Both Sides of the Table

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The Audacious Plan to Make Electricity as Easy as WiFi

Both Sides of the Table

Here is where having Marc Berte and a team out of MIT who have designed systems like this for years gave one confidence we could do something others couldn’t copy and at price points that could make us market leaders over night. We hired IP specialists to review prior art. We grilled their IP attorneys.

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Remind Me Why I Love You? (Why “In Person” is Everything)

Both Sides of the Table

It’s predictable, there is no reason to get mad about it and with a well-designed play book you can overcome this much of the time. I then had to review a nefarious IP lawsuit filed against another company and help the CEO figure out whether we should just pay it or join forces with the other companies named and fight it.

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How to Work with Lawyers at a Startup

Both Sides of the Table

Shame about not getting it in legal writing that you owned the original IP. I know he’s smart but you wouldn’t hire a Javascript developer to do your database design – would you? But as with consulting, PR, web design and even VC – it’s not just the firm it’s also the individual.

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Should Startups Focus on Profitability or Not?

Both Sides of the Table

If you spent the 3 years perfecting some hugely differentiated technology IP that may also be different. Income statements are designed according to accounting standards that are designed to “match revenues & costs in the period for which they should be attributed.” ” Quick examples: 1.

Startup 418
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Why You Should Embrace Opposing Views at Your Startup

Both Sides of the Table

Let’s see if there is anything we can learn about our behavior – good lessons or bad ones – that will inform our product design in the future.” I talked to one company who had build really differentiated IP and had great customer traction. Check it out.

Startup 313
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What Should You Send a VC Before Your Meeting?

Both Sides of the Table

These are artifacts of a sales process designed to get you back in front of the VC and have further engagement. Compelling. Visually stunning (in this day and age this is becoming a sine qua non ). These separate decks are part of your fund-raising process and not something you provide in bulk to a VC asking to see your data room.

Portfolio 261
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Most Common Early Start-up Mistakes

Both Sides of the Table

To the best of my knowledge US law allows you to work on your own resources and in your own hours and let you personally own your IP. In some countries outside the US (the UK for example) employers can specify in an employment contract that ANY IP you develop while you’re employed by that company is owned by them.