Beginner's Mind
Blueprints for Builders and Investors
Hosted by Christian Soschner
From pre-seed to post-IPO, every company—especially in deep tech, biotech, AI, and climate tech—lives or dies by the frameworks it follows.
On Beginner’s Mind, Christian Soschner uncovers the leadership principles behind the world’s most impactful companies—through deep-dive interviews, strategic book reviews, and patterns drawn from history’s greatest business, military, and political minds.
With over 200 interviews, panels, and livestreams, the show ranks in the Top 10% globally—and is recognized as the #1 deep tech podcast.
With 35+ years across M&A, company building, board roles, business schools, ultrarunning, and martial arts, Christian brings a rare lens:
What it really takes to turn breakthrough science into business—how to grow it, lead it, and shape the world around it.
🎙 Expect each episode to deliver:
- Founder & Investor Blueprints: How breakthrough technologies scale from lab to IPO
- Historical & Biographical Frameworks: Timeless playbooks from the world's great builders
- Leadership & Communication Mastery: Tools to inspire, persuade, and lead at scale
Whether you're building the next biotech success, investing in AI, or leading a climate tech company through hypergrowth—this podcast gives you the edge.
Listen in. Apply what matters. Build companies that last.
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Beginner's Mind
#49: Andrea Sommer - Marrying Deeptech with IP Strategy
Here is my conversation with Andrea Sommer about the advantages of patents for private deep-tech companies.
Timestamps:
For those who want to listen to specific parts of the episode, here are the timestamps:
00:00 Opening Christian Soschner
02:00 Intro Andrea Sommer – Importance of Patents
03:48 The Role of Patents in Deep Tech Companies – Understanding the Importance of Patent Processes
13:51 What is the right point in time to file a patent application?
15:57 Patent process in Europe
24:25 Patents – A Once in a Lifetime Event or a Process?
35:00 The importance of getting the right information for the first filing
37:10 The Reasons for an FTO Analysis from the Patent Attorney’s Perspective
41:40 When is the right time for an FTO Analysis
46:00 More Details on the Process of FTO Analysis – Better Late than Never?
51:15 How to Implement Patent and FTO Processes into the Organisation
57:27 Patent Infringement
01:02:10 Possibilities of Compulsory Licenses
01:07:15 A Brief History of Patent Laws…
01:09:20 … and The Future Of Patent Laws
01:15:00 The Future of Patents and Licenses
01:23:00 Patents and Sars CoV 2 – Would giving up patent rights by governmental enforcement tackle the right problem?
01:27:40 Tesla put all Patents into the Public Domain 2014 – Does that make sense?
01:33:20 The Role of Patents in Startups
01:40:30 Is there a difference between US Entrepreneurs and their European counterparts?
01:44:00 Perception of Entrepreneurship
01:49:00 How to Collaborate with Big Corporations as an SME
01:53:00 Patents and Investors
Episode Links:
Article to the Episode: https://lsg2g.substack.com/p/marrying-deeptech-with-ip-strategy-7f8
Youtube: https://youtu.be/yjqq6P2eWVc
Andrea Sommer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-andrea-sommer/
Podcast Links:
Podcast Website: https://www.lifescienceget2gether.com/
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Christian Soschner: https://linktr.ee/soschner
LSG2G Twitter: https://twitter.com/LGet2gether
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Podcast Episodes: https://pod.link/1493847125
Episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlZfrwd6iXrQ3LIANISUpP22seS2CsCEV
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