- Founder selected at Endeavor’s 70th International Selection Panel
- AI-powered IP platform serves more than 10,000 customers in over 50 countries
Sabah-born Jeffrey Tiong, founder and CEO of Patsnap, has been selected as an Endeavor Entrepreneur at Endeavor’s 70th International Selection Panel (ISP), joining a global network of entrepreneurs scaling ambitious Singapore, Patsnap began as a patent search tool before evolving into an AI-powered platform for intellectual property (IP) due diligence and research and development (R&D) decision-making. The company achieved unicorn status in 2021 and now serves more than 10,000 customers in over 50 countries, including global corporations such as Tesla, Micron and Bose, alongside law firms such as Andrus, Wilson Sonsini and Reed Smith.
The International Selection Panel brings together experienced entrepreneurs, investors and <a s local teams and, where appropriate, may also access co-investment from Endeavor Catalyst. In return, they commit to paying it forward by mentoring and backing the next generation of entrepreneurs.
“What Tiong has built with Patsnap is remarkable, and I’m proud to welcome him to the Endeavor family. Mark my words: this is only the beginning, and the next chapter will be even grander,” Amr Shady, board director of Endeavor Egypt, Endeavor Saudi ambassador, and co-founder and CEO of Accord Partners, said. Shady was one of the panellists during Tiong’s selection.
The idea for Patsnap came from a problem Tiong encountered firsthand. While studying at the National University of Singapore, he participated in an overseas entrepreneurship programme that took him to Philadelphia to work at a medical device startup while studying part-time at the Wharton School. There, he saw how patent research was hampered by fragmented information across jurisdictions, technical complexity and the time required to analyse it.
Recognising an opportunity to make this information more accessible and useful, Tiong founded Patsnap to help organisations navigate complex patent data and make better-informed decisions. Nearly two decades later, the company has grown well beyond its original search capabilities, supporting businesses as they assess intellectual property and explore opportunities for innovation.
“Building Patsnap has been a long journey, and I’ve learned a great deal along the way. I’m grateful for the people who have been part of that journey, and I see joining Endeavor as an opportunity to connect with other founders who are navigating their own challenges. I’m also looking forward to finding ways to contribute to the entrepreneurial community in Malaysia and share what I’ve learned along the way,” Tiong said.
“Tiong is the kind of founder Endeavor exists to champion. He started Patsnap as a student in Singapore with a bold idea: patent data shouldn’t be accessible only to lawyers. He turned it into a global platform that R&D and IP teams rely on every day. What impressed me most is the patience and discipline behind that journey: nearly two decades spent building a category rather than chasing one. Patsnap shows that world-class technology companies can be built from anywhere,” Pedro Arnt, Endeavor Entrepreneur and CEO of dLocal, said. Arnt also sat on the panel for Tiong’s selection.
“Tiong’s journey with Patsnap is a reminder that globally relevant businesses can be built by identifying problems worth solving and staying with them over the long term. His story reflects Endeavor’s belief in the potential of entrepreneurs building beyond established innovation hubs like Silicon Valley and China, in markets we call ‘Elsewhere’. Having spent nearly two decades building Patsnap, Tiong brings a valuable perspective to our community. We’re proud to welcome him to Endeavor Malaysia and look forward to the connections and contributions that will come from this,” Shan Li Tay, managing director of Endeavor Malaysia, said.
The 70th International Selection Panel brought together six business leaders from across the global entrepreneurial ecosystem: Luca Ferrari, co-founder and CEO of Bending Spoons; Pedro Arnt, CEO of dLocal; Adolfo Babatz, co-founder and CEO of Clip; Philippe Teixeira da Mota, co-founder of Shapers; Felipe Almeida, co-founder and CEO of Neospace; and Amr Shady, co-founder and CEO of Accord Partners. Their collective experience across technology, fintech, venture building and investment brought a global perspective to the selection process.
