Empowering Minds: Women entrepreneurs two-step through funding and mentorship to the beat of intellectual property (IP)

Join Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Kathi Vidal as she moderates a panel that embodies innovation, entrepreneurship, mentorship, and IP expertise. Breaking through barriers, these successful women have fostered ideas into prosperous ventures making a lasting impact. They will be sharing their riveting journeys and unveiling the significance of IP protection to attract investment, network, and connect with mentors. Please join our upcoming #WEWednesday event virtually or in person from Nashville, TN on September 6, 2023 at 12 p.m. CT | 1 p.m. ET.
See the full agenda, read speaker biographies, and register today for this FREE event.
Featured guests include:

• Kathi Vidal, Under Secretary for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO
• Lindsey Cox, CEO, LaunchTN
• Toni Hickey, Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary, Atmus Filtration Technologies
• Cris Lacy, Co-President, Warner Music Nashville
• Kayla Rodriguez Graff, Co-Founder, SweetBio
• Shannen Stewart, Founder, Heels & Handshakes

 
And don't forget: Upcoming events and valuable resources
 
Innovator events for everyone
This diverse set of annual programming, open to all, provides relevant intellectual property (IP), innovation, and invention resources to independent inventors, small businesses, entrepreneurs, and underrepresented or underserved populations. Organized by the Office of Innovation Outreach, these events help everyone better understand, secure, and use IP. Working with partners from other federal agencies, organizations, and universities, the USPTO connects the public to innovators at these free events year-round.
The free, online IP Identifier
You may have intellectual property you don’t even know about. Use this free tool to help identify potentially valuable assets.
First-Time Filer Expedited Examination Pilot Program
The free First-Time Filer Expedited Examination Pilot Program increases accessibility to the patent system for inventors new to the patent application process, including those in historically underserved geographic and economic areas. Applications in this program can expect to get a first action in about half the time (on average about 15 months) of a regular application (on average about 30 months). Please feel free to share news of this program with fellow innovators. The program will conclude upon acceptance of 1,000 qualifying applications or March 11, 2024, whichever occurs first.