Most founders don't think about intellectual property until it's already a problem.

Maybe someone copied your product. Maybe you received a cease and desist letter. Maybe you're fundraising and realize your defensibility is thinner than you thought.

In this episode of Branded Assets, Kate breaks down the world of intellectual property in plain English, sharing real lessons from building Loba and navigating patents, trademarks, filings, lawyers, timelines, and the realities of enforcement.

You'll learn:

• The difference between utility patents, design patents, and provisional patents
• What "patent pending" actually means
• How trademarks work and why many names can't be protected
• Why patents and trademarks don't automatically stop competitors from copying you
• The real cost, timelines, and challenges of protecting IP
• How intellectual property impacts fundraising, valuation, and credibility
• Common mistakes founders make when approaching patents and trademarks
• What every entrepreneur should understand before investing in IP

Kate also shares the behind-the-scenes story of Loba's patent and trademark journey, including the surprising reality that some trademark registrations took nearly five years to complete.

Whether you're building a startup, launching a product, creating a brand, or simply curious about how intellectual property works, this episode offers a practical founder-focused introduction to patents, trademarks, and protection strategy.

Know an entrepreneur, creator, or business owner who should understand the basics of IP? Forward them this episode. It could save them significant time, money, and headaches down the road.

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Follow & Subscribe If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to follow Branded Assets on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube, and share it with someone who’s building, investing, or simply paying attention.

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LINKS:

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KEYWORDS:

Intellectual property, patents, trademarks, patent pending, provisional patents, design patents, utility patents, startup founders, entrepreneurship, brand strategy, business strategy, startup funding, venture capital, product development, innovation, Canadian startups, intellectual property law, trademark registration, patent filing, business growth, founder education, personal branding, brand protection, defensible businesses, startup advice, product innovation, small business, scaling a business, startup ecosystem, founder journey, business podcast, marketing strategy, brand building, entrepreneurship podcast, Canadian entrepreneurs, startup lessons, business ownership.

Emma Grede says she spends just three focused hours with her kids on weekends and the internet had thoughts.

In this Rich Girl Rundown episode, Kate Bouchard and Ada Slivinski talk about Emma Grede’s new book, unpack the double standards around motherhood and ambition, and why Emma’s “high impact core memory mom” philosophy sparked such intense debate online.

Then, the conversation shifts to AI and advertising. Why are brands pre-emptively showing behind-the-scenes footage to prove their campaigns were made by humans? From Apple to LEGO to Aerie, brands are now defensively “showing receipts” as audiences become increasingly skeptical of what’s real online. Plus, Kate shares a wild rabbit hole involving a potentially fake AI-generated Toronto fashion boutique.

Finally, the ladies dive into the numbers signalling a shift back to movie theatres. From Wuthering Heights and The Devil Wears Prada 2 to Margot Robbie’s fashion-fuelled press tours and the growing desire for offline experiences, are cinemas seeing pre-COVID levels and growing revenue figures?

Plus:

• The rise of human-first marketing in the AI era
• Wealthsimple’s next moves and the future of trading culture
• KOHO getting into crypto trading
• The latest drama surrounding Lululemon, Chip Wilson, and leadership at the company with the announcement of a new CEO

This episode is part business analysis, part cultural commentary, and part rich girl group chat. Listen now!

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Follow & Subscribe If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to follow Branded Assets on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube, and share it with someone who’s building, investing, or simply paying attention.

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LINKS:

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Connect with Ada on Instagram and LinkedIn

KEYWORDS:

Emma Grede, Emma Grede parenting controversy, women in business, female entrepreneurs, motherhood and ambition, AI advertising, AI generated ads, branding strategy, luxury branding, human marketing, Apple ads AI, LEGO AI ads, Aerie no AI campaign, future of branding, movie theaters comeback, return to cinemas, Devil Wears Prada 2, Margot Robbie Wuthering Heights, Wealthsimple trading, Lululemon news, Chip Wilson, brand strategy podcast, business podcast for women, Branded Assets podcast, Rich Girl Rundown

Should you work in corporate before starting a business?

After a whirlwind few weeks. a sold-out gala, raising over $500,000 for the Looking Glass Foundation, a sick kid at home, and barely making this episode's deadline. Kate is hitting record with something that’s been on her mind lately: career paths.

In this solo episode, Kate breaks down a perspective that might surprise you. Despite being a founder and entrepreneur for the past 8 years, she doesn’t think you should start with being self employed.

Before building two companies, Kate spent 12 years working inside corporations. from global aviation to advertising to healthcare. And she credits that time as the foundation for everything she’s built since.

This episode is a strategic, behind-the-scenes look at what “working for someone else” actually teaches you. not tactically, but at a level most founders skip.

Kate shares the three biggest lessons she still uses every day:

• How to influence (in rooms that actually make decisions)
• How to build a team culture people want to be part of
• How to develop strategy that scales beyond guesswork

She also opens up about:

• Why corporate experience might be the fastest way to learn how businesses actually work
• The financial advantages most people overlook (RRSPs, education, benefits)
• Why this isn’t a binary choice. and never has to be

Plus, a listener question on how small business owners should think about retirement, where Kate shares her honest approach to money, financial planning, and building long-term freedom (without the traditional “retire at 65” mindset).

This episode is for you if you’re:

• Early in your career and feeling the pull toward entrepreneurship
• Thinking about leaving corporate. or going back to it
• Trying to build a career that actually supports your life, not the other way around

Because the goal isn’t just success. It’s the freedom to make choices from a place of security.

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Follow & Subscribe If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to follow Branded Assets on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube, and share it with someone who’s building, investing, or simply paying attention.

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LINKS:

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Follow Kate on Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn

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KEYWORDS:

entrepreneurship vs corporate, should I start a business or work corporate, corporate vs startup career, how to become an entrepreneur, early career advice, career path advice, working in corporate vs self employed, founder advice for beginners, how corporate jobs prepare you for entrepreneurship, benefits of working in corporate before startup, when to leave your job to start a business, going back to corporate after entrepreneurship, career advice for women in business, female entrepreneurs, women in business, entrepreneur mindset, business strategy fundamentals, leadership and team culture, financial planning for entrepreneurs, retirement for small business owners, Branded Assets podcast, Kate Bouchard