Business
NIL Contracts, Exclusivity, and Tampering
By Deonta Woods What Every College Athlete Needs to Know Before Signing Anything You finally did it. Your first Name, Image, and Likeness deal lands in your inbox.The brand is legitimate. The money looks strong. Then you see one word that feels harmless. Exclusivity. That single word can quietly dictate how you monetize your brand…
Read MoreIndependent Research, Reverse Engineering, and Trade Secrets: What the “Cracked” Coca-Cola Formula Teaches Us
By Deonta Woods For more than a century, the formula for Coca-Cola has been one of the most famous and fiercely guarded trade secrets in the world. Since 1886, the company has relied on secrecy rather than patents to protect its iconic formula. That secrecy was put to the test on January 8, 2026, when…
Read MorePatent or Trade Secret? How to Protect What You’ve Built
By Deonta Woods You’ve created something valuable, whether it is a product, a process, or a formula that sets your business apart. The next big question is not what it does, but how you protect it. For many innovators and founders, that decision comes down to two primary forms of intellectual property protection, patents and…
Read MoreAvoiding “Naked Licensing”: What You Need to Know Before Licensing Your Trademark
By Deonta Woods Licensing a trademark may seem straightforward, but without the right protections in place, you could unintentionally put your trademark at risk. One of the most common and serious mistakes is known as naked licensing. If you’re not careful, it can result in the cancellation of your trademark rights entirely. What Is Naked…
Read MoreThe Importance of Disclosing Artificial Intelligence in Your Privacy Policy
As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly embedded in everyday products and services, businesses must take a closer look at how it intersects with privacy obligations. Disclosing your AI practices in your privacy policy isn’t just a best practice. It is becoming a legal and strategic necessity. What Is a Privacy Policy? A privacy policy outlines…
Read MoreThe Impact of Tariffs on U.S.-India Business
For international business owners and investors in 2025, no word has caused as much headache as the word “tariffs.” The concept of both raising money and protecting local industry by taxing imports is not new. In Ancient Greece, the Athenian port of Piraeus imposed duties on goods entering Athens. Most economists believe that while over time, the rising costs attributed to tariffs shifts to consumers with little…
Read MoreMajor QSBS Updates: What Founders and Investors Need to Know Under the 2025 Act
The Small Business Investment Act of 2025 makes sweeping changes to Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS). Effective July 5, 2025, these reforms are designed to make QSBS even more attractive for employees, founders, and early investors. Here’s a quick rundown of what’s changed and why it matters. What is QSBS? QSBS has been on the…
Read MoreArtificial Intelligence Startup: The Importance of DueDiligence in Preparing for M&A, Fundraising, or LicensingDeals
Artificial intelligence (“AI”) is everywhere, and it shows no signs of slowing down. Global investment in AI technologies continues to soar; in fact, funding for generative AI startups surged to $25.2 billion in 2023, nearly eight times the amount invested in 2022. The global AI market was estimated to be nearly $235 billion in 2024…
Read MoreWhy Growing Companies Choose Fractional CISOs: An Interview with Stacey Robinson of GP Tech Advisors
In today’s digital landscape, growing companies face mounting pressure to demonstrate cybersecurity maturity. Whether it’s to win deals, attract investment, or pass audits, the need for robust security leadership is undeniable. However, many organizations can’t justify the cost of a full-time Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). Enter the fractional CISO, a strategic solution tailored for…
Read MoreJust Getting Started with Cybersecurity: A Conversation with Stacey Robinson of GP Tech Advisors
Cybersecurity is no longer a luxury or “nice to have.” It’s a critical part of doing business even in the earliest stages. But for startups and small businesses, it can be tough to know where to begin without a dedicated IT or security team. To demystify the process, we sat down with Stacey Robinson, founder…
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