IP Architecture for Early-Stage Companies ? Protecting What You're Building

Many founders think of intellectual property as a patent filing exercise. In reality, effective IP strategy is about ownership, control, and ensuring the company—not individuals, contractors, or vendors—actually owns the assets it is building. This workshop helps founders understand the practical legal foundations needed to protect their innovations and prepare for future growth. The workshop reframes intellectual property as an ownership and risk-management framework rather than simply a collection of filings and registrations. Participants will explore the four primary forms of intellectual property protection—patents, trade secrets, copyrights, and trademarks—and learn when each tool is most effective. The session also covers practical patent strategies for startups operating with limited budgets, including the role of provisional patents and what "patent pending" actually means. Beyond filings, the workshop addresses one of the most common issues uncovered during fundraising and diligence: ownership gaps. Attendees will learn how founders, employees, contractors, manufacturers,…