Ankar AI is a London based technology startup building an AI powered platform to modernise how intellectual property and patents are created, analysed, and protected. Founded by former Palantir employees, the company positions itself as an operating system for innovation, aiming to replace slow, fragmented patent workflows with intelligent automation.
As global companies face rising R&D costs and increasingly complex patent landscapes, Ankar is attracting attention from major investors and enterprise customers alike.
What Is Ankar AI?
Ankar AI develops specialised artificial intelligence agents that support the full intellectual property lifecycle. Rather than focusing on a single task, the platform covers everything from early invention analysis to long term patent strategy.
The company’s software is designed for patent attorneys, in house legal teams, research and development departments, and technology led businesses that file patents at scale.
Ankar aims to turn intellectual property from a compliance obligation into a strategic advantage by reducing time, cost, and risk across patent processes.
Who Founded Ankar AI?
Ankar AI was founded in late 2023 by Tamar Gomez and Wiem Gharbi. Both founders previously worked at Palantir, where they gained experience building complex data driven platforms used by large organisations.
Their background in applied AI and enterprise software shaped Ankar’s approach to patents as a system problem rather than a collection of isolated legal tasks.
According to the founders, the patent system has remained largely unchanged for decades despite major advances in technology. Ankar AI was created to close that gap.
Ankar AI Platform and Core Technology
The Ankar AI platform uses purpose built AI agents trained on technical, legal, and patent specific data. These agents assist professionals with high value tasks that typically require extensive manual effort.
Patentability Analysis
Ankar AI rapidly analyses novelty and prior art to assess whether an invention is likely to be patentable. This helps teams decide early whether an idea is worth pursuing, saving time and legal expense.
Patent Drafting Assistant
The platform can automatically generate key sections of patent applications, including claims and technical descriptions. This significantly reduces drafting time while maintaining legal precision and consistency.
Freedom to Operate Searches
Ankar AI conducts fast freedom to operate checks to identify existing patents that could block commercialisation. This is especially valuable for product teams preparing to launch new technologies.
Infringement Detection and Monitoring
The system continuously monitors the intellectual property landscape to identify potential infringements, competitive risks, and licensing opportunities.
Together, these tools provide a unified view of patent strategy that replaces the fragmented mix of spreadsheets, search tools, and manual review processes still common in the industry.
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Ankar AI Funding and Recent Investment
Ankar AI funding has accelerated rapidly as investor interest in AI driven infrastructure for science and innovation grows.
In May 2025, the company raised a £3 million seed round backed by Index Ventures. The funding supported early product development and initial enterprise deployments.
On December 17, 2025, Ankar AI announced a $20 million Series A funding round led by Atomico. The round also included participation from Index Ventures, Norrsken VC, and Daphni.
This Series A places Ankar AI among the most well funded AI patent startups in Europe and signals strong confidence in its approach to modernising intellectual property workflows.
How Ankar AI Plans to Use the Funding
Following the Series A, Ankar AI plans to double its team from around 20 employees, hiring across engineering, product, and customer success roles.
The company also intends to expand into the United States, targeting large technology firms, automotive companies, and research driven organisations that manage extensive patent portfolios.
In parallel, Ankar AI will continue to invest in model development, data partnerships, and enterprise grade security and compliance.
Customers and Early Partnerships
Ankar AI has already begun working with major organisations. One notable partnership includes automotive supplier Valeo, which is using the platform to optimise its patent filing and analysis processes.
The company reports growing interest from Fortune 500 firms, reflecting demand for tools that can reduce patent costs while improving strategic decision making.
Why Ankar AI Matters
Patents sit at the intersection of deep technical knowledge and precise legal reasoning. Historically, this has made automation difficult. Recent advances in AI have changed that equation.
By applying specialised models to patent workflows, Ankar AI enables faster innovation cycles, stronger protection, and better visibility into intellectual property risk.
For many companies, this transforms IP from a cost centre into a competitive asset.
Ankar AI in the Competitive Landscape
The market for AI powered legal and patent software is becoming increasingly crowded. However, Ankar AI differentiates itself through its end to end platform and focus on enterprise scale use cases.
Rather than offering point solutions, Ankar AI is building infrastructure designed to support the entire innovation lifecycle.
This platform approach, combined with experienced founders and strong investor backing, positions the company as a leading player in AI driven patent technology.
What Comes Next for Ankar?
With fresh funding and growing enterprise adoption, The company is entering a critical growth phase. Expansion into the US market and continued product development will be key priorities through 2026.
If successful, Ankar AI could play a central role in reshaping how global organisations protect and commercialise their most important ideas.