What IP should a startup protect before raising Series A?

Before a Series A, a startup should have protected: (1) Core technology: patent applications filed or trade secret protocols documented and timestamped; (2) Source code: qualified electronic timestamps on each major release establish copyright creation date; (3) Brand: trademark applications filed in key markets (EU via EUIPO, Switzerland via IGE/IPI, US via USPTO); (4) Proprietary data and algorithms: documented as trade secrets with access controls and NDAs; (5) Founder and employee IP assignments: signed and timestamped to prove the company owns IP created before and during employment; (6) Customer and vendor contracts: qualified electronic signatures on all agreements. Investors at Series A conduct IP due diligence. Gaps here directly affect valuation.

Why do Series A investors care about IP ownership documentation?

Series A investors are acquiring equity in a business whose value often rests primarily on its intellectual property: the technology, the brand, and the proprietary know-how. If IP ownership is unclear (e.g., a founder created core technology before the company was incorporated and did not formally assign it), the investor may be acquiring equity in a company that does not actually own its most valuable asset. Qualified electronic timestamps on early code, designs, and product descriptions, combined with proper IP assignment agreements, prove the chain of ownership from creator to company. This documentation directly reduces investor risk and supports a higher valuation.

How do qualified electronic timestamps help with startup IP protection?

A qualified electronic timestamp from a QTSP under eIDAS Art. 41 creates an independent, court-admissible record that a specific version of a document (code, design, business plan, invention description) existed at a specific date. For startups: timestamps on early product versions establish copyright creation date and trade secret existence; timestamps on IP assignment agreements confirm the date of transfer; timestamps on pitch decks and investor materials create a record of what was disclosed and when. These are low-cost (from CHF 5 per document) compared to patent filings, and they create a comprehensive IP audit trail that supports due diligence without requiring a patent in every jurisdiction.

What is an IP assignment agreement and why must startups have one?

An IP assignment agreement is a legal document in which an individual (typically a founder, co-founder, or employee) formally transfers ownership of intellectual property they created to the company. Without a signed and dated IP assignment, IP created by a founder before the company was incorporated, or by an employee using personal equipment, may legally remain the property of that individual, not the company. This is a critical Series A due diligence finding: if the company doesn't own its core technology, the investment is structurally at risk. Qualified electronic timestamps on IP assignment agreements establish when the transfer occurred, protecting both the company and the founder in any future dispute.

Which IP protections are mandatory before a Series A and which are optional?

Mandatory before Series A: (1) IP assignment agreements from all founders and employees who contributed to core technology; (2) Evidence of creation date for core IP (qualified timestamps or patent filings); (3) Trademark applications in the company's primary market; (4) NDAs with all employees, contractors, and material business partners. Optional but advisable: patent applications for core technology (expensive, but provide the strongest exclusive rights); copyright registration in the US if selling there (required to sue for statutory damages); international trademark registration if expanding globally. The mandatory items directly affect the investment decision; the optional items affect post-investment growth strategy.

IP Protection Checklist for Series A Startups 2026

Liste de contrôle pour la protection de la propriété intellectuelle des startups en Series A : Ce que les investisseurs vérifient avant de signer

Les investisseurs en Series A effectuent désormais une vérification préalable en 10 points sur la PI avant d'émettre des term sheets. La plupart des startups échouent sur 3 points ou plus. Voici la liste complète.

Swiss Trust Layer Editorial Team· IP & Legal Content

·June 11, 2026· 8 min de lecture

En octobre 2025, une entreprise SaaS zurichoise est entree en phase d'exclusivite avec un lead Series A. Le term sheet etait paraphe, la table de capitalisation etait propre et le produit comptait des clients payants dans trois pays. Puis le conseil specialise en propriete intellectuelle de l'investisseur a pose une seule question : qui a ecrit le moteur de recommandation principal, et quand ? Les fondateurs n'avaient pas de reponse satisfaisante. Les deux premiers ingenieurs avaient rejoint l'equipe avant la signature des contrats de travail. Il n'existait aucun accord de cession ni horodatage independant, seulement un depot Git controle par la societe. Le lead investor a reduit son offre de CHF 800'000 en invoquant un risque de titre de propriete intellectuelle.

Pour les fondateurs, cette lacune est desormais un probleme de levee de fonds, pas seulement juridique. Les investisseurs institutionnels et leurs conseils effectuent des audits de propriete intellectuelle structures avant la signature des term sheets. Les litiges de PI post-investissement coutent en moyenne entre CHF 150'000 et 400'000 selon les donnees de la Swiss Arbitration Association, et peuvent dans les cas les plus graves mettre fin a la societe. Une startup qui entre dans la due diligence avec des lacunes documentaires ralentit le processus, invite a des renegociations ou perd l'accord.

Protégez votre travail avec Swiss Trust Layer AG

Scellez votre propriété intellectuelle avec un e-Sceau prouvé en justice, soutenu par Swisscom Trust Services.

Réserver une Démo Gratuite

Liste de contrôle pour la protection de la propriété intellectuelle des startups en Series A : Ce que les investisseurs vérifient avant de signer

Related Articles