Gust

JANUARY 4, 2012

Many thanks to David Rose , Ilana Grossman , Justin Stanwix , and the whole Gust team for making the Gust Blog such a valuable platform and resource for entrepreneurs and angel investors. What kind of advantage will this create vs. our competitors ? How much is it worth investing in cultivating and enforcing an IP portfolio ?

Intellectual Property 143

Intellectual Property IP Startup United States 143

Gust

DECEMBER 22, 2011

Having covered all the bases to ensure that your corporate name is available, the domain name can be acquired, and the name doesn’t infringe any existing trademarks (as we discussed last week ), now is a good time to look at the categories of intellectual property (IP) that are relevant to most startups. Intellectual property.

Intellectual Property 149

Intellectual Property Technical Review Software Review IP 149

Gust

DECEMBER 1, 2011

When meeting with early stage entrepreneurs for the first time, after reviewing a demo or hearing their pitch, I often ask them to articulate what they’re most focused on building. I don’t fault entrepreneurs for relegating startup legal work to the bottom of their daily triage list; founders are spread incredibly thin. Good stuff!

IP 114

IP Intellectual Property Equity Liquidity Event 114

Gust

FEBRUARY 16, 2014

I “second the message” that chaos never subsides, from a couple of successful entrepreneurs, Clate Mask and Scott Martineau, in their book “ Conquer the Chaos.” Don’t count on your IP to save you. Even great entrepreneurs are amazed at how fast this can lead to a non-recoverable situation. Employees stop innovating.

Startup 156

Startup IP Employee Cost 156

Gust

JULY 22, 2012

As an entrepreneur, it’s never too early to start selling yourself and your idea. I hear lots of excuses from startup founders, like “I’m too busy,” concern over IP security, can’t afford an agency, and it’s too early. Try to think like a reporter, editor, or producer, analyze their audience, and come up with “the hook.”

Elevator Pitch 158

Elevator Pitch Startup IP Public Relations 158

Gust

JULY 3, 2012

Copyright is not the only type of IP right implicated — and others such as rights of privacy and publicity become increasingly relevant in the age of social media — but it provides many of the most accessible examples. ” To the entrepreneur building a startup, the last two points are the ones that really matter.

Intellectual Property 163

Intellectual Property Social Bookmarking IP Term Sheet 163

Gust

SEPTEMBER 17, 2014

Me: Raising convertible notes as a seed round is one of the biggest disservices our industry has done to entrepreneurs since 2001-2003 when there were “full ratchets” and “multiple liquidation preferences” – the most hostile terms anybody found in term sheets 10 years ago. It’s like we need a finance 101 course for entrepreneurs.

Liquidation Preference 153

Liquidation Preference Valuation Term Sheet Stock 153