What has been your greatest professional challenge to date, and how did you overcome it?
One of my biggest professional challenges was building a comprehensive, multi-jurisdictional IP portfolio for a rapidly growing small business operating across multiple industries. This involved navigating diverse legal requirements, coordinating with foreign associates and educating the client’s internal team on distinguishing patentable inventions from non-patentable ones. In parallel, I collaborated with its legal department to develop a robust brand protection strategy and ensure compliance across various jurisdictions. Simultaneously, the client was licensing multiple portfolios, which required careful evaluation to meet regulatory standards of different markets while maximising value. By maintaining clear communication and leveraging a strategic approach, we built a strong IP portfolio, balancing protection and monetisation while ensuring global compliance. This experience reinforced the importance of adaptability, collaboration and innovation in handling complexities of global IP management.
AnovIP helps innovators to spot “the right asset at the right time for the right opportunity”. What does this strategy look like, and how do you measure its success?
Our strategy is grounded in a proprietary methodology, banked on data-driven analysis with personalised client consultation and aided by in-house software tools. We start by working closely with client leadership to understand their business objectives, tracking industry trends and conducting continuous competitor analysis. We then categorise innovations into smaller, actionable segments, distinguishing between immediate and future-use opportunities. Our goal is to find assets with strong commercial potential and alignment with our clients’ business objectives. Timing is critical; we track industry trends, technological shifts and market demands to pinpoint the right moment for action. This allows clients to prioritise and invest in opportunities with immediate commercial potential while reserving resources for future prospects. By conducting regular portfolio reviews and aligning innovations with these trends, clients can seize high-value opportunities.
You work with an array of clients, from individuals, to universities, to Fortune 500 companies. How do you tailor your approach depending on the type of client you are dealing with?
At anovIP, our approach is customised according to each client’s unique needs. We focus on building a strong understanding of their vision to maximise IP potential. With universities, we emphasise knowledge transfer and alignment with research goals, helping them translate innovations into license-ready assets. For Fortune 500 companies, our strategy aims at identifying and creating high-value opportunities to streamline portfolio enhancement and management. Regardless of client type, we prioritise clear communication, data-driven insights and a deep understanding of their objectives to ensure a tailored and effective strategy that maximises IP value.
In your view, what are the key characteristics of a strong intangible asset valuation strategy?
A strong IP valuation strategy is characterised by several key elements. A comprehensive understanding of the asset – including its legal protections and market potential – is crucial. A robust, data-driven approach is also essential, utilising qualitative and quantitative analyses for accurate valuation. Continuous monitoring of market trends and industry benchmarks is vital to maintain relevance over time. Engaging key stakeholders fosters collaboration and aligns the valuation with business objectives. Flexibility allows for strategy adjustments in response to shifting market conditions or emerging opportunities. For patents, incorporating market-based valuations, assessing income potential, evaluating similar technologies and considering protection across multiple jurisdictions all contribute to a realistic assessment. By integrating these components, organisations can effectively maximise the value of their intangible assets.
How do you predict the South-Asian IP monetisation landscape might evolve over the next five years, and what steps are you taking to prepare?
South-Asian economies are experiencing a surge in IP creation, management and monetisation, driven by heightened awareness and government-supported initiatives that provide financial assistance to IP-based businesses. As access to funding increases and foreign investment flows into these developing markets, the IP monetisation landscape is poised for significant evolution and is fuelled by innovation, globalisation and the expansion of digital technologies. Recognising the value of their intellectual property, businesses are increasingly prioritising strategic IP management and monetisation.
At AnovIP, we aim to become a leader in the region by expanding our network of local attorneys, skilled in creating and enforcing IP rights, while enhancing our expertise in emerging technologies (eg, AI, blockchain and biotechnology). We are investing in advanced analytics tools to evaluate market trends and potential IP valuations and fostering partnerships with local start-ups, universities and multinational corporations to promote knowledge transfer and collaborative innovation. In doing so, we are empowering our clients to effectively leverage their IP assets and capitalise on the evolving landscape.