🚀 Lesson Plan: Safeguarding Innovation through Intellectual Property

Module 6: Intellectual Property for First-Time Founders

Tagline: Protecting Your Startup’s Ideas—Understanding Patents, Trademarks, and Disclosure

🚀 Module Overview

This module explores how early-stage founders can protect their intellectual property (IP) while advancing their startups. Founders will learn about different types of IP, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets, and how to strategically apply them to safeguard their innovations. The discussion also covers key decisions like whether to file a provisional patent, when to disclose an idea, and the risks associated with early public exposure. By the end, founders will be equipped to make informed choices about IP protection and balance speed-to-market with legal safeguards.

💡 Key Learning Outcomes

"If you're trying to build a startup and protect your core technology, the general advice is to apply for the patent first to leave your options open." - Vignesh Ramachandran

✅ Learn how to assess scalability and cost efficiency during early engineering phases.
✅ Understand the importance of detailed BOMs and COGS in feasibility planning.
✅ Recognize how to balance technical innovation with practical constraints.
✅ Gain insight into aligning technical solutions with market demand.

🎙 Special Guests

👤 Vignesh Ramachandran – Intellectual Property Counsel at LAM Research, with a background in electrical engineering and patent law.
👤 Keegan Evans – Startup advisor and mentor, specializing in early-stage product development and commercialization.

📌 Key Discussion Topics

“Anything that's not patentable, you can claim as a trade secret.” - Vignesh Ramachandran

1️⃣ Understanding Intellectual Property for Startups

• The four main types of IP: patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets.

• When and why startups should protect their innovations.

• The role of patents in securing investor confidence and competitive advantages.

2️⃣ The Risks of Early Disclosure & IP Protection Strategies

• The difference between an idea vs. an invention and when protection becomes necessary.

• What founders can and can’t disclose publicly before filing a patent.

• The impact of public disclosure on patent eligibility.

3️⃣ Provisional Patents & Cost-Effective Protection

• The difference between provisional and non-provisional patents.

• How to file a provisional patent cost-effectively as a first-time founder.

• Strategies for securing IP protection without high legal costs.

4️⃣ NDAs, Investor Meetings, & Practical IP Safeguards

• When it makes sense to use an NDA and when it doesn’t.

• Why most investors won’t sign NDAs and how to still protect your startup’s secrets.

• The role of trademarks in protecting your startup’s brand and early market presence.

🏆 Lesson 1: Balancing Disclosure & Protection

🔍 Understanding When to File for IP
✅ Determine whether your startup needs patents, trademarks, or trade secrets.
✅ Balance early-stage disclosure with protection strategies.
✅ Avoid common pitfalls that jeopardize IP eligibility.

📌 Action Step: Identify a key innovation in your startup and research whether patenting or trademarking is the best protection method.

"Once you put something in the public domain, you've precluded yourself from patenting it." - Vignesh Ramachandran

🏆 Lesson 2: Cost-Effective Ways to Protect Your Startup

🔍 Navigating Early-Stage IP on a Budget
✅ Learn how to file a provisional patent without expensive legal fees.
✅ Explore affordable trademark filing options for protecting your brand.
✅ Find pro bono or university-supported IP resources for startups.

📌 Action Step: Research and list at least three cost-effective resources for filing a provisional patent or trademark.

🏆 Lesson 3: Strategic IP Decisions for Long-Term Success

🔍 Managing IP While Growing Your Business
✅ Decide when to prioritize patenting vs. keeping trade secrets.
✅ Use trademarks and branding protection to differentiate in the market.
✅ Develop an IP roadmap aligned with your fundraising and growth strategy.

📌 Action Step: Outline a high-level IP strategy for your startup, deciding what to protect and when.

🛠 Actionable Takeaways & Frameworks

✅ IP Protection Checklist
📌 Have you determined whether your startup needs patents, trademarks, or trade secrets?
📌 Have you assessed the risks of public disclosure before securing IP?
📌 Have you researched cost-effective IP protection options?
📌 Have you identified trusted advisors to consult on your IP strategy?

✅ Investor & NDA Considerations
📌 Have you structured your pitch deck to avoid disclosing protectable IP?
📌 Are you asking investors to sign NDAs? If so, is it necessary?
📌 Have you secured trademarks to protect your startup’s name and brand?

✅ Provisional Patent & Startup-Friendly Filing Options
📌 Have you explored the option of filing a provisional patent yourself?
📌 Have you researched San Jose State’s tech transfer program or other university IP resources?
📌 Have you evaluated whether to keep certain IP as a trade secret instead of patenting?

"If you publish first and include all the details in that publication, you are basically choosing that route. You cannot now divert back into the patenting route." - Vignesh Ramachandran

🎯 Founder Challenges: Apply What You’ve Learned!

📌 1. Secure Early Protection: Research and begin the process of filing a provisional patent or trademark.
📌 2. Review Your Pitch: Ensure your startup pitch deck avoids unnecessary public disclosure.
📌 3. Consult an Expert: Connect with an IP attorney or startup mentor to refine your strategy.

🚀 Next Steps & RESOURCE MAP

🔹 Follow & Connect with Our Guests:
👉 Vignesh Ramachandran 

👉 Keegan Evans

RESOURCE MAP