Founding Partner, AI Patent Law
Pad Alce is an investor with Duke Capital Partners and the founder of AI Patent Law, a boutique patent law firm specializing in artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. Known for his deep expertise in AI patents, Pad has secured several hundred granted patents for clients worldwide, including startups and established tech companies.
Before the current AI boom (i.e., before ChatGPT was a “thing”), AI Patent Law pioneered industry-leading strategic AI patent counsel that now supports ~60 AI-focused companies, from seed-stage startups to unicorns and even centaur-level enterprises. Over the course of Pad’s career, his clients have collectively raised over $2 billion in venture capital and achieved exits exceeding $4 billion.
Pad holds an engineering degree from N.C. State University, where he was also a cornerback for the Wolfpack Football team. He later earned his J.D./M.B.A. from Campbell University and a Master of Laws in Law & Entrepreneurship from Duke University.
Currently based in Charlotte, Pad enjoys spending time with his wife, Shonda, and their sons, Aiden and Elijah, who keep life exciting.