Mini-Checklist: Startup Self-Diagnosis – 5 “IP Blind Spots” in Your Business Model
Blind Spot 1: Having IP but failing to link it to revenue
Ask yourself:
- What is our core IP (technology, software, data, processes, brand...)?
- Where is this IP generating direct or indirect revenue?
- If this IP were removed, would our current revenue be impacted?
Warning Signs:
- IP only appears in the “Legal” slide of your pitch deck.
- No one on the team can answer: How does this IP help us make money?
Quick Fix:
Write one sentence: “IP [X] helps us generate revenue by [Y] from customer [Z].”
If you can’t write this → you have a serious blind spot.
Blind Spot 2: IP exists but fails to create competitive barriers (Moats)
Ask yourself:
- If a competitor sees our product today, how long would it take them to copy it? (1 week / 1 month / 6 months / 2 years?)
- Which part of the product is the hardest to replicate?
Warning Signs:
- Competitors copy quickly, and the startup is “powerless” to stop them.
- The only advantage is speed, not control or ownership.
Quick Fix:
Circle 1–2 elements that are the hardest to copy → that is the IP you need to protect and exploit, not everything else.
Blind Spot 3: Messy or ambiguous IP ownership
Ask yourself:
- Who created the IP? Founders, employees, freelancers, or partners?
- Have all rights been officially transferred via signed contracts?
- Are we using third-party code, images, or data without clear permissions?
Warning Signs:
- IP was written by a freelancer without a clear contract.
- The Founder thinks it belongs to "the company," but the paperwork is still in their personal name.
Quick Fix:
Create a simple table: IP – Creator – Owner – Proof of Ownership.
Even one ambiguous IP is enough to make investors walk away.
Blind Spot 4: IP is not aligned with the target market
Ask yourself:
- In which market is the startup currently making (or planning to make) money?
- Is the IP protected in that specific market?
- Do we have a plan for territorial IP expansion?
Warning Signs:
- IP is registered "just to fill the file" but doesn't match the actual business territory.
- No one on the team knows where the IP is currently protected.
Quick Fix:
Apply the 80/20 Rule: Protect your IP in the regions that will generate 80% of your future revenue, not everywhere at once.
Blind Spot 5: IP is unusable for fundraising & partnerships
Ask yourself:
- If an investor asks: “What is the proof of your IP’s value?” → what can you provide?
- Can this IP be licensed, integrated, or shared under controlled conditions?
Warning Signs:
- You only have certificates, but no contracts, Letters of Intent (LOI), or pipelines.
- The IP depends entirely on one specific individual in the team.
Quick Fix:
Prepare an IP Value Proof Slide: [Which IP] → [Helped which deal] → [Created what value].
Self-Diagnosis Results
- Below 3/5 points: IP is a strategic weakness.
- 3–4/5 points: You have a foundation, but IP is not yet a lever for growth.
- 5/5 points: Your IP is ready for deep exploitation (licensing, fundraising, partnerships).
The Message
IP is not dangerous because you haven't registered it — IP is dangerous because you don't know how it serves your business model.
This mini-checklist is the first step for startups to view IP as a business asset, not just a legal procedure.
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