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Introduction
In the dynamic world of technology and entrepreneurship, innovators constantly search for ways to simplify complex systems. Daniel Ruskin, a prodigious talent who began his career at just 14 years old, is now poised to revolutionize the patent application process through his latest venture, Inventex. By combining artificial intelligence with legal expertise, Ruskin aims to make patents more accessible, faster, and smarter for startups and enterprises alike.
At Trenzest, we’re passionate about highlighting groundbreaking innovations like Inventex. Understanding how emerging technologies disrupt traditional industries is crucial for tech enthusiasts, entrepreneurs, and marketers navigating the future.
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Early Beginnings: From Coinbase to Startups
Daniel Ruskin’s career trajectory defies convention. As a teenager passionate about coding, Ruskin landed freelance development gigs through Reddit, often being paid in Bitcoin. His big break came when he boldly cold-emailed Coinbase’s head of operations, landing a role where he contributed significantly to the platform’s early scaling.
“I didn’t write the v0 codebase, but I did write a lot of software that brought us from 1 to 10,” Ruskin shared.
After four impactful years at Coinbase, Ruskin pivoted to higher education, attending law school while launching startups along the way. One notable venture focused on election security, where he even secured a technology patent — an experience that exposed him to the inefficiencies of the patent system and planted the seeds for Inventex.
The Birth of Inventex
In December 2024, Ruskin officially launched Inventex in Salt Lake City. His vision: drastically accelerate the traditional patent process by leveraging AI and licensed attorneys working in tandem. According to Ruskin, Inventex enables companies to achieve patent-pending status 10x faster — reducing a months-long process to just days.
Investors quickly took notice. Within a month, Inventex raised $2.4 million in a pre-seed round, led by Conviction Capital, Coinbase co-founder Fred Ehrsam, and Cambrian Ventures, among others. The funding round valued the company at $10 million — a testament to the industry’s belief in the necessity of Ruskin’s solution.
How Inventex Works: Streamlining Patents with AI
Inventex’s platform operates by analyzing technical data provided by clients — including source code, design documents, and technical specifications. AI agents identify novel inventions that meet legal standards for patentability. They also conduct prior art searches to distinguish clients’ innovations from existing work.
Importantly, Inventex doesn’t just automate drafting; it optimizes it. AI models are fine-tuned for specific technical fields, ensuring that the patent applications are precise and strong. Licensed attorneys supervise and refine the work, combining deep technical understanding with legal expertise.
“Traditional attorneys often don’t fully grasp the contours of the inventions they’re protecting. Our agents are true experts in their fields,” Ruskin explained.
This hybrid AI-human model delivers patents of higher quality, faster, and at a lower cost compared to traditional firms.
Industry Validation and Early Traction
Inventex’s traction has been nothing short of impressive. The startup boasts over $250,000 in annual recurring revenue (ARR) in its early pipeline, with clients ranging from publicly traded companies to high-growth startups like Dirac.
Ruskin’s model has garnered strong endorsements from his network. Maksim Stepanenko, a former Coinbase colleague and now founder of Operator, became an early angel investor. Rex Salisbury of Cambrian Ventures praised Ruskin’s rare combination of speed, expertise, and entrepreneurial spirit:
“Daniel helped build two unicorns (Coinbase and Checkr) before graduating college. Now with Inventex, he’s executing at an extraordinary velocity.”
Inventex currently has a small but mighty team: three full-time engineers and several contract patent attorneys. Despite its size, the company has been doubling its growth month-over-month, fueled by word-of-mouth referrals and VC partnerships.
Building a Future of Accessible Innovation
Inventex’s long-term vision extends beyond startups. Ruskin envisions licensing their drafting tools to law firms, enabling traditional players to deliver faster, higher-quality patents to their clients.
This evolution could fundamentally reshape the patent industry. Currently, 90% of the cost and time associated with filing a patent go toward drafting. Ruskin predicts that within five years, drafting will account for just 10%, allowing attorneys to focus more on strategic advising — a shift that could democratize access to patents for innovators of all sizes.
Before Inventex, Ruskin experimented with a similar concept through a venture called Motif, which laid the groundwork for today’s more robust and scalable offering.
For entrepreneurs looking to secure their intellectual property more efficiently, companies like Inventex represent the future — a future that Trenzest actively monitors and supports by sharing insights and strategies on leveraging AI for business growth.
Conclusion: The Future of Inventex and Innovation
Daniel Ruskin’s journey from teenage coder to serial entrepreneur reflects a remarkable blend of technical genius, strategic foresight, and relentless drive. With Inventex, he isn’t just improving the patent process; he’s reimagining it for the AI era.
As the company continues to scale, its impact on innovation could be profound, making it faster, cheaper, and easier for startups and enterprises to protect their breakthroughs.
At Trenzest, we believe that companies like Inventex will pave the way for a future where innovation isn’t hindered by bureaucracy but accelerated by intelligent technology.
