Frequently Asked Questions
We evaluate startups against three criteria: the problem they’re solving, the relevance of the IP and the team’s ability to execute.
The strongest matches are those where the technology directly enables the solution and provides the startup with a clear point of differentiation in the market. We’re not simply looking for startups with interesting ideas, we are looking for teams that can demonstrate why a specific patent is the right foundation for tackling a particular problem, and how they intend to bring that solution to market.
Execution matters just as much. We look for founders who think commercially, stay grounded in real market needs, and have what it takes to strong IP into a viable business.
The platform spans Singapore, Hong Kong, the UK and Japan. How easy is it for founders based in emerging Southeast Asian markets like Vietnam, Indonesia or the Philippines to access, and are there plans to localise further in the region?
Founders based in Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines and other emerging Southeast Asian markets are very much part of every cohorts. IPHatch® doesn’t require in-person presence to compete and teams can choose to pitch virtually rather than travel to pitch on-site.
For further localization, we work closely with ecosystem partners, incubators, and accelerators across Southeast Asia to leverage their networks and resources in supporting our startups. This includes facilitating market access, connecting them with local partners and customers, and providing access to facilities or co-working spaces where available.
Based on our experience, many founders join IPHatch® when they are ready to expand beyond their home markets. At that stage, we provide direct introductions, ecosystem connections, and hands-on support to help them enter new markets and establish strategic partnerships more effectively.
You will be awarded with the patent(s) after an agreement signing and certificate issuance ceremony. Only start-ups who have successfully completed the ceremony will be crowned as a winner for IPHatch®.
Winners receive real, outright ownership of the patent. Once matched, the IP portfolio is fully assigned to the startup, so they own it the same way they would own any other company asset.
In exchange, startups give an equity stake in their company, typically in the 5-10% range depending on how many patent portfolios they choose to take on. The more IP a startup wants to build on, the larger the stake. This will be shared in our IPHatch® briefings and subjected to management changes. Alternatively, the range of equity can be found in each individual portfolio showcased on the website.
Once you are awarded with the patent(s), you will be required to transfer the patent(s) to your company's ownership. Piece Future will also be working with you closely and serve as your virtual IP team for questions you have on IP and technology roadmap matters. You will get included in all workshops that we host, private advisory session on Business Model (BM) Review and enjoy our extensive network of business partners, VCs and mentors within our IPHatch® communities.
They comprise of the patent owners, partners of IPHatch® innovation challenge and our network of VCs.
Subjected to individual corporate legal process, it may range from 1 month to 6 months.
Do not worry, Piece Future will be able to provide you a letter of proof acknowledging the patents that you had won. In addition, once all agreements are done with patent transferred, you will be provided a certificate.
A patent assignment is an agreement where one entity (the "assignor") transfers all or part of their right, title and interest in a patent or application to another entity (the "assignee"). Accordingly, patent assignment is the legal mechanism that transfers ownership from the inventor to your business. Patent licensing is part of how to patent an idea and is a revocable agreement between a patent owner and a licensee to transfer interest in a patent to a licensee, who can benefit from and enforce the intellectual property rights. For licensing, normally there is an ongoing royalty payment to the patent owner.
Why do global giants like Panasonic, Nokia and CASIO choose to open up their patents through IPHatch® rather than license them directly or keep them dormant? What's in it for them?
Many multinational corporations invest heavily in R&D, resulting in extensive patent portfolios. While some of these technologies are actively commercialised, others may no longer align with the company’s core business priorities or strategic direction despite retaining significant commercial potential.
Rather than leaving these patents dormant or waiting for a suitable licensee to emerge, IPHatch® provides a proactive pathway to identify entrepreneurs who can uncover new market opportunities and build business around them. Founders often bring fresh perspectives, customer insights and applications that the IP originators may not have considered or been able to pursue internally.Commercialising every patent or licensing them directly also requires significant time, resources and market expertise. In many cases, large companies may not pursue opportunities outside their strategic focus, while startups that recognise the potential may lack the resources to access these technologies through conventional licensing channels.
Keeping these patents dormant provides little value to the IP originators as they continue to incur patent maintenance costs while receiving no commercial return. By making the patents available through IPHatch®, the startups takeover the responsibility of maintaining and commercialising the patents, allowing corporations to reduce costs while creating the opportunity for licensing revenue, equity upside, future partnerships and a more circular innovation ecosystem where existing technologies are continuously reimagined and applied to new markets and challenges.
We do have a growing portfolio of data, AI training, data management, and cybersecurity-related patents from corporates, reflecting the broader shift of many businesses becoming increasingly software-driven. These technologies are among the most sought-after areas, as they are highly applicable across multiple industries and can support a wide range of digital transformation initiatives.
We are sector agnostic and support startups across a wide range of industries. For example, we have agritech and fintech companies that have adopted patents in areas such as cybersecurity, data management, tracking, and recognition technologies. This demonstrates how foundational technologies can be adapted and applied across different sectors and use cases to enable new innovations.
We also offer what we call “Portfolio X”, designed exactly for founders in this situation: rather than picking a portfolio from a fixed list, they can bring their own business idea or problem, and we help match it against patents in our IP bank.
We do not impose a fixed timeline for startups to utilise or build upon the assigned patent, as we understand that each startup has different product roadmaps and priorities. In many cases, the patent may only become relevant during Phase 2 or Phase 3 of their MVP or product development.
Typically, the startup’s CTO or technical team will review the patent in detail to determine how its underlying technology can be integrated into their existing product or leveraged for a new product. They will assess the technical capabilities described in the patent and incorporate them where appropriate.
Several of our startups have subsequently filed new patents to protect enhancements or complete end-to-end solutions built upon the original technology. Having access to the core patented technology provides a strong foundation and makes it easier to develop and protect additional innovations.
While the original patent holders do not provide hands-on technical support, Piece Future conducts technical translation workshops led by our IP engineers to help startups understand the patents and identify practical implementation opportunities. For startups requiring direct technology transfer and hands-on technical support from the inventors or patent owners, we offer a separate program called TechHatch®, where structured technology transfer forms a core component of the program.
We primarily provide mentorship from our network of industry leaders, market access, and IP strategic advisory. With a presence in more than 10 locations globally, we work closely with governments, universities, incubators, and accelerators to help our startups expand into new markets, build strategic partnerships, and connect with relevant customers, corporations, and ecosystem players.
On the funding front, we have an established network of venture capital firms that actively follow our startups. While we do not provide direct funding ourselves, we facilitate introductions to investors who may invest when the startup reaches the appropriate stage and aligns with their investment thesis.
IPHatch® differs significantly from a traditional accelerator. Most accelerators operate on a structured 3–6 month program focused on rapidly validating and scaling startups, culminating in a demo day or investor pitch. In contrast, IPHatch® is a long-term IP commercialization and venture-building platform with no fixed graduation timeline.
Rather than requiring startups to meet predetermined milestones within a short period, we support them based on their individual business needs and growth trajectory. Most of our startups already have an MVP when they join the program. Our role is to help them leverage strategic intellectual property to strengthen their competitive advantage, commercialize technology, expand into new markets, build strategic partnerships, and scale their businesses sustainably.
Startups can remain within the IPHatch® ecosystem for up to five years, receiving ongoing support as they integrate patented technologies into their products, develop new innovations, strengthen their IP portfolio through additional patents where appropriate, and grow commercially. Our support evolves alongside each startup’s stage of development rather than ending after a predefined program duration.
There is no fee to apply for or participate in IPHatch® during the selection process. Our goal is to make world-class IP accessible to entrepreneurs and lower the barriers to innovation.
If a startup is successfully matched with a patent, Piece Future works closely with the team to structure an appropriate commercial agreement based on the technology and business opportunity. As every startup and patent is different, the commercial terms are tailored to the specific circumstances rather than following a one-size-fits-all model.
Should a startup ultimately be unable to commercialise the IP, the outcome will be governed by the terms outlined in the commercial agreement, ensuring a fair and reasonable approach for all parties involved. Our objective is to create arrangements that give founders the best opportunity to succeed while ensuring the IP continues to be managed responsibly and retains the potential to create future value.