Frequently Asked Questions
About Our Business Model
What does IP2Biz® really do?
Is IP2Biz a venture capital firm?
What is an Innovation Capitalist?
Isn't the market saturated with companies that do what
IP2Biz does?
How does IP2Biz differ from a
business incubator?
Do you design products? Are
you product developers?
Who are your
clients?
How does IP2Biz stay on
top of so many technological advances in so many markets?
About Our Offerings
What is IPScoutSM?
How does IPScout work?
What are the benefits of IPScout?
What are the deliverables with IPScout and how is it
priced?
Do you have experts in all
industries?
Can IPScout find a new
technology for me to launch next year?
How
does IPScout work with multi-divisional companies?
What is a ProofCo® and what does it
include?
How is a ProofCo valued and
priced?
What do you mean by clean, packaged
IP?
How fast is “The Fast Track from IP to
Industry?”
What does IP2Biz really
do?
Through our technology scouting, analysis and reporting service
-- IPScoutSM -- we help our clients unearth (discover)
previously unseen, promising technologies. Once the technology has been screened
and vetted, we form the proof of commercialization project (through our
proprietary process of technology validation that we call a
"ProofCo®" project.) We jointly invest in the ProofCo project
with our clients. Put simply, we fast track early stage technology, move
it along the commercialization continuum and then sell it to our clients.
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Is IP2Biz a venture
capital firm?
No, we are an Innovation Capitalist. Click here to request our recent white paper
on this topic. While there are many differences between our business
model and that of a typical VC, the key difference is the level of investment
and ownership assumed by IP2Biz versus that of a VC. Our series of smaller
investments in early stage technology helps to move the
technology along the commercialization continuum prior to our exit by
selling the technology license to our clients.
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What is an Innovation
Capitalist?
This definition is copied directly from Wikipedia.
An Innovation Capitalist is a type of innovation
intermediary.
Innovation capitalists are firms, often with a particular industry expertise,
that seek out and evaluate ideas and technologies from the inventor community
and other external sources. One type develops and refines those ideas to the
point where their market potential is validated, and they then sell the rights
to the innovation to large client firms. Another form of innovation capitalist
seeks out ideas and technologies under contract from large client firms;
develops and refines those ideas to the point where their market potential is
validated, then sells the rights to the innovation to their client. Both types
of innovation capitalist invest in the technology in order to reduce the client
companys acquisition costs and early-stage risks. In return, they share in the
proceeds from the innovation.
The term Innovation Capitalist was coined by Prof. Satish Nambisan of
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Professor Mohanbir Sawhney of
Northwestern University in their article in the Harvard Business Review
of March 2007.
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Isn't the market
saturated with companies that do what IP2Biz does?
Certainly there are
numerous patent attorneys, licensing agents, brokers, incubators, consultants,
analysts and investors working with early stage technology and all are part of
the innovation intermediary space. But, we are neither a broker nor an
incubator. The difference? We invest our own funds! We are one of
the very few companies that methodically invests incremental capital in
discovering and developing technologies and moving them toward
commercialization.
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How does IP2Biz differ
from a business incubator?
Our business focus is serving our clients by
moving technology through the commercialization continuum. Together with our
clients we evaluate very early stage technology, validate it and jointly invest
in it with the goal of demonstrating the technology's commercial potential.
Then we sell it to our clients to integrate into their existing or new
product mix. Unlike incubators, we do not fund and nurture startup
companies.
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Do you design products? Are
you product develpers?
Through our IPScout service, we unearth early
stage technologies that meet our client's needs. Then we jointly invest
with them to demonstrate the commercial value of the technology. If the
value is proven, we sell the technology to our clients. It is our clients
who design and develop the products based on the technolgies we jointly
unearth.
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Who are your clients?
Every
day, IP2Biz monitors (and unearths) new technologies that can impact industry.
Our most successful clients are in these industries:
- Companies that make things
- Companies that are technology enabled
- Companies that are Fortune 1000 in size (although we have some very happy
smaller clients)
- Companies that have either centralized or de-centralized R&D
- Companies that are so busy with "D" that very little "R" is
accomplished.
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How
does IP2Biz stay on top of so many technological advances in so many
markets?
We search for new technologies with a laser-like focus;
our client's needs! We have established an extensive network of researchers
and universities that work with us. At last count, more than 500
researchers in over 200 universities. And, our trusted relationship with key
researchers allows us to see their undisclosed technologies.
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What is
IPScoutSM?
IPScout is for companies looking for the next
generation technology that can enhance their market position. IPScout is a
subscription-based advisory service that helps our clients gain
visibility to previously unseen technologies and provides expansive information
on technologies that can impact their strategic position.
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How does IPScout
work?
Through a joint discovery process with our clients, we scan for
technologies that fit their needs, unearth the most promising, screen them for
marketability and provide detailed market studies of the most relevant
technologies. Often, we then jointly invest with our clients in a
ProofCo® project designed to demonstrate the commercial value of the
technology.
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What are the benefits of
IPScout?
Our clients benefit by seeing breakthrough technologies
that others can't ... and avoiding being surprised. Our
clients are able to: evaluate technology against similar technologies; see
what their competitors might be reviewing; and gain insight into evolving
technologies that can have direct strategic impact.
Our proven process allows you to remain in control
of technology commercialization while gaining a competitive advantage and
reducing risk during technology acquisition. Additionally, we provide a more
cost effective way of working with universities. Our clients only invest capital
in new technologies after seeing the commerical potential demonstrated.
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What are the
deliverables with IPScout and how is it priced?
The deliverables are new
technologies that meet your nascent project needs. A detailed analysis of
selected technologies provides the business case for further
investment. We work collaboratively with your staff, but with very minimal
impact on their time. We do all the heavy lifting. Cost-effectively
packaged and priced, the IPScout subscription is for a minimum of one year,
renewable thereafter.
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Do you have experts in all
industries?
We search for new technologies with a laser-like focus;
our client's needs! We have established an extensive network of researchers
and universities that work with us. At last count, more than 500
researchers in over 200 universities. And, our trusted relationship with key
researchers allows us to see their undisclosed technologies.
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Can IPScout find a
new technology for me to launch next year?
Our goal is to help you find
technologies to help you navigate your long-term roadmap. Therefore, we focus on
your technology interests that are at least two years out into the future.
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How does IPScout work
with multi-divisional companies?
We understand corporate processes that
guide technology acquisition. In particular we understand that each of our
clients has a unique process that works for them. In the past, we have both
individualized programs for each division and created a master program
that works across multiple divisions or business units. After
discussing your goals, we are sure that we can jointly agree on the best
approach to meet your needs.
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What is a ProofCo and what does it
include?
A ProofCo project - which stands for "proof of
commercialization" is a designed to demonstrate the commercial potential of a
technology. There is no overhead so that the funds are spent
efficiently only to demonstrate value. The goals are jointly
developed with our clients. The ProofCo is managed tightly. It has no
overhead and operates systematically (and relentlessly) within the IP2Biz
process. We do all the work, with frequent progress reporting to our
client.
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How is a ProofCo valued
and priced?
Our joint ProofCo projects are priced to reflect
factors such as project management expenses, sponsored research costs,
patent prosecution expenses and project risk. Since every ProofCo is unique,
every ProofCo will vary in its required investment.
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What do you mean by clean, packaged
IP?
First, "clean" means that the intellectual property rights behind the
technology are free and clear of any encumbrances, with the patent filings found
to be solid and safe. "Packaged" describes the bundling of all the applicable IP
assets including any additional research and development, market analyses
and strategic recommendations for commercialization.
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How fast is "The Fast Track from IP to
Industry?"
Typically 6 to 18 months. Each ProofCo project is unique, as
well as its timetable.
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