It should come as no surprise that you cannot patent your technology if someone else already filed a patent application on it or released it out into the world. But less obvious to many entrepreneurs, inventors, and emerging company executives is the danger that your own business activities can permanently prevent you from patenting your own inventions.

A 2017 Harvard Business Review article by Dana Kanze has introduced new insights into the issue of gender bias in venture capital funding.

A patent can last for twenty years. But that patent might not adequately protect your invention from competitors unless you grow a patent family tree. A patent family tree can include later, related patents that cover variations of your original patent. This could help you prevent a competitor from designing around your original patent. It can also add great value to your company. You grow a patent family tree by filing multiple patents that are “related” to your first patent. Courts even use terms like “grandparent patents” and “grandchildren patents” to describe the related patents.

grIP Senior Advisor for ESG, Sustainability, Fintech and Financing, Jennifer Cuccaro hosted a panel for the Defense Entrepreneurs Forum Cornerstones Series titled “Digital Assets & Blockchain – The Impact on Emerging Companies, ESG & Sustainability Initiatives” on December 14, 2020. Jennifer was joined by Doug Borthwick, Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer of INX Limited, and Kosrow Denhad, Thought Leader, Columbia University Professor and Author of the recently published Blockchain Investor Manual: The Complete Guide to Blockchain Fundamentals, Trading and Investing.

grIP Team Member and IP lawyer Larry Sandell and his Mei & Mark colleague P. Andrew Riley gave a presentation at the Defense Entrepreneurs Forum Cornerstones Series titled “Strategic & Technical Intellectual Property Issues” on December 16, 2020.Larry and Andrew discussed intellectual property strategy, procurement, and enforcement. The presentation covered both strategic and technical issues geared towards emerging companies, VCs and other prospective investors.

grIP Senior Advisor on Government Contracting Strategy Cameron Hamilton, gave a presentation for the Defense Entrepreneurs Forum Cornerstones Series titled “Insights on Government Contracts for VC & Startups” on December 7, 2020. Cameron was joined by fellow presenter, Greg Jacobs, Chair of the Government Contracts Practice at Polsinelli.

What new possibilities arise for millions of people when AI, 5G, Cloud Computing, Distributed Ledger and Quantum Computing come together? This is the question the World Economic Forum asked of the financial services industry recently. In their report, Forging New Pathways: The next evolution of innovation in financial services new themes have emerged from the global thought-leadership forum.

As we close out 2020, digital assets and the blockchain industry are experiencing another revival. The tokenization of assets and blockchain technology in general are having significant effects on capital markets, entrepreneurship, and fundraising by improving liquidity and democratizing investment opportunities.

grIP Senior Advisor Peter Dolch gave a presentation for the Defense Entrepreneurs Forum Cornerstones Series titled “Angels Investors & Entrepreneurs: Key Issues for Each Side of the Table” on November 9, 2020. Peter was joined by fellow presenter Jeremy Bauman, Managing Partner of New Dominion Angels and member of the Early Stage Finance Team at the World Bank.

In September, grIP’s Media and SEO (Search Engine Optimization) expert Michael Lewittes sat down with journalist Barry Schwartz to talk about Michael’s SEO strategies in addition to Michael’s career in journalism and venture capital. Specifically, Michael discusses what Google calls E.A.T. (Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness), and why it should permeate every aspect of one’s website.