201 Why Your First Pitch Can Kill Your Patent Rights

The moment you start selling your invention, the clock to losing your patent rights starts ticking.Anthony Franco, Chris Franks, and Stephanie Hayes break down intellectual property for early-stage founders — from why investors won't sign your NDA (and what that signals about you) to the difference between patents, trade secrets, and doing nothing at all. They cover when to file a provisional patent (before your first pitch), why patents are defensive tools rather than competitive weapons, and the uncomfortable truth about enforcement: a patent you can't afford to litigate isn't protection, it's theater.The episode unpacks the Dippin' Dots case, the on-sale bar that can destroy your patent before you file, and why for most founders, the best IP strategy starts with building a great company rather than filing expensive paperwork for an idea still looking for a market.Keywords: intellectual property, patents, trademarks, trade secrets, provisional patent, startup IP, NDA, patent filing, founder strategy, intellectual property protection