Before an investor writes you a check, their legal team is going to dig through your intellectual property, and what they find can directly affect whether you get funded and at what valuation. Trademark attorney Jessica Eaves Mathews breaks down exactly what investors look for in IP due diligence and where founders most commonly get caught off guard.

In this video, Jessica covers five areas investors examine: federal trademark registration and why it functions as a real barrier to entry, chain of title issues including the common problem of freelancers technically still owning work a company paid for, freedom to operate concerns like forgotten cease and desist letters or pending USPTO disputes, enforcement history and why failing to police your own trademark can create a legal waiver problem, and how strongly your IP actually connects to revenue. She uses Hailey Bieber’s Rhode and its billion dollar acquisition by E.L.F. Beauty as a real example of how an unresolved trademark dispute can complicate a deal.

What’s covered:

• Why federal trademark registration matters to investors specifically
• Chain of title problems and the freelancer ownership trap
• What freedom to operate due diligence actually uncovers
• Why failing to enforce your trademark can create a waiver risk
• How IP connects to revenue and company valuation

If you’re preparing for a raise or acquisition, book a free consultation:  https://www.leveragelegalgroup.com/contact/