Geyser™ partners with university incubators, accelerators, and innovation programs nationwide to give enrolled student inventors free access to our AI-powered provisional patent drafting platform. File your first USPTO provisional patent Pro Se — no attorney required, no drafting fees, no barriers. Just your software or AI invention and a two-hour session.
"I was a UC San Diego student in 1987 when I realized that protecting an idea was just as powerful as having one. I went on to found Rhapsody in 1998 — six provisional patents became US and worldwide patents, helped us raise $6 million in VC while still provisional, and gave us the leverage to survive the dot-com crash and sell twice. Patents made every one of those outcomes possible. I want that moment to happen earlier for every student inventor."
Designed for university & college innovation programs nationwide
The Story Behind the Offer
I was a student at UC San Diego in 1987 when I first started to understand that intellectual property wasn't just a legal concept — it was the engine of a startup. The ability to protect an original idea, to build a defensive moat around something you invented, changes how you think about building a company from day one.
In 1998, I founded Rhapsody and filed six provisional patents. Those provisionals became US and worldwide patents, enabled us to raise $6 million in VC funding while still provisional, survive the dot-com crash by selling to Listen.com, and then sell again to Real Networks in 2003 — where we grew to over one million subscribers. Patents were the key asset in every one of those transactions. That knowledge wasn't handed to me — I had to find it.
I built Geyser™ so that student founders working on AI tools, software, and vibe-coded applications don't have to find it the hard way. With the right tools and the right moment, a provisional patent filing can cost you two hours — not two thousand dollars. This program makes that a reality for students at zero cost.
Graduated from UCSD. The realization that a software idea could be legally owned and defended reshaped how I thought about building a technology company.
Founded Rhapsody, filed six provisionals that became US & worldwide patents, raised $6M in VC while still provisional, sold to Listen.com during the dot-com crash, sold again to Real Networks in 2003 — grew to over 1 million subscribers.
Built a platform that takes student inventors from concept to provisional patent in under two hours, and giving free access to students in innovation programs across the UC system.
What Students Receive
Students enrolled in a Geyser™ partner program receive a free draft credit — the same AI-powered drafting environment used by professional inventors and startup founders. No credit card. No attorney fees for the draft. Most students qualify as USPTO micro-entities and can file Pro Se for just $65. No barriers between your invention and patent pending status.
Students enrolled in a partner program receive a complimentary Geyser™ account — a complete, USPTO-formatted provisional patent draft they can file directly.
Five guided AI modules walk you through brainstorming, prior art research, claim outlining, specification writing, flowcharts, and state diagrams.
Every draft is formatted and structured to be filed Pro Se directly with the USPTO — no attorney required for the initial provisional filing.
Every draft includes patent-pending documentation establishing the human inventor of record — critical for AI-assisted inventions.
Once ready for a non-provisional, students can use PatentFit™ to find the most qualified attorney in their specific technology area — not just the closest one.
Geyser™ is purpose-built for software, AI, and machine learning inventions — the exact technology areas where most student founders are building today.
The Process
Your program director registers as a Geyser™ partner. Enrolled students receive a free draft credit — no payment required.
Students use Geyser's five-module system: concept screening, prior art, claim outlining, specification writing, and flowcharts — all in one session.
The completed provisional draft is structured for direct Pro Se filing with the USPTO — giving the student 12 months of "patent pending" status.
Within 12 months, students can use PatentFit™ to find the best attorney for a non-provisional filing — or continue building with 12 months of protection.
Your students are building software tools, AI applications, and vibe-coded products right now. Most of them have no idea those inventions may be patentable — or that a provisional patent filing can be completed in a single session for as little as $65 in USPTO fees (micro-entity rate).
Partnering with Geyser™ gives your program a tangible, high-value perk — free access to the same AI-powered patent drafting platform used by professional startup founders — at zero cost to your program or institution. You register once. Your students get lifetime access for the duration of their enrollment.
Request a PartnershipCommon Questions
Yes. The USPTO allows anyone to file a provisional patent application Pro Se — meaning without an attorney. A provisional costs as little as $65 for micro-entities and grants 12 months of patent pending status. Geyser™ produces a USPTO-formatted draft ready for direct Pro Se filing.
Yes — and it's been done. Rhapsody, founded in 1998 by UCSD alumnus Tim Bratton, raised $6 million in VC funding while its patents were still provisional. The provisional filings established priority dates and demonstrated defensible IP to investors before any patent was granted. The patents were subsequently granted as US and worldwide patents and were central to two successful M&A exits.
Yes, under the right conditions. Software patents must claim a specific technical process or system — not an abstract idea. AI inventions are patentable when they describe a specific architecture, training method, or application that produces a concrete technical result. Geyser™ is purpose-built for software and AI patent drafting, guiding inventors through the precise claim language the USPTO requires.
A provisional patent application (PPA) establishes a priority filing date with the USPTO and grants 12 months of patent pending status. For student startups, this is critical: it protects the invention while you build, fundraise, or seek licensing deals. It can unlock VC conversations and competitive advantages before a full non-provisional patent is granted — most students qualify as micro-entities and can file directly with the USPTO for $65.
Yes. Every Geyser™ draft includes Proof of Human Conception documentation — a patent-pending process that establishes the human inventor of record for AI-assisted inventions. This is legally required: the USPTO mandates that a human inventor be identified on all patent applications, making this documentation critical for any team using AI tools in their development process.
Program directors email partnerships@patentgeyser.com to register. Once confirmed, enrolled students receive a free draft credit — no per-seat licensing, no contracts. Geyser™ is listed as an official partner of your program, and an optional in-person or virtual workshop with Tim Bratton is available at no charge.
Program directors and incubator managers: register your program and your enrolled students get free access to Geyser™ provisional patent drafting tools within 48 hours. No contracts. No costs. Just better-equipped student inventors.