Investors in deep tech don’t just evaluate technology—they evaluate defensibility. A company’s IP portfolio can be the difference between getting funded and being passed over.

According to recent research:

• Startups that seek patents raise 40-60% more capital than those that don’t.
• Late-stage deep tech companies with patents see valuations 51.2% higher than those without.
• Patent-seeking companies account for 78.6% of VC exit value, proving that strong IP correlates with higher M&A and IPO outcomes (PitchBook, 2023).

Investors want to back companies that own their technology. They also want to back ideas that cannot be easily copied.  

If your deep tech startup is struggling to raise capital, it may not be a market problem—it may be an IP problem. Investors are looking for companies that have a clear strategy for protecting their innovation, not just developing it.  It gives them optionality for protecting market positions as the company grows.