Patents are among the most important assets that a technology company can have. Building a patent portfolio involves balancing competing demands. Technical development, cashflow management and attracting investment must all happen against a backdrop of unforgiving patent application deadlines. Getting it right can pave the way to commercial success; but getting it wrong can kill a business before it even starts. Of course, filing patent applications too late can be fatal. But there's also a risk of filing too soon; an applicant can be locked into a spiral of patent fees before it can afford the cost. Drawing on more than thirty years of experience in the IP field, Sean Cummings will help to navigate the patent maze. He will explain how the international patent system works and how to exploit the system to maximise options while minimising outlay. He will give tips for accelerating the process when granted patents are needed quickly and for slowing down the clock when cashflow is tight. And he will identify the ‘sweet spot' for assessing inventions and attracting investment in the early stages when patent costs are still modest.