Far too often, startups highlight their competitive differentiators and claim they are first movers or the only ones to possess an effective solution, but then claim that it is not eligible for IP protection. Those statements usually contradict each other, because unless a startup is a “me-too” company that is more of a pure execution play, the company most likely has something worthy to protect via patent protection. Many startups struggle with understanding and finding what is patent protectable. Their solution may appear to be an integration of existing building blocks known in their industry. However, many startups create an innovative functionality that did not exist before. The company should consider whether or not such functionality is patent protectable.