms including Andrus, Wilson Sonsini and Reed Smith.

Endeavor’s International Selection Panel brings together entrepreneurs, investors and business leaders to assess founders based on their leadership, ambition and ability to contribute to the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem. Tiong’s successful selection gives him access to a worldwide community of peers and mentors experienced in scaling companies across different markets.

Endeavor Entrepreneurs receive assistance from local teams and may also be considered for co-investment through Endeavor Catalyst. In return, members are expected to support the next generation of founders through mentorship, investment and knowledge sharing.

Amr Shady, a panellist involved in Tiong’s selection, described Patsnap’s development as remarkable and said the company’s next phase could be even more ambitious.

Solving a patent research problem

The idea for Patsnap emerged from a challenge Tiong encountered while studying at the National University of Singapore. Through an overseas entrepreneurship programme, he travelled to Philadelphia, where he worked at a medical device startup while studying part-time at the Wharton School.

During that period, Tiong observed that patent research was hindered by fragmented information across jurisdictions, complex technical material and the significant amount of time required to analyse the available data.

He saw an opportunity to make patent information easier to access and more useful for business decisions. Patsnap was subsequently founded to help organisations understand complex patent data, evaluate intellectual property and identify opportunities for innovation.

Nearly two decades later, the business has expanded far beyond its original patent search capabilities. Its technology now supports intellectual property and R&D teams seeking to make more informed decisions throughout the innovation process.

Tiong said building Patsnap had been a long journey filled with valuable lessons. He views joining Endeavor as an opportunity to connect with founders facing similar scaling challenges while contributing his experience to Malaysia’s entrepreneurial community.

A long-term approach to building technology

Pedro Arnt, an Endeavor Entrepreneur and one of the selection panellists, highlighted the patience and discipline behind Patsnap’s growth. He noted that Tiong had spent almost two decades developing a distinct technology category rather than pursuing short-term trends.

Endeavor Malaysia managing director Shan Li Tay said Tiong’s journey demonstrates how globally relevant companies can be created by identifying meaningful problems and remaining committed to solving them over the long term. She added that his experience would bring a valuable perspective to Endeavor Malaysia’s network.

The 70th International Selection Panel included six business leaders with experience spanning technology, financial technology, venture building and investment. Alongside Shady and Arnt, the panel comprised Luca Ferrari of Bending Spoons, Adolfo Babatz of Clip, Philippe Teixeira da Mota of Shapers and Felipe Almeida of Neospace.

The panel’s international experience provided a broad perspective when evaluating Tiong’s leadership and Patsnap’s potential for continued global growth.