Finding the right licensing partner is key to a successful deal if you’re an inventor or startup looking to license your intellectual property. You might get a lot of money upfront from one potential partner, but that isn’t always the best route.
The right licensing partner understands your product or technology and can nurture it into becoming a profitable venture.
Here are some tips on how to find the right licensing partner.
Do Your Research
Before you begin approaching potential partners, do your research! Find out what kind of businesses offer licenses in your industry and what types of IP (if any) they already have in their portfolio. This will give you an idea of which companies might be a good fit for licensing your IP. You should also check out the company’s track record for success regarding similar products or technologies. Do they have experience nurturing products like yours? Are their products successful? Knowing these details can help narrow down your list of potential partners.
Understand Your Goals and Objectives
Understanding what you want from a licensing agreement is essential when searching for the right partner. What are your goals and objectives? Do you want to make money upfront or more over time? Are you looking for someone who will promote your product or distribute it? It’s essential to have clear answers to these questions before beginning negotiations with potential partners so that you can ensure that any agreements serve your interests first and foremost.
Look Beyond Money Offers
When negotiating with potential partners, money should never be the only factor that drives an agreement. While it’s essential to ensure that any agreement is financially beneficial, other factors, such as marketing support, distribution channels, customer service capabilities, etc., must be considered. All these things can affect the success of your IP in ways beyond just financial returns. Hence, weighing all options carefully before deciding which offers are best for you and your business is crucial. When looking for a licensing partner, don’t just settle for whoever offers the most money upfront – instead, look at each offer carefully and consider all aspects involved in making a successful agreement.
Remember – it's not just about getting the most cash up front but finding someone who can help nurture and grow your IP into something profitable over time while understanding both sides' needs to make this happen!
About the Author
Rand Brenner is a licensing strategist, dealmaker, and founder of the IP Licensing Coach Academy. For more than 30 years, he has helped founders, startups, and operating companies turn intellectual property into scalable revenue through structured licensing campaigns, strategic partnerships, and commercialization agreements.
His work spans consumer products, medical devices, software, entertainment, and emerging technologies, with licensing programs that have generated millions in product sales and royalty income. Throughout his career, he has worked with both large brands and small innovators, showing how the right licensing strategy can open markets faster than building alone.
Rand is the founder of the IP Licensing Coach Academy, a platform that helps IP owners build deal-ready licensing campaigns step-by-step, without relying on guesswork, endless outreach, or one-off deals. His approach focuses on practical execution, real-world strategy, and turning intellectual property into long-term business assets.
