Case Studies  

Our clients come to us with a wide variety of opportunities and challenges related to innovation and IP, at all levels of the company from the C-suite to technical project teams.

A set of case studies are shown below of ipCG’s broad range of experience in assisting companies to increase their return on investment in innovation, intangible assets and IP.

"ipCapital Group has accelerated the development of IP at Boston Scientific tremendously and has focused that development in areas that are specific to our strategic plan. What this does for us is that it takes us from the point of being very reactionary in the marketplace to being very proactive."

Mike Banik, Vice President of R&D
Microvasive Division, Boston Scientific

Background

• A key competitor had filed a substantial number of new patents for inventions that added increased functionality to endoscopes
• BSci needed to respond to this move and mitigate the underlying risk of disruption to the company’s endoscope market position.

Engagement & Results

• ipCG  used its data-driven ipLandscapeSM process to help define an IP strategy
• ipCapital Group then facilitated invention sessions to create IP ahead of the that would place BSci ahead of the competition.
• 130 new inventions were identified; 85 of which were patented.
• Subsequent to ipCG involvement, endoscopy revenue has grown 4x faster than other areas of BSci business.

"Heptagon commands a very strong and protected IP portfolio, primarily in optical packaging, including more than 250 patent families."

ams press release, October, 2016

Background

• Heptagon's world-class optical design and engineering teams build breakthrough micro-optics and sensing solutions

Engagement & Results

• Over the years, ipCG supported Heptagon with its IP strategy and portfolio development.
• Most recently, ipCG supported Heptagon with sell-side diligence, including valuation and IP story.
• Heptagon was recently purchased by ams (SIX: AMS) for an upfront consideration of approximately $570m USD, excluding the potential earn-out consideration.

Background

• In 2011 Wearable Co. A engaged ipCG to answer the question: "How can we develop the right IP to support our ultimate objective of increasing organizational value?"

Engagement & Results

• To help position their existing IP assets and future development strategy first for fundraising, and then for acquisition, ipCG employed the following services from its Intelligence, Strategy and Monetization phases:
  1. ipLandscape^SM and ipStrategy^SM processes to identify opportunities for directed invention;
  2. ipValue Model^SM to quantify the economic value of the portfolio; and
  3. ipStorySM for investors and potential partners/acquirers.
• In 2013, Wearable Co. B, a leading innovator in wearable tech, acquired Wearable Co. A for over $100M. The CEO of Wearable Co. B stated publically that the IP portfolio was a major driver in the acquisition, which would form the foundation for expanding market reach and new product innovation.
• Wearable Co. B's market presence today is supported by Wearable Co. A's technology and protected by its patents, comprising nearly 30% of the combined IP portfolio.

Background

• The company was a small innovator of lighting systems and technologies, touted as the first to deliver complete integrated systems for LED-based illumination. Their systems, controllers, and custom solutions reinvented light as a highly efficient, long lasting, environmentally friendly, and an inherently digital source of illumination.

Engagement & Results

• The company engaged ipCG in 2003 to create a strategic intellectual property development program. Following the engagement:
  • Over 50 patents were issued that were closely aligned with core technology and critical market opportunities.
  • From its IPO in 2004 to pre-acquisition in 2007, their stock value increased 70% during a period when the NASDAQ was flat.
  • In 2007, the company was acquired for $791 million, a 74% premium to the average share price over the previous 3 months.
  • The acquiring company announced that the deal further bolstered their already strong IP portfolio by adding tech patents for LED lighting.

Background

• A major medical device manufacturer (Company A) originally engaged ipCG to provide competitive IP intelligence in the endoscopy space to help inform the company's R&D and product development roadmap.

Engagement & Results

• The results of ipCG's analysis uncovered competitive activity that surprised Company A and required a strategy to improve its market positioning.
• ipCG ran proprietary Invention on Demand^® sessions, resulting in over 100 new inventions closely aligned with core technology and critical competitive intersections. Nearly one hundred new patent applications were filed and later issued.
• Since the engagement, Company A has declined a substantial offer to sell the patent portfolio, choosing instead to retain the patents to sustain its market leadership. Case in point - Company A's endoscopy revenue has grown at over 4x the rate of the rest of their business.

Background

• Company B manufacturers and sells products to the U.S. home improvement and new home construction markets. They seek opportunities to protect their competitive advantage via IP and have built a diverse patent portfolio. Several years ago, they found themselves the target of numerous patent infringement lawsuits that carried a significant impact to their brand and bottom line.

Engagement & Results

• Company B engaged ipCG to develop freedom to operate (FTO) initiatives through a combination of education and training. We simplified Company B's processes for pinpointing legal concerns through the development of custom patent reference libraries and helped the library user base to grasp the business impact of FTO.
• Company B reduced their exposure and financial risk and the libraries gave the user base access to fresh innovations in the industry, which sparked new ideas and opportunities in key product areas.