A patent agency built for the climate transition.
We started the CPC because climate tech founders deserve better than what the old model offers.
How we got here.
Alex began his patent career at Fenwick & West, where he worked on applications for companies including Airbnb, Apple, Dropbox, Facebook, and Uber. He later joined a boutique practice serving venture-backed startups, which gave him the opportunity to work more directly with founders and help shape patent strategy alongside the companies’ technical and commercial plans.
Over time, he found himself most drawn to climate technologies — and to the particular challenges their founders faced. Climate companies often spend years developing and validating their technology, and many rely on grants, project financing, strategic partnerships, and venture capital at different stages. Some also need to think internationally much earlier than a typical software startup.
Alex founded the Climate Patent Collective in 2023 to build a patent practice around those realities. Today, we work with climate companies across areas including carbon removal, ecosystem restoration, EV charging, heat pumps, energy systems, advanced manufacturing, and mobility. We have also built relationships with the investors and accelerators supporting those companies.
The goal is not simply to file patents, but to help climate founders build portfolios that reflect where their technology is going, what gives the company an advantage, and what the business can realistically support.
Meet the team.
Founder & Patent Agent
Alex Flake
Alex Flake is the founder of the Climate Patent Collective and a registered patent agent focused on climate and deep technology.
Before founding CPC, Alex practiced at Fenwick & West and at a boutique patent firm serving venture-backed startups. He has prepared patent applications for companies ranging from early-stage technical teams to businesses including Airbnb, Apple, Dropbox, Facebook, and Uber.
Contract Patent Agent
Danielle Dubno
Danielle is a patent agent with more than four years of in-house, boutique firm, and big law experience. She has drafted and prosecuted patents for companies of all sizes and stages, on technologies ranging from AR gaming to AI-driven precision machining to high-efficiency fuel cells. She has a degree in general engineering with an emphasis in environmental sciences from Harvey Mudd College.
Outside of work, Danielle sews, makes crafts, and hangs out with her cats.
Advisors.
Advisor
Robert Sachs
Bob is one of the most well-known patent lawyers in Silicon Valley. He spent nearly 19 years as a partner at Fenwick & West, has published over 150 articles on patent eligibility and patent law, presented at over 30 conferences, and currently serves as Vice Chair of the Intellectual Property Owner's Section 101 Legislative Task Force. He has also participated in amicus briefs before the Federal Circuit and Supreme Court. His former clients include Google, Dreamworks, Dropbox, McKesson, PriceSCAN, and Vulcan.
VC Advisor
Mehrad Yaghmai
Mehrad is a partner at Cool Climate Collective, where he invests in and supports early-stage climate tech founders. Before that, he was the Program Director of Terra's Climate Change for VCs program and a partner at Climate Foundry. He has also mentored multiple Techstars cohorts.
Ready to build your portfolio?
Book a free 30-minute consultation. We’ll map out exactly what you need and what it will cost before you commit to anything.