Protecting your ideas is a critical step for attracting excellent aligned investors. In this episode of Finding Brave, I sit down with intellectual property expert and attorney David Postolski, senior partner at Gearhart Law, to demystify what it really takes to secure funding and safeguard innovation. Drawing on his extensive experience helping inventors, entrepreneurs, and creative professionals, David shares how a strong IP strategy serves as both protection and proof of your business’s credibility.
A registered patent attorney and professor at Temple University, Parsons School of Design, and Radzyner Law School, David teaches emerging leaders how to navigate intellectual property, ethics, and regulation in today’s innovation economy. He is also the author of several books, including Marketing Your Invention, Product, or Journey and IP Strategies for Medical Device Technologies: Be Your Own Incubator. His work spans patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets, all of which are essential tools for creators seeking to turn ideas into sustainable businesses.
In this in-depth conversation, David unpacks how startups can strengthen investor confidence through IP, what to watch for when choosing partners or consultants, and why skipping early legal groundwork often leads to costly setbacks. He shares a client story that shows how clear agreements and solid contracts are as critical as creativity when launching a brand, and explains that taking these steps early not only prevents legal issues but also builds a foundation of trust with investors and collaborators.
From patents and trademarks to investor readiness and due diligence, this episode offers a practical roadmap for anyone turning ideas into impact. Tune in to hear David’s vital insights on protecting your ideas and attracting investors!
Key Highlights From This Episode:
- An introduction to David Postolski, the four main forms of intellectual property, and why investors see them as key assets. [03:30]
- David’s journey into IP law and how his early experiences shaped his career path. [06:34]
- Typical clients and the common challenges inventors and startups face when launching ideas. [09:19]
- Why choosing the right partners and advisors can make or break your business. [12:45]
- The high cost of skipping clearance searches and the risks of ignoring trademarks. [14:48]
- Why researching investors and tailoring your pitch is essential before seeking funding. [18:24]
- The importance of spending strategically and aligning every cost with ROI. [21:59]
- A costly lesson: a startup that almost lost logo ownership by skipping a simple contract. [25:05]
- Key lessons for founders on protecting ideas and preparing for investment success. [27:39]
- How to join the Entrepreneurial Strategy Series and connect with the Gearhart Law community. [35:06]
For More Information:
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
David’s latest book, Marketing Your Invention, Product, or Journey
David’s book on medical device legislation, IP Strategies for Medical Device Technologies: Be Your Own Incubator
David’s book on employee contracts, Employment Contracts and Agreements: A Guide for Corporate Counsel
Gearhart Law’s Entrepreneurial Strategy Series
Finding Brave Episode 80, with David Postolski, What Entrepreneurs Need to Understand to Protect Their Intellectual Property
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Quotes:
“In my world, it is best to have at least one of the four forms of intellectual property. The four forms [of intellectual property] are: patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets.” — @davidpostolski [0:03:45]
“At the end of the day, [investors] want to know that they are investing in not just you as a person, but your registered form of intellectual property; they want to know that you went through a process and were awarded a federal right in patent, trademark, or copyright.” — @davidpostolski [0:04:29]
“You have to have a science background in order to be a patent attorney. — I have a chemistry degree. I also have degrees in computer science. I was going to make the best of this and do as much as I possibly can to be an IP attorney. There [aren’t] many of us, actually.” — @davidpostolski [0:08:25]
“We make it our business to help our clients and introduce them to people that are also startup and entrepreneurial friendly, because it’s nasty out there.” — @davidpostolski [0:12:45]
“Yes, it costs money to get clearance. But it costs more money not to get clearance and to proceed with the name, and then potentially be sued for infringement or something like that.” — @davidpostolski [0:16:08]
“Sometimes not spending money means you’re going to spend triple later. That’s what we’re always trying to avoid.” — @davidpostolski [0:27:32]
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