Sagitto - a lab in the hand

Written By Simon Rowell

Background:

Sagitto Ltd provides data science as a service utilising data inputs from handheld NIR scanners.  The company has built a software platform connected to an app that can be paired to one or more NIR scanners, effectively creating a “lab in the hand” for use in field, where speedy results to enable or support decision making are necessary and it is not feasible to wait for lab results.

Sagitto engaged ILF to develop an IP strategy for the company, and to advise it in a significant collaboration with a multinational sensor company.

Challenges:

When Sagitto engaged ILF it was struggling to articulate to its development team the value the firm  brought to collaborations and its default position with respect to data ownership.  Sagitto also needed help in maintaining its position throughout important negotiations with its multinational collaborator.

How we helped:

We helped Sagitto by applying the following solutions to their issues.

  • We conducted a workshop with the founder and the development team, where we highlighted the different ways intangible assets can be used to support business strategies to extract value

  • During the workshop we systematically reviewed and categorised all innovation within the organisation, how it might be at risk, and how it might be protected with formal intellectual property or informal means

  • We identified at least two potential areas where patent protection could be possible and warranted further investigation.

  • We produced a formal IP strategy document together with an implementation plan that would create a sound intangible asset foundation for the business.

  • We took the lead in negotiations with its multinational collaborator and ensured that this agreement was documented with protections in place for Sagitto’s pre-existing IP, as well as upside potential through royalties on sensor products that benefitted from Sagitto’s machine learning work in the researched applications.

Results:

  • Sagitto reported that its development team came away with a strong understanding of how their work contributed value to the organisation

  • The development team gained enthusiasm to capture and codify all of their solutions to technical challenges for future value extraction.

  • Sagitto was able to resist deal terms with its multinational collaborator that potentially over-reached into areas highlighted as patentable.

  • Sagitto strengthened its brand asset by negotiating for public acknowledgement as a preferred data science provider for the multinational collaborator

  • Sagitto now has an implementation plan with a budget and timeframe to establish a solid intangible asset foundation for the company’s future.

Simon Rowell