Announcing our $3.2M Seed Round Led by General Catalyst

SAN FRANCISCO, March 11, 2025 – Podqi, the automated IP protection platform transforming how brands defend their digital rights, today announced it has raised $3.2 million in seed funding. The round was led by General Catalyst, with participation from Soma Capital, Afore Capital, and strategic angel investors, and positions Podqi to lead in addressing the rapidly evolving challenges of IP protection in the digital age.

In an era where the online counterfeit market exceeds $1 trillion and grows 20% year-over-year, companies and brands face unprecedented difficulties in protecting their IP assets. With the rise of ultra-fast fashion and instant viral products, malicious actors can now leverage AI content generation to fully impersonate storefronts in hours. These deceptive sites steal content directly from official sources and licensees, misleading consumers and manipulating search engine results to appear on the front page of Google within days. 

Podqi's platform automates the entire IP protection process from detection to takedown, scanning millions of potential infringements daily and enabling immediate enforcement at a scale previously impossible.

"Every brand selling products online faces the same challenge – the faster you grow, the more aggressively counterfeiters target you," said Trevor West, CEO and co-founder of Podqi. "We're building Podqi to turn the tables on infringers. Instead of playing defense, we help brands proactively protect their IP and unlock new revenue streams through licensing and enforcement. The companies and brands that work with us see counterfeits as an opportunity to identify potential licensees and recover lost revenue."

The Podqi story began years before its founding: Trevor and Ivan met in middle school, and Ivan and Jesse were freshman year roommates studying computer science at Penn. After building their careers at Microsoft and Google respectively, they saw an opportunity to leverage new advances with AI models to rethink what has traditionally been a tedious, reactive process for actioning IP infringements. The three longtime friends left their jobs to create a platform built to protect the fastest-growing brands in culture.

In less than a year, Podqi has grown from a handful of early customers to now working with multi-national brands across entertainment, luxury, sports, and fashion. Take streetwear phenomenon Hellstar, whose pieces have been spotted on cultural icons from Young Thug and Kai Cenat to NFL and NBA players alike. In just two months of partnership, Podqi removed 7,000 counterfeit listings and over 100 fake websites, eliminating an estimated $4.5MM+ in infringer revenue. “'What previously required 2-3 full-time employees can now be accomplished automatically through our platform,” notes West. Podqi has helped its customers identify and action millions of dollars worth of infringing product to protect their bottom lines.

"We invested in Podqi because the team is solving an important problem: IP infringement, which is increasingly top of mind for everyone — from brands and entertainers to the music and sports industry,” said Marc Bhargava, Managing Director at General Catalyst. “Co-founders Trevor, Jesse, and Ivan are a trusted team with a long history together. They move fast, envision the right product, and successfully sell into industries that have historically been slower to innovate."

Through relationships with industry-leading organizations like Licensing International, Podqi has established itself as the comprehensive solution for modern brand protection. The company has already attracted an impressive roster of strategic advisors, including Ellis Lindsey, Brand CFO & COO at Essilor Luxxotica; and Stuart Pollock, Board Member of Licensing International. 

The new funding will accelerate Podqi's development of its proprietary IP database and expansion into digital asset protection, building on its success in physical goods enforcement. The company plans to deepen its marketplace and platform partnerships while working with several prominent law firms in the U.S. and abroad to expand its automated evidence gathering and enforcement capabilities.

"Every iconic brand started with an idea and grew by protecting that creative vision," adds West. "We're building the infrastructure that turns IP protection from a defensive luxury into an offensive necessity for anyone selling a product online. Whether you're a viral social media brand, a legendary music group, or a historic cultural icon, Podqi ensures that the expansion of your IP becomes a driver of growth rather than a source of lost revenue."

About Podqi

Podqi protects and monetizes intellectual property for the world's most innovative brands. Founded by Trevor West, Ivan Esmeral, and Jesse Xu, the company serves culturally relevant brands experiencing rapid growth and high levels of counterfeit activity, as well as IP law firms seeking efficient and scalable solutions for their clients. For more information, visit www.podqi.com.