In their article for Thomson Reuters, published in February of this year, co-authors April Joyner and Arriana McLymore explore the barriers facing African American entrepreneurs seeking venture capital funding. Despite renewed attention toward a need for diversity, funding remains elusive for most Black entrepreneurs.

What does it mean to be a thought leader and why does it matter? In a strict sense, a thought leader is defined as an expert on a particular subject whose ideas and opinions influence others. But when you zoom out, being a thought leader in your field is really about visibility that leads to credibility and profitability from being recognized as the go-to expert in your industry.

grIP Advisor John Deschner gave a presentation to Phillips Academy Andover alumni entrepreneurs and venture capital investors titled “Digital Marketing and Growth Strategies" on February 16, 2021. The event was hosted by Mei & Mark LLP corporate attorney and grIP founder Jed Weiner, who is also an Andover alum.

Mark Zuckerberg once famously said that his motto was “Move fast and break things.” He has since walked back that comment, and a Harvard Business Review article from 2019 argued that the era defined by this constant drive for disruption is over. According to its author, Hemant Taneja, MD for General Catalyst, ““Minimum viable products” must be replaced by “minimum virtuous products”—new offerings that test for the effect on stakeholders and build in guards against potential harms.”

The 83(b) election often comes up when a founder or other employee receives stock (or other equity, but I will stick with calling it stock) that is subject to vesting – that is, there are conditions that may require the stock to be forfeited, e.g., if the founder or other employee stops working for the company. The default tax rule for stock subject to vesting is that no income has to be recognized upon grant, but rather will be recognized when the stock vests at the value at the time of vesting.

Digital Assets are a +$100 billion industry, and while substantial, the market is still in its infancy compared to broader financial markets. The lack of clear regulatory oversight and a reliable infrastructure for custody have been key factors causing many institutional investors to avoid the digital asset market.

It should come as no surprise that you cannot patent your technology if someone else already filed a patent application on it or released it out into the world. But less obvious to many entrepreneurs, inventors, and emerging company executives is the danger that your own business activities can permanently prevent you from patenting your own inventions.

A 2017 Harvard Business Review article by Dana Kanze has introduced new insights into the issue of gender bias in venture capital funding.

A patent can last for twenty years. But that patent might not adequately protect your invention from competitors unless you grow a patent family tree. A patent family tree can include later, related patents that cover variations of your original patent. This could help you prevent a competitor from designing around your original patent. It can also add great value to your company. You grow a patent family tree by filing multiple patents that are “related” to your first patent. Courts even use terms like “grandparent patents” and “grandchildren patents” to describe the related patents.

grIP Senior Advisor for ESG, Sustainability, Fintech and Financing, Jennifer Cuccaro hosted a panel for the Defense Entrepreneurs Forum Cornerstones Series titled “Digital Assets & Blockchain – The Impact on Emerging Companies, ESG & Sustainability Initiatives” on December 14, 2020. Jennifer was joined by Doug Borthwick, Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer of INX Limited, and Kosrow Denhad, Thought Leader, Columbia University Professor and Author of the recently published Blockchain Investor Manual: The Complete Guide to Blockchain Fundamentals, Trading and Investing.