We build software that lets
innovators focus on innovating.
Patent paperwork is tedious but mission-critical. Our goal is to make it painless—automating the clerical grind so founders, engineers, and attorneys can spend time on innovation and strategy. More break-throughs get protected, more deals clear due-diligence, and more attorneys tackle high-value work.
Our Roots
Ian and Zak come from backgrounds in patent law, technology, and intellectual property management.
Early in their work with startups, they noticed a common and costly dynamic: many founders and innovators were unaware of, or delayed seeking, patent protection until they started speaking with investors. This often led to higher expenses and missed opportunities to secure their innovations early.
They realized that the process of obtaining patent protection was complex, costly, and time-consuming, pulling focus away from innovation and growth. With their combined experience, Ian and Zak saw an opportunity to simplify this journey, helping startups achieve patent-pending status faster and more affordably.
By automating and streamlining key steps, Idea Clerk makes it easier for founders to protect their ideas from the start; and connects them to trusted attorneys and advisors when the time comes to expand their IP protection. The rest is history!
Ian Schick, Ph.D., Esq.
Co-Founder & CEO
Ian is a patent attorney who practiced at Pillsbury Winthrop, where he represented leading technology companies and venture-backed startups on critical IP matters. With a technical Ph.D. and a J.D. in IP law, he co-founded Specifio, the first commercial AI patent-spec generator. As a Stanford Law Codex Fellow, he led the Machine-Generated Legal Documents project and founded the AI Subcommittee of the American IP Law Association (AIPLA).
Zakery Tutino
Co-Founder & COO
Zak has over a decade of experience building and scaling IP technology at Thomson Reuters, Clarivate, and MaxVal. As co-founder of Paximal, he helped create enterprise-grade patent automation tools now trusted by leading law firms. He also serves on the board of the U.S. Intellectual Property Alliance (USIPA). Zak focuses on making complex IP systems usable and valuable for startups, ensuring founders get tools that work from day one.
