MASTERCLASS Patents for Entrepreneurs – Part 1: The Basics
Ola Wassvik frames patents as a game with three parts, in order of importance: team, market size, then technology. You need skilled people before patents matter. Market size decides your strategy, since small markets often favor secrecy over patents. Technology matters least, since almost anything can be patented if it solves a new problem. The goal is growth, not ego: patents boost sales, VC funding odds, and exit value.
Key basics
A patent blocks others from copying you, it doesn't give you the right to sell your own product. You usually need several patents, not one. You can only patent something before disclosing it publicly. Filing buys you 18 months before it goes public. Whoever files first owns it, regardless of who invented it. NDAs don't fully protect you, since others can still patent what you've shown them.
Strategy
Decide early: licensing portfolio (share tech widely, common in semiconductors and telecom) or defensive portfolio (protect your own product, most common). Set a real budget. Balance patents and trade secrets, 50/50 as a starting point. Cover multiple levels (concept, product, system, component), not just fine details. Watch competitors, keep trade secrets truly secret, and avoid patenting algorithms since they're easy to work around. Avoid lawsuits: a single case can cost $3 to $10 million.
About the Host
Ola Wassvik is CCO and co-founder of Lightbringer, a serial entrepreneur, and an M.Sc. in Engineering Physics. Before Lightbringer, he spent 20+ years as a tech entrepreneur, including as CTO and co-founder of Flatfrog.
Across that time he's managed over 300 patent families and helped raise more than €84 million for deep tech ventures, giving him a founder's-eye view of how patent strategy actually plays out in the room with investors, competitors, and boards.
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FAQ
Do I own something just because I invented it?
No. Whoever files first owns it, not whoever invented it.
Should I patent everything, or keep some things secret?
A 50/50 split is a good default. More patents if hardware heavy, fewer if software heavy.
What's the difference between licensing and defensive patents?
Licensing shares your tech in detail so others can build it. Defensive protects your own product, what most companies need.
DISCLAIMER: THIS IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONTACT A PATENT ATTORNEY IF YOU NEED A FORMAL ASSESSMENT OF PATENT INFRINGEMENT OR FREEDOM TO OPERATE.
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