MONETIZING IP and TECH TRANSFER The Patent Attorney’s Perspective Sean Solberg Davis Brown Law Firm
Panelist Sean Solberg Prosecution/Portfolio Management/Patentability and FTO Analyses/IP Due Diligence Startup/Fortune 500/Tech Transfer Clients Ag/Biotech/Medical Device SeanSolberg@davisbrownlaw.com 515-246-7859
Start-up Goal: FUNDING (The IP Beauty Pageant) IP strategy vs. funding = catch 22? To protect your technology and reduce risk of patent infringement – you first need $$$ To get $$$ – you first need to protect your technology and reduce risk of patent infringement Tech Company Business Plan Must Address Intellectual Property Think about your target – INVESTORS Investors - freedom to operate as important or more important than patent applications/patent portfolio Venture capitalists (VCs) rarely sign confidentiality agreements IP on a Budget Provisional application Preliminary freedom to operate (FTO) analysis
Success Story: Virtual Incision Corporation First application filed at Univ. of Nebraska: 2003 License to Virtual Incision: 2006 Early Investment: angels and small VCs Three CEOs December 2017 - $18 million investment
Thank you for your time! Questions? Sean Solberg SeanSolberg@davisbrownlaw.com 515-246-7859