Finding the key to the perfect pitch

IT’S THAT time of year again, when the nights draw in, autumn leaves start to fall, and The Apprentice returns to our screens with another handful of hopeful entrepreneurs vying for investment.

But are investment and pitching really like The Apprentice and what can entrepreneurs do to make their pitch stand out and attract capital?

The Pitchfest Final at Birmingham Innovation Campus took place last week and I was part of a panel hearing from innovators and entrepreneurs from across the region, as they pitched for investment and advice. Birmingham is fast becoming an innovation hotspot and as always, the wealth of entrepreneurial talent on display was impressive.

One thing that really can set a pitch apart is a good understanding of the value of the innovation that underscores a new business. This is where intellectual property rights (IPR) come in.

When starting a business there are many factors to consider, from branding and target markets to appointing suitable people.

Another key part of the jigsaw is IP protection. Ensuring IP rights are in place early on helps define a clear business strategy, and will prevent headaches further down the line.

Identifying which IP to protect can be a challenge. Every business that uses a name, brand or logo, however, should be considering trade mark protection. Businesses developing products with unique designs should also be protected with registered design rights while for those businesses developing technically innovative new products or processes, patent protection may be the route to go down.

Each start-up will have its own unique IP. Identifying and protecting that IP will lock in the value of what makes a business unique, create a barrier to entry for potential competitors while also giving investors something real to invest in, rather than just a good idea.

David Ward, UK managing partner, Chartered (UK) and European Patent Attorney,

Marks & Clerk. E: birmingham@marks-clerk.com