"It’s not about paperwork. It’s about power."
Founders love to talk about funding rounds, killer teams and “moving fast.” Few want to talk about patents — until it’s too late. Dominic Davies, co-founder of Lightbringer, has seen too many deeptech startups lose their edge because they treated IP as an afterthought. He’s on a mission to make sure the next wave of hardware founders don’t repeat the same mistake.
Walking into an investor meeting without a solid IP strategy is, in Dominic Davies’ view, a waste of everyone’s time.
– Every investor will ask about your IP. If you don’t have the right answer, the conversation ends there.
His 20 years as a patent attorney — including work with some of the world’s biggest tech companies — convinced him that the traditional system was built for corporates, not startups. Large companies can handle long timelines and heavy legal fees. Startups can’t.
– It was built for big companies with deep pockets. Startups don’t have that luxury, says Dominic.
He believes patents should be treated as a strategic signal to investors that a company’s technology is defensible and its value long-term.
By the time they see the gap, it’s often too late
– A strong IP position doesn’t only protect your technology. It changes the way investors look at you. Suddenly, you’re more than a cool product. You’re an asset, says Dominic.
Too often, he’s seen founders delay filing until they “have more time” or lean on generic advice that doesn’t fit their business. By the time they see the gap, it’s often too late.
– I’ve met founders who’ve spent years and millions building a product, only to find they can’t own the key technology. You can recover from many mistakes. That’s not one of them, says Dominic.
Lightbringer’s AI-native, founder-first platform is built for speed. It can take a startup from zero to a filed patent in under a week, allowing them to start investor or partner conversations without risking their crown jewels.
– Filing early sends a strong signal of competence. It shows you’ve understood what it takes to define a valuable company and are running the process correctly, Dominic says.
Looking ahead, he believes the pressure on founders will intensify. Investors will be more selective, and companies without a solid IP position will struggle to get through the door.
– We’re heading into a season where investors are going to be picky. If your IP isn’t solid, you’re already on the back foot, says Dominic.
And his final advice? Stop treating IP as a legal formality and start using it as a competitive lever.
– If you think IP is boring, you’re looking at it wrong. Done right, it’s not about paperwork. It’s about power. And power is exactly what you need to survive, scale and win, says Dominic.