Hosted by the Licensing Executives Society – Toronto Chapter

Target Audience: entrepreneurs, VC and corporate venture investors, legal advisors, inventors, transactions lawyers, licensing professionals, university tech transfer, and others involved in creating and commercializing IP in startups or in other corporate/academia early stage situations.

IP Assets are the foundational building blocks of startups in today’s global economy, and understanding how to grow the value of these assets is critical to startup success.   This class was specifically designed to provide tools, models and practical advice on how to manage and grow the value of IP assets as strategic business assets in startups and other early stage ventures. As startups grow into Unicorns (pre-exit valuation of over $1 billion) faster than ever, it is critical to make sure they have the right IP foundation to support their value, enter new markets and achieve a successful exit.  Through a combination of class discussion, case studies, interactive group assignments and analysis of current events, we will explore topics including: 

• The startup lifecycle and valuation: from funding to exit
• The intersection of IP valuation and startup valuation
• Creating an IP portfolio that is aligned with startup valuation growth
• Using big data analytics and pricing databases in making IP decisions
• Leveraging IP assets for funding, growth and exit
• The investor’s perspective on IP value: Debt v. Equity Funding
• IP valuation considerations in exit: Mergers & Acquisitions

Please note: This is an in-person course taking place in Toronto, ON. We are unable to accommodate virtual attendance at this time. LES continues to follow federal, state and local guidance as we monitor the COVID-19 pandemic.

Instructors

Efrat Kaznik

Efrat Kasznik is President of Foresight Valuation Group and a Lecturer at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Ms. Kasznik is a Silicon-Valley based IP valuation and strategy expert with over 25 years of consulting experience, focused on assisting IP holders across industries with the valuation, commercialization, and monetization of their intangible assets. She helps clients, ranging in size from Fortune 100 companies to start-ups, with IP and business valuations in support of licensing deals, IP and technology acquisitions, M&A transactions, financial reporting, strategic planning, and fundraising. She frequently serves as a testifying expert in disputes involving IP and startup valuations and damages.

Ms. Kasznik currently serves as an LES USA-Canada Board member; she previously served as Chair of the High-Tech Sector (2019-2020), and Chair of the Valuation Committee (2021-2022). She is also currently serving Chair of the LES Silicon Valley Chapter. Ms. Kasznik has been recognized as one of the top IP strategists in the world by IAM 300 every year since 2013. Throughout her career, Ms. Kasznik has also served as co-founder and adviser to several start-ups, and held the position as CFO at a telecom start-up. She currently serves on the advisory boards of several start-ups, accelerators and venture funds in the United States, Europe, Asia and Israel.

Ms. Kasznik holds an MBA from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley and a BA in accounting and economics from the Hebrew University, Jerusalem.

Sam Wiley

Sam Wiley joined LOT Network in 2023 to lead LOT’s thought leadership and partnerships initiatives. In his IP career, he has examined patents with the USPTO, testified in Federal court on the value of IP, and advised clients ranging from Fortune 100 multinational companies to boutique law firms on implementing technologies that streamline IP operations and provide critical decision support on innovation strategy.  

He has presented on IP and innovation topics across North America, Europe, and Asia, and is the Chair of the Licensing Executives Society Valuation and Pricing Committee. 

Sam holds an undergraduate degree in computer science from New Mexico State University, as well as a Juris Doctor and a master’s degree in accounting from the University of Arizona.  

Pricing

Use code TORONTO30 at checkout to receive 30% off – compliments of the Toronto Chapter!

Member Rate – $499.00 USD
Non-Member Rate – $599.00 USD
Student/Entrepreneur Rate – $349.00 USD*

*Please contact Karen Temple karen.temple@utoronto.ca to receive this price – only available to entrepreneurs with less than $5M raised.