MarqVision: Combating Counterfeiting and Trademark Infringement with AI

The Story Begins: While Mark Lee, a Harvard Law student, was studying a trademark class, he discovered the enormous scale of the illicit product counterfeiting industry. This industry, valued at over $3 trillion annually and representing about 8% of global trade, propelled him onto an unexpected entrepreneurial path. Counterfeiting is the largest criminal phenomenon globally, and this market witnessed a 20% annual growth during the COVID-19 pandemic, driven by the significant expansion of digital marketplaces and social media. Lee saw in this global problem an opportunity to solve it using computer vision technology, which was his technological passion at the time. This vision formed the foundation of MarqVision, which he co-founded in 2021. The name "MarqVision" clearly reflects the company's origins; "Marq" is inspired by trademark, and "Vision" from computer vision. Their mission was clear and ambitious: to harness the power of AI-driven computer vision to combat counterfeiting and trademark infringement on a global scale.

What is Counterfeiting?

Counterfeiting: Is the process of making or selling non-original goods that illegally bear a registered trademark, with the aim of deceiving consumers into believing they are genuine products. A counterfeit product is characterized by being identical or substantially indistinguishable from the original trademark, and is usually circulated to benefit from the reputation of the original trademark without permission. Counterfeit products are often of much lower quality and may contain dangerous or toxic materials. (Wikipedia)

What is Trademark Infringement?

Trademark Infringement: Occurs when another party uses a confusingly similar trademark to one owned by another party, leading to consumer confusion about the source of goods or services. While counterfeiting is a blatant form of trademark infringement where the goal is complete falsification, infringement may include using similar but not identical marks, or using the mark on different goods or services, causing confusion. (U.S. Department of Justice)

MarqVision's Growth and Funding

Series B Funding Round: In 2025, the Los Angeles-based startup specializing in AI completed a $48 million Series B funding round, bringing its total raised capital to approximately $90 million. Nearly half of this new funding will be allocated to expanding its AI and engineering teams, aiming to accelerate automation and integrate generative AI across all its products. An additional $10 million was earmarked to make the platform enterprise-ready, as the company shifts its focus towards major brands. Another $10 million will finance regional expansion. MarqVision is already active in the US, Korea, China, and Europe, and is now targeting the Japanese market, underscoring the global nature of intellectual property law and supporting the company's push for international expansion.

Funding Partners and Revenue Successes

Funders: The funding round was led by Peak XV Partners – formerly known as Sequoia Capital India & SEA – with participation from Salesforce Ventures, HSG (formerly known as Sequoia China), Coral Capital, and Michael Seibel, Honorary Partner at Y Combinator. Returning supporters, including YC, Altos Ventures, and Atinum Investment, also joined the round.

Customer Base and Revenue: MarqVision serves over 350 customers worldwide in various industries, including fashion and luxury goods, gaming, pharmaceuticals, entertainment, automotive, and consumer electronics. The startup achieved $1 million in annual recurring revenue within eight months, $10 million in three years, and recently surpassed $20 million after four years, continuously doubling its revenue annually.

AI Redefines Services

The Impact of AI: The "services" sector is being redefined by AI, which offers scalability and efficiency akin to software. This shift has led to increased investor interest, with Peak XV, HSG, and Salesforce Ventures supporting MarqVision's vision. Large Language Models (LLMs) have reshaped the company's position from a "software company with human intervention" to a leader in emerging AI-driven services, sparking fierce competition in its latest funding round.

Evolution of MarqVision's Strategy Towards Revenue Recovery

Shift in Focus: MarqVision began its journey by combating counterfeit products, using AI to detect and remove fake products online. As technology evolved, the startup shifted its focus towards helping brands recover lost revenue directly. Today, many customers report an approximate 5% increase in sales, making the platform valuable not only for legal teams but also for marketing organizations tracking revenue impact.

Brand Protection and Control: A Future Vision

Concept of Protection and Control: Brand protection typically involves detecting and removing infringements such as counterfeit products and impersonation, while brand control goes beyond that, giving companies the ability to manage their presence across e-commerce, social media, websites, and chat platforms. Looking ahead, MarqVision's roadmap includes providing accurate brand information, and offering valuable insights into supply chains, pricing strategies, and distributor networks.

MarqVision's Final Vision

Ambitious Vision: MarqVision's vision is to be the backbone of every global brand with intellectual property – to become the leading AI-powered service platform for IP, content, and brand professionals worldwide.