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Getting A Software Patent Is Valuable But Frustrating

Startup Professionals Musings

For a software startup, a patent can be the intellectual property providing the key competitive advantage, or it can be an expensive non-defensible bureaucratic nightmare -- or both. That’s more than a lifetime in today’s technology. Patent offices can’t keep up with software technology. Even if you start with the U.S.

Patents 53
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Tech Giants’ Partnership To Explore Ethics, Societal Impacts of AI

Xconomy

With public interest in artificial intelligence technologies on the rise, five of the world’s largest corporations—vying against each other in so many spheres—are banding together to support research on the ethical and societal issues raised by machines with increasingly human-like capabilities.

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7 Pitching Tips to Help You Crush Your Next Investor Meeting

Tech.Co

Truth be told, your only path to some serious funding is perseverance and diligence in getting meetings and being prepared. To help you crush your next investor meeting, we asked top VCs and tech leaders to share their best pitch advice. What startup teams don’t realize is that having competition is good. Know Your Stuff.

Tips 70
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What is the Right Burn Rate at a Startup Company?

Both Sides of the Table

But the biggest thing to know is this: Companies who are scaling quickly in revenue and with a high gross margin often should invest as much capital in growth as they can manage responsibly because when you find a product / market fit and your company is growing at a very fast scale you want to capture market share before competition sets in.

Startup 383
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8 Strategies For Sustaining Momentum In Your Startup

Startup Professionals Musings

Based on my experience advising new entrepreneurs as well as more mature businesses, I recommend the following strategies for building business momentum, while still optimizing the limited resources of every small business: Find more customers that like what you do best. Track competition to stay ahead of copycats.

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Roping in the Legal Eagles

InfoChachkie

Yet, despite his exceptional courtroom theatrics, you would be foolhardy to hire good old Johnnie to review your software cross-licensing agreement. Your lawyer is a trusted advisor, but in the end, you run your business, your lawyer does not. Bill Review – Believe it or not, lawyers and their staff are human (insert “gasp” here).

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Time is the Enemy of All Deals

Both Sides of the Table

We moved into the legal process and final due diligence in January and February of 2000. Don’t over shop – If the deal you’re involved with involves raising venture capital or selling your company you naturally want some competition. We moved into the legal process and final due diligence in January and February of 2000.