Phase 1 · Discovery · Clarity Begins Here
IP Identification & Early Protection
Intellectual property built without protection is intellectual property that belongs to whoever claims it first. The window to protect it is almost always shorter than founders expect.
IP identification and early protection is the structured process of identifying all intellectual property created by the business — trademarks, patents, trade secrets, copyright, design rights, and database rights — and implementing the basic protections that prevent competitors, employees, or partners from using what the business has created without permission. We audit the IP estate, prioritise the protections that matter most, and implement the frameworks that secure the business's most valuable intangible assets.
The Pain We Solve
You may recognise yourself in one of these.
Three audience scenarios · because the same service produces a different transformation depending on where you are in the business journey.
Scenario 1
The founder who has created a brand, a product, or a process without registering any IP protection
The brand name has been trading for two years. A competitor has just registered it as a trademark. The legal position is complex, the cost of challenge is significant, and the brand equity that has been built is now at risk — because the registration that would have cost a few hundred pounds two years ago was never done.
Scenario 2
The tech founder who has shared the product with early users and advisors without IP assignment agreements
Early code was written with a co-founder who is no longer involved. The IP was never assigned. The company does not clearly own the product that underpins its value — and the due diligence question from investors about IP ownership does not have a clean answer.
Scenario 3
The business whose most valuable asset is a process, method, or recipe that is not documented as a trade secret
The competitive advantage is a way of doing something that competitors cannot easily replicate — but it has never been documented, protected as a trade secret, or covered by appropriate confidentiality agreements with the team who know it.
The Impact It Creates
The Moment You Will Feel the Difference.
IP estate identified and prioritised before the most valuable protections expire or become contested
Brand, product, and process assets protected against competitor use
IP ownership clearly established in the company — essential for investment and exit
IP strategy aligned with the business model to maximise long-term commercial value
What You Receive
The Specific Deliverables.
Tangible outputs · documented, dated, and yours to keep.
- IP audit — identification of all created and potential IP
- IP protection priority ranking — what to protect first and why
- Trademark search and registration advisory
- Trade secret documentation and confidentiality framework
- IP assignment agreements — for founders, employees, and contractors
- IP strategy brief — how the IP estate creates and protects commercial value
The Outcome
Where You Will Be on the Other Side.
The business owns its IP clearly, protects the assets that matter most, and has the documentation that gives investors and acquirers confidence that the value they are buying is real and defensible.
Primary Focus
Identifying, prioritising, and protecting the intellectual property that underpins the business's competitive advantage and commercial value.
KPI Measurement
- IP assets identified and catalogued
- Trademark and patent applications filed
- IP assignment agreements executed
- IP challenges or disputes avoided
- IP value contribution to business valuation
Investment & ROI
Pricing Engineered Around the Value You Create.
Every engagement is sized against the value we believe we can create with you · the fee is always a fraction of the outcome. Four tiers · so the investment matches your stage of business.
Tier 1
Foundations
£5,000 – £15,000
Right for
Pre-startup, startup, and micro-business founders ready to build on evidence rather than instinct.
Typical Value Created
£50K – £500K avoided in misdirected launches and bad bets
Engagement
4 – 8 weeks
Target Return
5 – 10× ROI
within 12 – 18 months
Tier 2
Acceleration
£15,000 – £50,000
Right for
Growing SMEs and established small businesses ready to scale a working model into the next revenue band.
Typical Value Created
£250K – £2M of better-informed launch decisions and faster market traction
Engagement
8 – 16 weeks
Target Return
5 – 10× ROI
within 12 – 18 months
Tier 3
Transformation
£50,000 – £250,000
Right for
Medium enterprises and scale-stage businesses ready to commit to a multi-quarter, organisation-wide shift.
Typical Value Created
£1M – £25M in strategic pivots de-risked and new categories validated
Engagement
3 – 9 months
Target Return
5 – 10× ROI
within 12 – 18 months
Tier 4
Enterprise
£250,000 – £2M+
Right for
Large enterprises, global operators, and complex organisations ready for a multi-year strategic partnership.
Typical Value Created
£5M – £100M+ in optimised market entry, M&A diligence, and category positioning
Engagement
12 months and onward
Target Return
5 – 10× ROI
within 12 – 18 months
Why We Price This Way
Every engagement is sized around the value we believe we can create with you. The fee is always a fraction of the outcome · typically 10 – 20% of the expected first-year return.
This is how we make sure pricing aligns with results. The conversation is never “what does this cost?” · it is always “what is this worth to your business?” We answer that together in the first call, transparently, and decide the right tier from there.
If we cannot articulate a credible 5–10× return for your specific situation, we will tell you in the first call. That honesty is part of why our clients trust us with the work that matters most.
Why This Conversation Matters
“The IP you do not protect is the IP you are giving to whoever gets there first. We identify what matters, protect it before it is at risk, and build the IP estate that makes the business more valuable at every stage.”
A 90-minute structured strategy session · produces a usable roadmap whether you engage further or not.
More in Phase 1