Congratulations! You are ready to dip your toes into the commercial waters and begin the process of transforming your technology into a product or business. Not so fast. Before you do anything, there are 3 crucial things you need to know about intellectual property and talking about your idea in public realms. Take note: These tips can mean the difference between whether your innovation sinks or swims.

So you have a great idea for a new technology, or even better, you’re already deep into the research and development process. With a little financial backing, your idea could become a reality and change healthcare as we know it. That’s the dream, but there’s a big gap between developing a technology in the lab or clinic, and successfully fundraising for a medical technology startup.