From Capstone to Dragons Den: A Startup Journey Fueled by Innovation and IP Strategy

Noel Courage from Bereskin & Parr LLP presents key IP considerations. Two of Ring Rescue's co-founders, Dr. Kevin Spencer and Brad MacKeil, share their perspectives and lessons learned on IP strategy. Photo Source: Life Sciences Nova Scotia

In the world of business, an Intellectual Property (IP) strategy is key.

We recently shared our IP and business journey during a session with Life Sciences Nova Scotia and Springboard Atlantic. We discussed our evolution from our modest beginning as a Dalhousie Engineering Capstone project to securing a deal in the renowned Dragon's Den.

Noel Courage from Bereskin & Parr LLP has been our in our corner helping us protect our IP from the beginning, and partnering with us on this session he shared many key insights for protecting your IP during R&D and collaborations.

With the right safeguards in place, we've proven that regardless of where you plant your startup roots, greatness recognizes no boundaries.

Every organization has their own unique IP strategy, but it all comes down to the basics.

As a small but mighty startup, here’s some key takeaways from our perspective on IP and the lessons we’ve learned:

• Early Birds Win: Kickstart your IP journey early – for both the company and those groundbreaking ideas.

• Master Public Disclosures: Understand the nuances of public disclosures; it's key for IP success.

• Power of Allies: Choose partners wisely, and ensure everyone signs those NDAs.

• Ownership Clarity: When in doubt, spell it out! Transparency is the key when working with subcontractors.

• Ask Questions: This space can be very complicated. Ask questions, we certainly ask a lot!

A massive shoutout to the incredible Nova Scotia business community – your unwavering support, mentorship, and collaborative energy have been the wind beneath our wings.

Our global journey has just started, all while proudly calling Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, home. Exciting times lay ahead, and we can’t wait to share the next chapter of our story with you!