IP for Startups: What to Protect, What to Skip, & How to Do It on a Budget?

We’ll help founders make smart, cost-conscious decisions about where IP investment truly adds value and where it does not.

For early-stage founders, intellectual property can feel like both a necessity and a black box. Patents, trademarks, trade secrets, what actually matters for your business, and what can wait?

Join Branchfood and Wolf Greenfield for a practical, no-fluff conversation on how startups can approach IP strategically without overspending.

In this session, experienced IP attorneys from Wolf Greenfield will break down how to think about protecting your innovation in a way that aligns with your stage, goals, and resources. We will focus on helping founders make smart, cost-conscious decisions about where IP investment truly adds value and where it does not.

What we’ll cover:

The different types of IP (patents, trademarks, trade secrets, copyrights) and when they matter
How to prioritize IP protection based on your business model and growth plans
Common mistakes startups make when spending on IP
How to stretch your IP budget and avoid unnecessary costs
What investors look for when evaluating IP strategy
Whether you\’re pre-product or scaling, this session will help you build an IP approach that supports your company, without draining it.

Who should attend: Early-stage founders, food and ag entrepreneurs, startup operators, and anyone thinking about how to protect innovation without breaking the bank.