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Startups often rush to file patents while their product is still taking shape. The pressure can come from investor expectations or the instinct to claim a patent early. But I’ve seen too many founders spend $20,000 … $30,000 … protecting ideas that never reach the market.
Being selective avoids that capital drain. A rushed filing may feel safe, but if product plans change or the market shifts, you’ve locked in a cost with little return.
After 25+ years of helping startups protect what matters, I’ve developed a five-question filter to make smarter, more strategic patent decisions:
Does it solve a technical problem