Kick-StartiP
Starting a business? An IP strategy that complements and maps to your business plan from day one is invaluable. It protects your ideas, attracts investors and secures your competitive edge. Our fixed-fee Kick-StartiP service helps start-ups understand, identify and implement that strategy.
Why IP Matters for Start-Ups
Securing your IP isn't just a legal box-ticking exercise. IP is a business asset that:
- Defines the value of your company
- Helps you maximise your commercial advantage
- Gives you exclusivity in your market
- Protects your products, services, processes, and brand
Investors take IP very seriously too. Weak or unprotected IP can reduce a company's valuation by up to 70%, or worse: your potential investors might simply walk away.
You only get one chance to launch your brilliant idea, and wrong decisions early on can be costly and difficult to fix.
Protecting your IP helps you make the most of the opportunity. This means creating a powerful IP strategy for start-ups that works alongside your business plan - from day one.
Ready to prioritise your IP strategy? To find out more about the Kick-StartiP process, contact our IP experts.
Step 1: Innovation Capture Session
The Innovation Capture Session (ICS) is the critical component. Our findings set the IP strategy for the remaining steps and beyond.
We'll meet for a wide-ranging discussion covering, among other things:
- Your business and launch plans
- Your inventive concepts
- The patentability of your invention
- A ‘storyboard’ of the supporting technical detail required
- A possible patent filing strategy
- The importance of secret know-how and how to protect it
- The importance of your brand and how to protect it
- Your IP budget and investor readiness
Step 2: Research (optional)
If the ICS indicates a patent may be appropriate, we can run a patent landscaping search using our in-house AI-assisted tools.
This search is designed to identify prior art that may be relevant when assessing the patentability of your innovations. It can also highlight patent rights held by competitors, helping you to spot potential risks and opportunities early. These insights can prove invaluable when developing and refining your wider IP strategy.
Step 3: Drafting your patent application
We can draft your patent application for a pre-agreed fixed fee. Cost varies based on urgency, complexity, and the technical details you provide.
Step 4: Filing your patent application
We'll file an initial patent application (typically in the UK, at the European Patent Office, or in the US) as determined by your IP strategy.
FAQs About IP for Start-Ups
When should I start thinking about IP?
As soon as possible, otherwise your innovations will not be protected. As a first step, you need to identify what innovation you have as early as possible, and then develop a strategy. Potter Clarkson can help with this.
Do I need a patent, trade mark, or both?
It depends on what you need to protect. We can help you decide and act swiftly to make sure you are protected. And although timing is often critical, we always make sure we fully understand you and your business before offering advice.
Can I trade mark my idea or invention myself?
You can’t trade mark an idea, but you can apply for a patent. The UK government advises that, “Getting a patent is complicated - you are unlikely to get a patent without professional help, and it can take several years.”
Why should I choose Potter Clarkson for my IP audit?
Potter Clarkson is different from more traditional IP firms. With us, you get exceptional expertise, as well as transparency in terms of outcome, and cost.
