Venture Capital

Excerpted from the author’s article published in VC List. To read the complete article, please click here.

Patents can provide broad protection for invention and innovation. They can cover almost any novel aspect of a technology, including hardware, software, materials, and business methods. Many innovation developed by an emerging technology company can likely be patented, and patenting those innovations can create significant advantage in the marketplace.

A strong patent portfolio can help attract investments for emerging tech companies. Investors often look to see whether a fledgling company has protected its intellectual property (IP) when determining whether to invest.

Considerations When Disclosing Information about Your Invention

In the United States, as well as most of the world, the prior sale, prior use or public disclosure of the invention by the inventor or others may affect your ability to obtain a valid patent. Inventors may inadvertently jeopardize their ability to successfully apply for or be granted a patent by disclosing information about the invention to the public.

Manage Confidential Information to Avoid Unintentional Loss of IP Rights

One of the most important ways to protect IP is to avoid inadvertent or unplanned public disclosure. If the invention is released into the public domain — whether by publication, presentation, posting on a website, blogging, discussion with potential customers or suppliers — before a patent application has been filed, a total loss of the right to obtain a patent can result. Additionally, such inadvertent disclosure of the invention can reduce or eliminate competitive advantage.

To help protect your IP, there are some very basic documents you should always have in place to protect ownership and confidentiality of your intellectual property. The major ones are invention assignment agreements, NDAs, and employee handbooks.
Continue Reading Managing Your Patent Portfolio to Attract Investments

The Angel Capital Association (ACA) is the largest angel professional development organization in the world with over 12,000 members, 220 angel groups, and 10,000 early-stage companies in its members’ investment portfolios. Angel investing approximately equals that of venture capital investing, and has an enormous impact on the entrepreneurial eco-system in the United States and beyond.

For the second year, Greenberg Traurig has been a major sponsor of the ACA Summit, attended this year by over 600 angel investors from around the world who are leaders of their angel groups and represent thousands of investors. The firm sponsored the Innovation Showcase, which featured 28 innovative companies chosen by the NIH, NSF, and others.  Greenberg Traurig’s team of David Gitlin, Craig Lilly, Jeff Joyner and Beth Cohen presented a workshop for the companies focused on the capital raising process, including valuation and term sheet issues, intellectual property protection, and alternative financing.  The firm also hosted “office hours” with the companies, which enabled them to meet with the Greenberg Traurig team one on one to get legal input.
Continue Reading Greenberg Traurig Sponsors Angel Capital Association Summit

1.      Begin with a Compelling Introduction

  • Get investors excited
  • Include your strongest points to demonstrate credibility
  • Make sure they understand what you do

2.      Address Key Issues in a Clear and Convincing Way

  • The BIG problem your product will solve
  • What is unique about your product or service
  • Why your team is the most qualified to do this
  • How you will sell (or get to market)
  • Why you are better than the competition
  • How you will make the investors a bunch of money

Continue Reading A Brief Guide to Investor Presentations

Emerging medical device companies should consider these points when weighing a potential merger, strategic partnership or investment:medical technology

1. Identify unmet medical needs

Medical device titans are actively looking to acquire new technologies to treat unmet medical needs and drive market adoption. Larger medtech companies often view early-stage companies as outsourced R&D labs, and will pay a premium price for products that can drive future revenue. The larger the potential market, the higher the value to medtech titans.

2. Know the market and competitors

Acquiring technologies that can transform or dominate a market drives many deals and collaborations. Disruptive technologies that improve patient outcomes are in high demand. Larger medtech companies are always on the lookout for new devices or improved treatments that have no or few competitors. Understanding the strategic investment goals and criteria of potential suitors will further refine and focus a growing medtech company’s efforts to gain visibility and generate productive relationships.
Continue Reading M&A, Investment or Partnering Checklist for Medtech Companies

Educational Institution-Venture Capital Over the summer, the University of California (UC) System, with President Janet Napolitano at the helm, shifted a fundamental policy common with many university systems. She rescinded the “Guidelines on University-Industry Relations Policy,” in place since 1989, which prohibited the university from investing directly in companies emerging from UC research. Shortly thereafter, during the week of Sept. 15, 2014, the UC Office of the president proposed, and the UC Board of Regents approved, to create a $250 million venture capital fund, which will be funded by both the UC Pension fund and general endowment fund (not state funds or tuition). While certainly positioned to operate as a traditional fund developed to benefit from its investments, UC Ventures is also dedicated to capturing “…the economic value the University of California is creating through its pioneering research.”

UC Ventures will be able to invest directly in UC-based startups, and is positioned to take advantage of a huge research enterprise, which boasts income last year of over $100 million from royalty and license activities[1]. Further, there are significant players – venture groups, incubators, and industry presence – already at the table to further enhance the necessary infrastructure around the various UC campuses.
Continue Reading UC Ventures: How one very large public university system is setting an example. Or is it?

Though tourism and gaming will lead Nevada’s economy for the foreseeable future, businesses and government entities in Nevada, and Las Vegas in particular, have invested deeply into several areas of emerging technology.

In Las Vegas, The Downtown Project – an incubator and investor in several Las Vegas-based startups – has been the catalyst for several emerging technology companies in Las Vegas, including arguably the most prominent support organization for start-ups: Tech Cocktail. Tech Cocktail hosts monthly events in Las Vegas and puts on start-up showcases in other emerging tech hubs nationwide such as Austin, Baltimore, Denver, DC, Philadelphia, Raleigh, Chicago, and Miami. In October 2014 Tech Cocktail hosted its second annual “Tech Cocktail Celebrate Conference” where over 50 startups from over 30 cities competed in Tech Cocktail’s “Nation’s Hottest Startup” competition, over 50 speakers from various tech industries presented, and hundreds of startup companies and venture capitalists were in attendance.
Continue Reading Beyond the Neon: Emerging Tech Opportunities in Las Vegas