Don’t Tank Your Valuation: IP Mistakes AI Founders Make Before Exit

You built something real. Now you want to get paid: whether through acquisition, fundraise, or IPO. But a few preventable mistakes can crater your valuation or kill a deal entirely. Here’s what to lock down before anyone runs diligence on your company.

• Open source compliance
• AI governance policies
• Data provenance and tracking
• Trade secret hygiene (NDAs, onboarding docs, IP assignment)
• License terms that give away your core IP

Address these items at the outset before they become obstacles, to see your efforts pay dividends at the conclusion.

Open Source: Know What’s in Your Stack

OSS is everywhere in modern AI development, but “free” doesn’t mean “no strings attached.” The original author retains copyright, and your employees are operating under a license with real obligations.