Every dollar (or shekel) counts for startups. Your IP budget should not be an arbitrary number. Here are some questions you should ask yourself to arrive at a suitable figure.

1. What “Inventions” Do You Actually Have?

Founders often have a general sense of what’s innovative in their product or platform. But patent law has its own definition of what counts as a distinct invention. Your patent counsel may slice things differently — breaking one idea into multiple inventions, or folding several features into a single strategy.

➡️ Action: Sit down with your patent counsel to map out how many patentable inventions you currently have. This will anchor the rest of your planning.

2. When Will Each Invention Be Ready for Patenting?

There’s a sweet spot for filing a patent: early enough to protect your rights, but not so early that the invention isn’t developed enough to describe clearly and support claims.

This is a nuanced decision — and a topic for a future post — but it’s something you can and should start discussing now.

➡️ Action: For each invention, estimate when you expect it to mature enough for filing, and flag any dependencies (e.g., data, prototype results, or partner feedback).

3. Where Do You Need Patent Protection?

You don’t need to file everywhere — and you probably shouldn’t. Good patent strategy is about focus. Are you targeting the U.S. market? Europe? Is your product manufactured in Asia? Do you expect licensing or acquisition opportunities in specific regions?

➡️ Action: Identify your 2–4 key jurisdictions for each invention. This will shape your filing strategy (e.g., PCT vs. national filings) and significantly affect your costs.

TritelPatents #IntellectualProperty #PatentStrategy