Meet Stephanie Curcio, RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards Ones to Watch Recipient

Stephanie Curcio is an intellectual property lawyer and the CEO & Co-Founder of NLPatent, an industry-leading artificial intelligence patent search platform used by top law firms, companies, and research universities worldwide. 

Her work at the intersection between AI and patent law has made her a sought-after expert on matters regarding AI & IP, advising national patent offices on AI policy. She holds prominent leadership positions at IP organizations in Canada and the U.S., and has been recognized as a global leader in IP strategy by IAM Strategy 300, and a Powerful Woman in IP by WIPF. 

Her contributions to the innovation economy have recently earned her recognition as one of The DMZ’s Women of the Year and The Peak’s Emerging Leaders in the Legal category.

I knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur when… I was first introduced to language-based AI systems — there was such an obvious use case in intellectual property law. It was a wave I knew I had to be part of, although I never could have predicted how much generative AI was about to change the world! 

Entrepreneurship is made for me because… it offers a unique opportunity to create something new, bringing transformative change to an industry, and making a lasting impact where nothing existed before.

The impact I hope to make through my work is… to truly democratize access to patent data using AI. By making patent research more accessible, efficient, and accurate, I aim to empower innovators, companies, and advisors to drive progress and make better informed business decisions through meaningful IP insights.  

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned on my entrepreneurial journey is… the importance of resilience. The entrepreneurial path is filled with uncertainty and challenges, and it’s crucial to stay determined and adaptable in the face of obstacles.

My proudest accomplishment is… building NLPatent from a kernel of an idea into a platform that our clients love, that’s supporting innovators and driving innovation. Seeing how our work is transforming the way patents are researched across so many industries and making a real impact is incredibly rewarding.

The biggest risk I took that paid off was… rebuilding our language model in 2021. Betting on large language models, which might seem like the obvious choice today, was far from certain at the time. We took a leap of faith, completely rewriting every line of code, and it has been pivotal in our success.

The best advice I’ve received as an entrepreneur was… to listen to your customers. Regularly seeking client feedback and involving early adopters in the design and build process is crucial. Not only does it increase engagement and likelihood that your work will solve real problems, but it also fosters trust and credibility. 

I surprise people when I tell them… that my background isn’t in technology, but in life sciences. My journey began in neuroscience research before I transitioned to law school, where I specialized in intellectual property. This foundation has been instrumental in my leap to founding an AI-driven tech company. Combining a scientific background with legal expertise has allowed me to approach innovation from a strategic angle, blending technical insight with a deep understanding of intellectual property.

If I had an extra hour in the day, I would use it to… learn how to play an instrument. I’ve always dreamed of mastering the violin and learning how to fiddle. I had to give it up during COVID-19 — my neighbors weren’t too thrilled with the noise while everyone was stuck at home!

If you googled me, you still wouldn’t know… that I absolutely love to cook. I make most meals at home and can whip up a gourmet dish with whatever is in the fridge — no recipe needed.

The future excites me because… of the endless possibilities for innovation. We’re witnessing a seismic shift in what’s possible with language-based AI systems, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to be part of this wave of emerging companies driving real change in industries that have been largely stagnant for many years, particularly in the field of intellectual property.

Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn and Instagram.