Posts Tagged ‘Angel Investors’
Using Patents as Blackmail
A case study on why you need the right inventors agreements for a startup: a former employee turns patent troll. My company finances patents for small to medium sized companies, so I often get inquires from people who want to build out a patent portfolio. A while ago, I received a call from an inventor…
Read MoreStartup Fundraising – Pluses and Minuses
From bootstrapping to venture funds, there are many different avenues. Fundraising for a startup company often takes more skill, talent, and innovation than creating the product or service you want to deliver. I deal with IP-centric businesses where patents are a core asset, and that implies that the entrepreneur is creative, innovative, and tries new…
Read MoreI’m A Recovering Patent Attorney
What is Really Wrong with the Patent System I am a “recovering patent attorney.” I became a patent attorney after years as an engineer. I went to a patent attorney and I expected my patent attorney to help me, but I was sorely disappointed. I was so disappointed that I took the Patent Bar Exam,…
Read MoreThe Light Bulb is the Worst Symbol of Invention
Invention is the heavy lifting of 1000’s of failed experiments, not a grand vision that pops into someone’s head. The light bulb is the universal symbol of “invention.” It is the worst – and best – example of invention, but not in the way you think it is. Invention has been portrayed in lore as…
Read MoreCramdowns, Receivership, Bankruptcy – Why Patent Financing is Good for Founders and Angels.
Photo by Scott Osborn on Unsplash BlueIron’s patent financing puts your IP in a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) – an LLC that holds your patents. It can be thought of as a lease with a buyout option – similar to leasing a car. A special feature is that it can help you survive a cramdown,…
Read MoreThe Entrepreneur and the Angel Investor – The Story of Bad IP Protection.
An angel investor will ask the entrepreneur “Do you have a patent?” The next thing the entrepreneur does is run out and gets a patent. Is this smart? Note: this excerpt is from my forthcoming book “Startup IP Strategy.” Photo by Tommaso Pecchioli on Unsplash The calculus is simple to the entrepreneur: they think a…
Read MoreThe Patent System is Broken – but not in the way you think it is.
The patent system has some weird quirks that makes it feel broken. In truth, you do not want to know how the sausage gets made at the Patent Office, and patent laws are all weirdly nuanced with few bright lines. That is just the way it is. The real problem is the patent applicants, not…
Read MoreColorado Code Craft Receives Patent Financing Investment from BlueIron IP
PRESS RELEASE – Loveland, Colorado – Colorado CodeCraft, a Denver-based software security and virtual reality company, is using BlueIron’s unique patent financing to keep their costs under control, but more importantly, get better patent protection than they could get anywhere. Under BlueIron’s financing, Colorado CodeCraft delays paying for their patents, but gets a much stronger…
Read MorePatents Need to Make Business Sense
Patents can be part of an overall business strategy, but they need to make business sense. In our business of investing and financing patent portfolios, we can only invest in patents that have real commercial value. From the startup’s perspective, there are several ways that a patent can have value. Merely having a patent pending…
Read MoreAngel Funding Through BlueIron
BlueIron acts as an angel investor, co-investing in your company. The big difference: BlueIron does not dilute your shares. BlueIron invests, on average, $40,000 for each patent your company has. If you do 5 patents, BlueIron will invest about $200,000. If you have 10 patents, BlueIron invests about $400,000. BlueIron’s investment goes into assets that…
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