MarqVision Secures $48M to Fight Brand Abuse with AI - Harvard Law

The Unexpected Path from Law School to Entrepreneurship

While studying law at Harvard University, Mark Lee encountered the immense problem of counterfeiting during a trademark course. This exposure to an illicit trade valued at over $3 trillion annually unexpectedly steered him toward a career in entrepreneurship.

Lee initially envisioned a traditional legal career, influenced by his family’s background. However, his experience at Harvard Law School prompted him to reassess this path, as he began to explore alternative opportunities.

Discovering a Global Problem and a Technological Solution

A trademark class revealed that counterfeiting represents the world’s largest criminal enterprise, accounting for approximately 8% of global commerce – a staggering $3 trillion in traded counterfeit goods each year. Lee observed that the market was experiencing a 20% annual growth rate, particularly fueled by the expansion of online marketplaces and social media during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He recognized this as a widespread issue that could potentially be addressed through the application of computer vision technology, a field he was passionate about.

The Founding of MarqVision

This realization served as the foundation for MarqVision, co-founded by Lee in 2021. The company’s name is derived from “trademark” (Marq) and “computer vision” (Vision), reflecting its core focus.

The company’s objective was ambitious: to utilize AI-powered computer vision to combat counterfeiting and trademark violations on a global scale.

Significant Funding and Future Expansion

By 2025, MarqVision, headquartered in Los Angeles, had secured $48 million in a Series B funding round, bringing the total funding raised to approximately $90 million.

Allocation of Funds

Approximately half of this new capital will be dedicated to expanding the AI and engineering teams, accelerating automation and integrating generative AI into the product suite.

An additional $10 million will be used to enhance the platform’s enterprise readiness as the company targets larger brands. A further $10 million will support regional expansion, with a current presence in the U.S., Korea, China, and Europe, and a planned entry into Japan.

Investor Support

The funding round was led by Peak XV Partners, with participation from Salesforce Ventures, HSG, Coral Capital, and Michael Seibel of Y Combinator. Existing investors, including YC, Altos Ventures, and Atinum Investment, also contributed.

The Role of AI in Transforming Service Delivery

Lee explained that investors are increasingly seeking technology companies that leverage AI to not only improve productivity but also to fundamentally change how services are delivered.

AI is expanding the potential software market from simply improving efficiency to actually performing the work itself, creating a market opportunity exceeding $10 trillion. MarqVision stands out as an early-growth company with significant scale and traction in this evolving landscape.

Customer Growth and Revenue

MarqVision currently serves over 350 customers across diverse industries, including fashion, 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 surpassed $20 million after four years, demonstrating consistent annual growth.

Ambitious Revenue Goals

“Our goal is $100 million ARR by mid-2027,” Lee stated. He emphasized that the company prioritized customer experience and building a scalable AI foundation, enabling monetization of various offerings focused on helping brands control their digital presence and increase revenue.

AI Redefining the "Services" Category

The perception of “services” as a technology category is being redefined by AI, which introduces software-like scalability and efficiency. This shift has attracted investor interest, as evidenced by the backing from Peak XV, HSG, and Salesforce Ventures.

The emergence of large language models has repositioned MarqVision from a “software company with human oversight” to a leader in the emerging AI-driven services sector, resulting in strong competition during its latest funding round.

From Counterfeit Detection to Revenue Recovery

MarqVision initially focused on identifying and removing counterfeit products online. However, the company has evolved to help brands directly recover lost revenue.

Clients are now reporting an average sales increase of around 5%, making the platform valuable not only to legal teams but also to marketing organizations tracking revenue impact.

Reimagining Brand Protection

Lee initially envisioned MarqVision as a $5 billion software company. However, guidance from Y Combinator partner Michael Seibel led him to consider a broader approach, reimagining how IP and brand professionals operate.

This led to the expansion into end-to-end managed services, an opportunity now estimated to be 100 times larger than his original plan.

Expanding Beyond Protection to Control and Intelligence

While brand protection traditionally focuses on removing infringements, brand control encompasses managing a company’s presence across various digital platforms. Lee highlighted the future roadmap includes brand intelligence, providing insights into supply chains, pricing, and reseller networks.

“Our vision is to be the core platform for every global brand that owns IP – the AI-led services platform for IP, content, and brand professionals worldwide,” Lee concluded.