Invent Anything™

Hosted by ipCapital Group

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May 2026

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About the show

In this series, John Cronin and Seth Cronin share insights relating to invention, creativity, and intellectual property. These insights were collected over 17 years at IBM (John became its top inventor with over 100 patents and 150 patent publications) and 35 combined years as intellectual property and innovation consultants at ipCapital Group (working with over 800 companies and approximately 15% of the Fortune 500, hundreds of mid-size companies and hundreds of startups and governmental laboratories).

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60 recent

May 31, 202650 min

Your Provisional Patent Is Filed: Now What? - IA #72

You filed a provisional patent application. The clock is ticking on your year of protection. So what should you actually do with it? In this episode of Invent Anything, John Cronin, who has spent three decades in intellectual property at IP Capital Group, walks through a practical, six-topic game plan for getting the most out of your provisional: - Taking stock: what kind of provisional did you really file? - Immediate actions to take in the first weeks - What to do at the three-month and six-month marks - How different players (inventors, CEOs, investors, CTOs) view your provisional - Closing it out: abandon, or convert to a full patent? - The future of intellectual asset management, and how agentic AI may soon handle much of this for you Whether you're a first-time inventor, a startup, or part of a larger organization, this is a clear, business-minded plan for turning a provisional into real value.

May 2, 202631 min

So You Have Your First Patent! Part 2 - IA #71

What comes after you start building value from your first patent? In Part 2 of this series, John Cronin dives into advanced strategies for leveraging your IP in real-world business scenarios. Learn how to use patents to close deals with customers and vendors, raise investment, and combine multiple strategies to maximize value. This episode also explores the future of patents in an AI-driven world and how your patent could evolve into a powerful, self-driving asset.

May 1, 202657 min

So You Have Your First Patent! Part 1 - IA #71

What do you do after your first patent is granted? In Part 1 of this two-part series, John Cronin breaks down how to turn your patent into real business value. From licensing and litigation to M&A strategy and defending against copycats, this episode delivers a practical roadmap for inventors, founders, and executives looking to monetize and scale their IP. Learn the key decisions, trade-offs, and strategies that move a patent off the wall and into the market.

April 27, 202651 min

Inventor Led Disclosures - IA #70

Turn your invention disclosures into powerhouse assets. 💡🚀 In this episode of Invent Anything, John Cronin breaks down why the traditional invention disclosure process often falls short and how to transform it into an inventor-led, business-grade strategy that drives real ROI. From understanding claims, enablement, and prior art to expanding ideas through inventive thinking tools and business strategy alignment, this episode connects the dots between a simple disclosure and a high-value patent portfolio You’ll learn: Why most invention disclosures are too weak, too vague, or too disconnected from final patent claims The true role of patent counsel and where inventors can add more value Inventor-led thinking tools like inventing around, species/genus expansion, and master disclosure strategy How business-grade thinking boosts licensing value, platform growth, and competitive advantage How combining inventor-led and business-grade approaches can multiply patent strength and company valuation If you’re an inventor, CEO, engineer, or anyone navigating the patent process, this episode offers a 360° view of how to build stronger patents, smarter portfolios, and more valuable intellectual property. Subscribe for more insights on turning innovation into real-world impact.

April 22, 202656 min

Building The Inventive Muscle - IA #69

Build the Inventive Muscle Before AI Does 🚀 Is invention rare genius… or a skill you can train? In this episode of Invent Anything, John Cronin shares how creative thinking is a learnable process that drives 10X–100X results From his journey as IBM’s top inventor to building the IBM Patent Factory, he explains why invention is a muscle and how to strengthen it. You’ll learn: • Practical creativity tools like noun/verb thinking • Why most organizations struggle to innovate • How AI and AGI are creating a “digital inventive muscle” The future of innovation is here. The only question is whether you’ll train for it. Subscribe for more from Invent Anything.

April 17, 202633 min

The IP Value Pendulum Has Swung Back: Here's What It Means for You - IA #68

The value of patents is rising again, fast. In this episode of Invent Anything, John Cronin breaks down why the IP value pendulum has swung back toward stronger patents, and what this dramatic shift means for CEOs, inventors, investors, product leaders, marketers, and legal teams. Over the past decade, Inter Partes Review (IPR) weakened patents and made litigation unpredictable. But recent policy changes at the U.S. Patent Office have reversed course, restoring patent strength, enhancing enforceability, and shaking up IP strategy across industries. Whether you're building an IP portfolio, navigating product roadmaps, defending against copycats, or trying to understand how AI will transform litigation, this episode gives you the full landscape.

April 12, 20261 hr 3 min

The New IP Gold Rush - IA #67

AI is triggering a new IP gold rush, and the entire landscape is shifting. In this episode of Invent Anything, John Cronin breaks down how AI is transforming IP landscapes: from mapping unseen patent white spaces and decoding competitor strategies, to spotting where the next big inventions will emerge. You’ll learn how AI tools can supercharge your IP strategy, the risks of AI-generated patents, and what CEOs, inventors, and IP leaders must do now to stay ahead instead of getting blindsided. If you’re building or protecting innovation in the age of AI, this episode is your new playbook. 💡📈

April 7, 20261 hr 2 min

Compelling Case To Develop Patents if You Are Integrating AI Into Your Business - IA #65

In this episode of Invent Anything, John Cronin explores how artificial intelligence is transforming the world of intellectual property. He outlines six key topics from current business adoption of AI, to the evolution of patent strategies, to the future of AI-powered innovation. John Cronin explains how AI is accelerating invention across industries, enabling “in-time” patent creation, and turning patents into living, revenue-generating assets. He highlights the new types of inventions possible in AI-assisted businesses spanning business models, functional inventions, novel compositions, multi-sensory interfaces, and advanced manufacturing processes. Looking ahead, John predicts an unprecedented surge in invention velocity, reduced R&D costs, and new domains for patent protection. For startups, corporate innovators, investors, attorneys, and policymakers, the message is clear: leveraging AI and IP together will be a competitive baseline for business success in the years to come.

April 2, 202658 min

Agentic AI Redefining How Business Gets Done and How IP Can Help - IA #64

Agentic AI is transforming the business world—fast. In this compelling episode of Invent Anything, John Cronin breaks down how intelligent software agents are not just supporting work but replacing it. From automating entire workflows to building custom systems in minutes, companies are slashing overhead, ditching bloated SaaS tools, and discovering they can run leaner, faster, and more efficiently than ever before. One person can now do the work of what used to be an entire department—sometimes even create a billion-dollar company—by harnessing 50+ AI agents. But with great power comes the need for protection. As Cronin emphasizes, if AI can clone your workflow in hours, intellectual property (IP) becomes more than just useful—it’s essential. Companies that understand this are racing to patent not just their products, but the workflows and agents behind them. Whether it’s automating compliance, onboarding, or creating self-improving systems through reflective AI, the opportunity to generate patentable innovations is exploding. Cronin outlines six core topics: the shift from manual to machine; reinventing IP strategy in the AI era; redesigning lean, scalable businesses; building enterprise stacks of agents; the rise of reflective AI that evolves without retraining; and using IP as a strategic advantage in this new landscape. This episode isn’t just for CEOs—it’s for anyone navigating the future of work, from solopreneurs to enterprise teams. With Agentic AI on the rise, understanding how to deploy it—and defend it—is now a competitive necessity. Watch to learn how to future-proof your organization while riding the wave of the most disruptive tech shift in decades. #AgenticAI #FutureOfWork #AIandIP #InventAnything #Automation #ReflectiveAI #BusinessStrategy #Patents #IntellectualProperty #Innovation #ipcg.com

May 9, 20251 hr 18 min

Organizing New AI Capability Into The Inventiveness Of Your Product Development - IA #63

In this must-listen episode of Invent Anything , John Cronin dives deep into how artificial intelligence—and specifically AI agents—are revolutionizing the way businesses innovate. Whether you’re an executive, entrepreneur, inventor, or just curious about the future of product development, this episode delivers a strategic roadmap for integrating AI into your innovation workflows. Cronin breaks down six powerful ways AI and AI agents are reshaping everything from invention processes to IP creation. You’ll learn how these tools are not just speeding things up—they’re uncovering hidden value, streamlining supply chains, enhancing prototyping, and even generating patentable ideas that businesses would otherwise miss. He explores how AI is evolving beyond just large language models into goal-oriented agents and ultimately, toward superintelligent systems that might soon outperform traditional R&D teams. From real-world use cases like AI-powered prototyping and automated patent writing, to surprising insights such as how AI can spot unseen user needs or recommend cost-saving materials, Cronin shares dozens of practical applications and eye-opening stories from his own consulting experience. He also warns that sitting on the sidelines isn’t an option—businesses that delay adopting AI risk being left behind. This episode is ideal for: Founders and CTOs looking for quick wins with AI Innovation leaders and product teams aiming to streamline development IP professionals exploring new frontiers in AI-driven protection Business strategists ready to future-proof operations As AI accelerates at lightning speed, Cronin urges listeners to act now—and not just to keep up, but to lead. From laying the foundation to embracing advanced AI ecosystems, he shows how you can gain a competitive edge, reduce costs, and unlock entirely new opportunities. Tune in to discover how to transform your ideas into market-ready innovations—faster, smarter, and more strategically than ever before.