PitchFact

Did you know patents are often most valuable at year 15? Or that founders filing provisional patents are essentially signaling they don't value their IP? ?? This week on Episode 28 of The Diligent Observer Podcast, I talk with Russ Krajec, Founder of BlueIron, a patent expert who's authored 1,000+ patents and is revolutionizing IP-backed lending. We challenge conventional wisdom around startup IP strategy and discuss why patents won't save a bad business. Three insights that might surprise you: ? Provisional patents are often a signal founders don't value their IP enough to spend an extra $600 ? Patent lawsuits are 10x more common than D&O claims, yet investors often ignore patent insurance ? Sometimes patents actually hurt by forcing public disclosure of processes better kept as trade secrets ?? Listen to the full episode: https://lnkd.in/gSrdiqFm #TheDiligentObserver #Patents #DueDiligence #StartupInvesting #Podcast

The bear case for nuclear: Physics and economic reality don't care about investor enthusiasm, no matter how compelling the storytelling. I’m excited to announce a bonus episode in our Nuclear Energy Deep Dive series. In Episode 6 with Chris Keefer MD, President of Canadians for Nuclear Energy and host of the Decouple Podcast, we explored some uncomfortable (but very important) realities challenging nuclear investment: - Nuclear is uniquely sensitive to economies of scale—many SMR companies are "science projects masquerading as commercial products" - New nuclear technologies need decades to optimize (conventional reactors took 30 years to reach today's 93% capacity factors) - Many micro-reactors face fundamental physics challenges that make the "diesel generator replacement" narrative deeply problematic Listen to the full episode: https://lnkd.in/g3fvMh7a #TheDiligentObserver #Nuclear #StartupInvesting #Podcast

"The math doesn't work without nuclear." ?? In Episode 5 of our Nuclear Energy Deep Dive with Tighe Smith, Chief Nuclear Officer at Paragon Energy Solutions, who shares why 45-55% of our future energy must come from stable sources like nuclear, regardless of battery advancements. Three key insights from our conversation: ? Factory standardization is driving the nuclear efficiency revolution ? Fusion attracts massive funding despite zero commercial power plants ? Easily detectable radiation may pose less risk than undetectable forever chemicals This episode is part of my special 5-part series diving deep into nuclear energy investing. If you're interested in this space, I'm putting together everything I've learned into The Nuclear Energy Investing Playbook, coming March 2025. The Nuclear Energy Investing Playbook: An Angel's Guide: https://lnkd.in/gWB8kKRb Listen to the full episode: https://lnkd.in/ggBTsZKd #TheDiligentObserver #Nuclear #StartupInvesting #Podcast

Is nuclear energy's renaissance for real this time? ?? In Episode 4 of our Nuclear Energy Deep Dive with Emmet Penney, Host of the Nuclear Barbarians and Senior Fellow at the Foundation for American Innovation, who offered a refreshingly clear take on what's actually driving nuclear energy's potential comeback: electricity demand growth. Three key insights from our conversation: ? Macro demand growth, rather than new technology or climate concerns, will truly drive expansion in the nuclear sector. ? The "safety problem" is already solved - nuclear is remarkably safe, yet startups over-emphasizing "safer" designs might be missing the point ? Location matters tremendously - power markets are structurally biased against baseload providers, making geography a critical investment factor This episode is part of my special 5-part series diving deep into nuclear energy investing. If you're interested in this space, I'm putting together everything I've learned into The Nuclear Energy Investing Playbook, coming March 2025. The Nuclear Energy Investing Playbook: An Angel's Guide: https://lnkd.in/gWB8kKRb Listen to the full episode: https://lnkd.in/gX2DH_rK

Demonstration reactors are essentially MVPs for nuclear energy. They're 1/10 to 1/100 the size of commercial reactors, which helps prove technical feasibility at a dramatically lower cost than full scale reactors. ?? In Episode 3 of our Nuclear Energy Deep Dive with Ryan Marcum ???? of I&C Operative, we explore the evolving landscape of nuclear energy investing, from the shrinking timeline of development (from 20 years to 10) to the underappreciated value of scaling existing reactor designs. Ryan brings fascinating insights on: ? How university-based demonstration reactors are becoming proving grounds for next-gen nuclear tech. ? Why the modularity of new designs is transforming operations. ? The underhyped opportunity: scaling reactor designs we already understand. Listen now: https://lnkd.in/gNktUafM #TheDiligentObserver #Nuclear #StartupInvesting #Podcast

The future of energy is being reshaped, and nuclear is taking center stage.?? Excited to share Episode 2 of our Nuclear Energy Deep Dive with Reed Clay, President of the Texas Nuclear Alliance. We explore why rebuilding America's nuclear manufacturing capabilities is critical for energy independence and what policymakers are doing to make it happen. Key insights from our discussion: ? Why fear-based narratives derailed rational energy policy in prior decades ? How nuclear presents a massive economic development opportunity for Texas ? Four key investment categories every angel should watch Listen now: https://lnkd.in/gn5CmxkS #TheDiligentObserver #Nuclear #StartupInvesting #Podcast

Demand for energy is growing, and nuclear will be a huge part of the solution.?? Thrilled to kick off our Deep Dive Season 1: Nuclear Energy with Rodney Adams, Managing Partner at Nucleation Capital. We explore why Big Tech's growing energy demand is reshaping nuclear economics and what it means for angel investors. Key insights from our discussion: ? Why Microsoft and Amazon are betting big on nuclear ? How AI is transforming regulatory document processing ? What's driving oil & gas veterans into nuclear ventures Listen now: https://lnkd.in/gUtgBNTY #TheDiligentObserver #Nuclear #DueDiligence #StartupInvesting #Podcast

Water touches every form of energy generation, yet only receives 0.2% of clean energy venture funding. Why? This week on Episode 27 of The Diligent Observer, I chat with Douglas Lee, co-founder of Flathead Forge and veteran water tech entrepreneur, shares hard-earned wisdom from 30 years of work in the industrial water sector. Three insights from our conversation: ? The "conjoined twin" - Water's inextricable link to energy generation ? Market signals often mislead on timing in industrial applications ? We're borrowing from future water resources by underpaying today ?? Listen to the full episode: https://lnkd.in/gZxfVEuZ #TheDiligentObserver #Water #DueDiligence #StartupInvesting #Podcast

"Most angels should become LPs instead of doing their own thing." ?? This week on Episode 26 of The Diligent Observer, I chat with Paul O'Brien, Founder of MediaTech Ventures. We explore why specialized knowledge drives better outcomes in angel investing and how unfocused "shoot from the hip" investing might actually harm the ecosystem. Three key insights from our conversation: ? Why having an audience is becoming table stakes for founders ? The benefits of being a niche angel vs. a generalist ? How misaligned incentives can kill innovation ecosystems ?? Listen to the full episode: https://lnkd.in/gaS_pevR #TheDiligentObserver #MediaTech #DueDiligence #StartupInvesting #Podcast

What's the real story behind those enterprise logos on a startup's pitch deck? ?? This week on Episode 25 of The Diligent Observer, I chat with Rob Balena, a veteran enterprise sales leader at TeamSense, who shared a fascinating perspective on evaluating startup sales strategy. Rob shared invaluable insights on: ? Why "long ball" matters more than quick wins ? How to attract & retain top sales talent ? The red flags hiding in customer logo slides ?? Listen to the full episode: https://lnkd.in/gct3m_rJ #TheDiligentObserver #TeamSense #DueDiligence #StartupInvesting #Podcast