Lunch + Learn: IP Considerations for Leaders of Innovation-rich Startups

Founders/CEOs of startups are extremely busy and spread thin by multitasking – from strategizing, fundraising, marketing, building the business, etc. These demands on an entrepreneur leave little time for contemplating Intellectual Property (“IP”) considerations or taking appropriate steps to protect one’s innovations.

However, failing to do so and overlooking your IP, can haunt your company later down the road – particularly as your IT grows, matures and potentially becomes more disruptive to your competitors and others in your respective market.

In this no-holds-barred, purposely non-legal discussion, we will tear down the legalese and take a very pragmatic and business-oriented approach to exploring some of the basic, foundational considerations start-up leaders should be thinking about. This talk is particularly relevant to those companies that see themselves as disruptive – i.e., disrupting entrenched old-school competitors, who over the years may have had the time and resources to build up formidable patent portfolios or other IP positions, that can be used to “slow down” new incumbents threatening their space and/or the very viability of their business model.

True to his pragmatic, “call-it-as-he-sees-it nature,” Dr. Hetzel will avoid the legal jargon and share his candid personal journey as a fellow entrepreneur, in building value in several IP-centric ventures. He will discuss viewpoints on practical steps/actions that start-up founders can take to be vigilant and to protect their businesses immediately, as well as how they can create long-term value through various strategic IP maneuvers. Specifically we will discuss:

• WHY you should care about IP.
• WHAT IP protections are available to you as entrepreneurs of young ventures, and what considerations should be made in determining which to leverage.
• WHICH macro trends in US IP landscape you should pay attention to, why and what their impact on new ventures is.
• HOW to use patents and/or trade secrets to protect your innovations.
• HOW to invest a little now, so to reap potentially big rewards later.
• WHO you can partner with: you don’t have to go it alone – partner you way to success!

About the Presenter:

David Hetzel is CEO/founder of Prism IP Solutions, LLC, a boutique West Coast-based consultancy that partners with innovative start-ups and pioneering inventors empower them to be “IP smart” and leverage/monetize their patented inventions. Prism IP works with forward-thinking clients who are driving exciting and many time disruptive ventures, so to help founders “offload” IP concerns and allow new venture executives to focus on growing their core businesses.

Over the past decade, the playing field in the US has been tilted in favor of Big Tech, and Prism IP aims to level that field by advising startups on creative, sound IP strategies. Specifically, Prism IP brings the IP know-how, legal expertise and access to risk capital so to provide innovative IP-rich start-ups with compelling solutions. The firm has been active with entrepreneurial clients in a multitude of tech industries, ranging from drones/UAVs to ARVR to IoT and LED lighting, to name a few.

Prior to launching Prism IP, and other IP ventures, David spent 20 years in the corporate world — working in leadership roles at IP departments of Fortune 50 multinational corporations, billion-dollar IP/alternative asset investment funds along with advising foreign governments on IP monetization matters.
David is a graduate of Chicago Kent College of Law at the IL Institute of Technology, as well as Stanford University. David resides in the Seattle Sound area with his wife, two daughters and shelter dog.