“Do you have patents?” - What investors really want to hear
In a series of blog posts, Marco Coolen provides insight into his work as a Dutch and European patent attorney at AOMB.
Published on October 26, 2025
Marco, a patent attorney at AOMB since 2013, shares his expertise on IO+ about patents—how they work, why they matter, and when they lose their value.
There you are, full of adrenaline during your investor pitch. Everything is going smoothly, until that one inevitable question comes up:
“Do you have patents?”
You feel a slight panic rising when your answer is not yet a convincing “Yes!” But don't let that throw you off balance: even without an active patent in your pocket, you can respond to this question perfectly well.
Because, to be honest... that question is often not about owning a patent at all.
It's about your strategy, not your status
Most investors ask this question to test whether you:
- think about protection,
- understand how you want to cover your innovation,
- have a long-term plan.
A simple “No, not yet” makes little impression. But a well-reasoned answer can inspire enormous confidence.
Marco Coolen, photo © Bart van Overbeeke
Ask yourself these questions before your pitch:
1. How am I going to protect my position?
What are your plans to keep competitors at bay? Will that be through patents, confidentiality, fast time-to-market, technical superiority, or a combination of these?
2. Why haven't I opted for patents yet?
Perhaps you are still developing, want to stay under the radar for now, or are in a phase where confidentiality is still more appropriate.
3. Am I consciously choosing confidentiality?
Some innovations are difficult to patent or are better protected as trade secrets. Think of recipes, algorithms, or production methods that you would rather not make public.
4. In which countries do I ultimately want protection?
Show that you have already thought about the geographical scope of your market:
- Is the Netherlands alone enough?
- Do you want European or global protection?
- Where are your biggest commercial opportunities?
Investors want to see that you take it seriously
For investors, patents are more than just legal protection. They signal that you understand your market, think about competitive risk, and build valuable assets that increase the value of the business.
Even if you have not yet applied for a patent, you can score points by clearly explaining your considerations.
Show your plan in your pitch deck
My advice: devote a separate slide in your pitch deck to your intellectual property strategy.
- List the inventions you already have.
- Indicate what protection you are considering.
- Explain why you are now opting for patenting, secrecy, or a combination of the two.
- Show that you know where the opportunities and risks lie.
This will give investors confidence that you have done your homework and that your company is prepared for growth and protection.
Not “do you already have a patent,” but “how are you going to protect your innovation?”
Investors understand that you don't always have a complete patent portfolio when you come to the table. But they do expect you to have a vision for your protection.
A well-thought-out IP strategy is at least as valuable as the patent itself. Make sure you have your answer ready. Then that dreaded question suddenly becomes an opportunity to score extra points.
The World of Patents
With the help of Dutch and European patent attorney Marco Coolen (AOMB), we can better understand the world of patents. How do they work, why are they important, and when do they lose their usefulness?