Eugene Daneshvar: Navigating Neurotech and Patents

Eugene Daneshvar is a University of Michigan PhD graduate working on thin film neural implants but has since transitioned into the legal side of things having passed his bar exam and working with Wilson Sonsini as a patent attorney. This interview took almost 2 years to get done but we're glad we were able to do it!

 

  Top 3 Takeaways:

• "I think the main thing I'll say is you don't undermine your valuation by not having an informed and intentional patent strategy, and you don't have to go cheap. You know, I feel that you have to bootstrap, but if you work with certain law firms that are very entrepreneurial friendly, and my firm is not the only one, but I think that is a general statement, which is, you know, work with somebody who understands your business model. But then, secondly, work with somebody who understands your technology as well."
• "I want my clients to understand that I'm building something valuable for them. Let's ensure all that value is captured in the application. If not, it risks not just their business, but also their motivations for it. They aim to translate this information and idea to help a certain subset of the patient population."
• "Some people cut corners without considering the broader strategy implications. I suggest working with individuals who are willing to learn about the process. We're all part of the same community, and if you're listening to this podcast, you're part of mine. I want the best for you, so don't hesitate to reach out."

 

0:45 Can you introduce yourself better than I just did?

 5:15 Was it your idea from the beginning to do both a PhD and law school?

7:15 Why are patents important in the neurotech field?

11:30 What are some big mistakes you’ve seen in the neurotech entrepreneur field?

17:30 Is it better to have a strong lawyer or one that knows your field?

21:00 What is the process for a student wanting to spinoff a technology?

28:00 Have you seen deals go badly because of legal issues?

32:45 Is there anything that we didn’t cover that you wanted to mention?