New USPTO rule: from July 20, 2026, foreign founders need a U.S.-registered practitioner to file.
Idea Clerk by Paximal
How the smartest startups get U.S. Patent Pending — confidently and safely.
Built on Paximal — the patent technology trusted by leading law firms. Made for startup founders and innovators, anywhere in the world.
Start free — no credit card. Complete a formal Invention Disclosure in minutes.
U.S.-based & U.S.-stored
Never used to train AI
Never shared
SOC 2
Built on Paximal — trusted by leading INNOVATORS
How it works
From idea to patent pending in three steps
1
Capture your idea
Start free — create your account and complete a formal Invention Disclosure at no cost. Upload your materials and answer a few clarifying questions; no credit card required.
2
Let us build your case
We generate a clear Invention Disclosure and a professional provisional patent application.
3
Protect & impress
File your USPTO-ready application yourself, or have an independent USPTO-registered attorney review and file it for you — and signal strength to investors.
Need (or want) an attorney? We facilitate USPTO-registered practitioner review and filing — required if you’re based outside the U.S.
For founders abroad →
Why Idea Clerk
Built for serious startups, not bargain-bin filings
Patent quality, not just speed
Applications built to hold up under examination — not cookie-cutter forms.
Designed for founders
Guides you from a blank page — no patent law or copilot wrangling required.
Run by patent experts
Built by engineers and patent attorneys on Paximal’s proven engine.
Attorney review when it counts
Bring in a USPTO-registered practitioner to review and file — seamlessly.
Innovating outside the U.S.? You can still get U.S. patent pending.
As of July 20, 2026, foreign-domiciled inventors must be represented by a U.S.-registered patent practitioner. We organize everything and connect you with the right attorney.
For founders abroad
Pricing
Simple. Transparent.
One plan. Everything you need to get to U.S. patent pending.
Start Free
$0
free
1 Formal Invention Disclosure document
Upgrade anytime to file your provisional patent
Idea Clerk Assistant for startup IP guidance
Export for investor review & recordkeeping
No credit card. Complete a formal Invention Disclosure free, then upgrade to file when you’re ready.
Idea Clerk · Annual
$199
/ year
Everything in Free, plus 3 disclosures
1 patent application included
Idea Clerk Assistant for startup IP guidance
Export for investor review & recordkeeping
Additional patents and attorney review & managed filing available as add-ons (required for foreign-domiciled founders). Plus USPTO government fees.
Security & data protection
Your invention stays yours.
Idea Clerk runs on Paximal — the same secure platform trusted by leading law firms. Private, protected, and fully under your control.
The same platform law firms trust
Built on Paximal’s infrastructure — made for the confidentiality patent professionals demand.
U.S.-based, end to end
All data is stored and processed in the United States, by a U.S. company.
Never used to train AI
Your inventions are never used to train AI models — ours or anyone’s.
Never shared or sold
Your materials are never shared with third parties. Full stop.
Encrypted, always
Encrypted in transit and at rest — you own and control your IP at all times.
SOC 2 certified
Paximal’s platform is SOC 2 certified — independently audited security controls.
Social proof
Trusted by the people founders trust
Idea Clerk gives founders a serious head start. The disclosures are clear and the drafts are genuinely strong — exactly what you want before counsel gets involved.
Ross Burningham
Gunderson Dettmer
The quality is the difference. This isn't a fill-in-the-blanks form — it produces applications that hold up under scrutiny.
Ben Esplin
Esplin & Associates
Founders move fast. Idea Clerk lets them protect what they build without slowing down or blowing the budget.
William Hsu
Mucker Capital
Innovation moves fast. So should patents.
Get to U.S. patent pending with confidence — do it yourself, or bring in a registered attorney when you should.