WTOIP

About WTOIP

Established in Guangzhou, China, in 2013 by founder Boon Xie, Xuhui, WTOIP operates as a comprehensive resource-sharing and trading platform centered on intellectual property (IP). The company was founded to address the growing importance of IP in China's innovation-driven economy, creating a marketplace to commercialize, industrialize, and monetize these intangible assets. One of its co-founders is Zheng Ziqun, who also serves as the company's vice president. WTOIP has secured significant financial backing, raising a total of $511 million, with a notable Series C round in October 2019.

The firm's business model is anchored in an online-to-offline (O2O) platform that facilitates IP transactions and provides related services. It serves a diverse clientele, ranging from individual inventors and startups to large corporations like Tencent and Alibaba, as well as universities and research institutes. The platform functions as an online marketplace where businesses can access services for patent analysis, competitive intelligence, and IP portfolio management. Clients can also directly book appointments with freelance business advisors specializing in various fields across regions including Korea, Malaysia, Japan, and China. Revenue generation is multifaceted, with approximately 70% derived from long-term service contracts. The company's core services include IP application and registration, partner scouting, IP litigation support, capital financing, and expert consulting. By creating a liquid market for patents and trademarks, the company aims to allocate IP resources more efficiently.

WTOIP's platform offers a marketplace for buying and selling IP, connecting patent holders with businesses seeking to acquire specific technologies. It has established a global network of partnerships with over 300 technology transfer institutions and more than 500 universities. The company operates through its main online portal, wtoip.com, and has expanded its physical presence with 38 subsidiaries on the Chinese mainland and international operation centers in locations like Hong Kong, Singapore, and Silicon Valley. By December 2018, the platform's membership had exceeded 4.9 million. This extensive network forms what the company calls the "IP Business Ecosystem," a social system with intellectual property at its core. The firm is also exploring the use of emerging technologies like AI and blockchain to enhance its service offerings and operational efficiency.