Startup Professionals Musings
OCTOBER 27, 2014
I always advise software startups to file patents to protect their “secret sauce” from competitors, and to increase their valuation. The good news is that a patent can scare off or at least delay competitors, and as a “rule of thumb” patents can add up to $1M to your startup valuation for investors or M&A exits (merger and acquisition).
Both Sides of the Table
OCTOBER 30, 2014
The practical uses for uBeam technology is limitless. Was there consumer demand? Did anybody hold patents that would prevent us from using this technology? I seldom hire patent attorneys during due diligence but this was too important. We hired IP specialists to review prior art. Was it safe?
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Startup Professionals Musings
DECEMBER 29, 2017
They seem shocked to learn that most professional investors and advisors, myself included, routinely decline such requests, due to costly litigation and administrative nightmares. Get an NDA before detailed patent disclosures. Some entrepreneurs avoid the patent process, since patent details become public once a patent is issued.
Startup Professionals Musings
NOVEMBER 4, 2019
Thus, I’m more impressed with entrepreneurs who ask me to review their implementation plan, rather than listen again to their idea. I suggest you use social media, blogging, crowdfunding, or documented research to quantify a real demand from people who can afford it, and don’t have a better alternative already out there.
socalTECH
AUGUST 18, 2017
For the first time, in a long time, traffic deaths and crashes are rising, due to drunk and drugged driving. Judges, juries, defense, and prosecuters are now expecting and demanding video be produced in the courtroom. How did the company and its technology come about? It's really a big problem out there.
socalTECH
AUGUST 4, 2015
Santa Barbara-based Ice Energy (www.ice-energy.com) has quietly been working away at developing energy storage systems to help smooth out the demand for energy on the nation's power grid. Can you talk about your technology? We have thirteen patents associated with the Ice bear. megawatts of energy.
Startup Professionals Musings
DECEMBER 23, 2013
Of course, every company needs these, in due time. In today’s Internet world, enterprising entrepreneurs have found that they can find out and do almost anything they need, from incorporating the company to filing patents, without expensive consultants, or the cost to hiring and firing employees. Need expensive resources up front.
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