Upstarter Ventures CIC protect their IP with support from the Growth Hub

Taking action

This challenge directed them to Intellectual Property for Growth. An IP audit report, which is a review of IP that is owned, used or acquired by an organisation, helped them understand what they needed to consider regards IP, including as they gear up, as part of their long-term business plan, to sell their training programmes online.

Follow-on funding, to implement the recommendations included in their audit, meant that they could undertake clearance searches in order to gather and assess information, such as whether other businesses had protected similar intellectual property, and this helped them to plan and execute the best route to protecting their own IP.

Upstarter Ventures then took decisive action, filing a UK trademark and creating an End User License Agreement which put tighter controls on the use of their materials.

They are also starting to explore opportunities to grow and expand internationally through a franchising model, which they are more confident and knowledgeable to do as they are clearer about the role IP plays in their business development.