Mark Lee founded MarqVision in 2020 to address a critical issue: brands losing billions to fake products and stolen intellectual property online. As CEO and co-founder with DK Lee, he uses AI to simplify IP protection, making it faster and more accessible for companies worldwide. His journey combines legal expertise, business strategy, and tech innovation into practical solutions.
Mark Lee built a strong foundation in law, business, and technology early on. He earned an AB in Economics from Harvard University, graduating Phi Beta Kappa, Magna Cum Laude, and as a John Harvard Scholar in the top 5% of his class. He later obtained his JD from Harvard Law School, specializing in trademarks, copyrights, and patents, expertise that directly shaped his entrepreneurial path.
His professional experience began with consulting at McKinsey & Company from November 2013 to November 2015, where he tackled complex challenges for clients, including work in Frankfurt, Germany. From November 2015 to December 2018, he was Head of Product at HonestAI (also known as HonestFund), a South Korean fintech startup, building products that matched user needs with advanced technology. These roles sharpened his skills in strategy, operations, and product development.
Company Launch
While at Harvard Law, Mark attended a 2018 lecture on counterfeiting that highlighted the trillions lost globally to fake goods, piracy, and impersonations. Seeing the need for better tools, he co-founded MarqVision in 2020 and joined Y Combinator’s Summer 2021 batch. The platform scans over 1,500 online marketplaces, automating detection and takedowns to save brands time and resources.
Early challenges included three failed product attempts, but Mark pivoted by listening to customer feedback. Today, MarqVision operates from offices in Los Angeles, Seoul, and Paris, serving clients in over 120 countries, including K-beauty brands and luxury giants like Louis Vuitton.
Leadership
Mark leads with resilience, empathy, and a hands-on approach, often guiding product refinements, market expansions, and tech advancements himself. He sees setbacks as learning opportunities, as he shared: “Once I clearly saw the problem, I had the courage to try solving it.” He fosters a collaborative culture where ideas thrive. His style emphasizes user-first decisions, building diverse teams across time zones united by a shared mission to protect creators.
Through partnerships like Google TCRP and YouTube ECMT, he streamlines complex IP enforcement, making it intuitive. This practical leadership has scaled MarqVision from a startup to a global force, empowering teams to innovate fearlessly.
MarqVision has resolved over 50 million IP infringements, safeguarding an estimated $3.2 billion in brand value. It earned the 2022 LVMH Innovation Award and a spot in their Station F accelerator, along with three years of over 100% annual revenue growth recognized by Forbes Korea. In September 2025, the company secured a $48 million Series B funding round led by Salesforce Ventures, with participation from DST Global Partners, SoftBank, and Y Combinator.
Mark joined the Forbes Technology Council and speaks at events like the Montgomery Summit. Inc. Magazine listed MarqVision among the fastest-growing U.S. companies in 2025. These milestones show how his tools reduce enforcement time, freeing brands to focus on growth.
| Founded MarqVision | 2020 | Launched AI-driven IP protection with co-founder DK Lee https://www.anybody.com/startup/marqvision/founder/mark-lee/ |
| Y Combinator S21 | 2021 | Built networks and refined product https://www.anybody.com/startup/marqvision/founder/mark-lee/ |
| LVMH Innovation Award & Station F | 2022 | Strengthened luxury sector partnerships https://councils.forbes.com/profile/Mark-Lee-CEO-Co-Founder-MarqVision/a9392e16-5789-4441-b5e0-94d87fab095f |
| 50M+ Infringements Handled | 2025 | Protected $3.2B in brand value https://www.linkedin.com/posts/marqvision_forbes-feature-activity-7361873598845730817-xBCb |
| $48M Series B | 2025 | Expanded to 120+ countries https://techcrunch.com/2025/09/15/harvard-law-to-ai-marqvision-lands-48m-to-combat-brand-abuse/ |
Mark stays grounded and approachable, prioritizing results over titles despite his elite Harvard background. He openly shares startup insights on LinkedIn, mentors others on IP challenges in the AI era, and credits his team’s efforts for successes. Described as thoughtful and quietly determined, he bridges U.S. strategy and Asian execution to connect global teams.
Mark envisions MarqVision evolving beyond takedowns to tools for creating, licensing, and managing IP end-to-end. With rising AI threats like deepfakes, he aims for scalable protections accessible to all brands. He is hosting the IPx LA conference to drive innovation and plans continued growth through revenue, partnerships, and user-friendly tech.
