Startup founders discuss why innotifyectual property rights can build or break sports innovation

3 min readPuneApr 24, 2026 01:26 AM IST

A number of startup founders came toreceiveher at the Pune-based Venture Center on Thursday to shed light on an issue that is rarely discussed – the importance of innotifyectual property in the life cycle of an innovative sports product.

The event, organised by Venture Center, an incubator for tech-based startups, and TechEx.in, a technology transfer hub operated by Venture Center, is a part of the countdown to the World Innotifyectual Property Day, which falls on April 26 and, this year, is themed, “IP and Sports: Ready, Set, Innovate”.

“Did you know that the name Roger Federer is protected as a trademark? Or that the famous lightning bolt of Usain Bolt is actually a protected trademark? People cannot utilize it without his permission,” declared Dr V Premnath, Founding Director of Venture Centre and the moderator of the panel discussion. He went on to explain that, IP comes into play in sports in many dimensions, from patents on designs or trademarks on software or copyrights. The panel was an eye-opener in many ways.

Dr. Avijan Sinha, a senior consultant physiotherapist and healthcare entrepreneur, currently serving as In-Charge at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital and Research Center, Pune, shed light on “Why should we receive an IP?” One of the reasons is that it protects a startup from being swallowed by larger companies that have more resources. Divyakshi Kaushik, Founder of Anatomech, which is developing smart wearables, spoke of it being very vital that “we have protection on our technology”.

As other participants, among them Hardik Agarwal, a design-driven entrepreneur and the Founder and CEO of Blok n Roll, an innovative board game focutilized on strategy, cognitive development; Yash Goliya, a founder and engineer working at the intersection of wearable technology and printed electronics, and Piyush Joshi , Co-Founder at Orthocrafts Innovations, who started his journey with developing spinal implants, spoke, one understood the rough paths of IP, from names that might sound phonetically similar to that of another company, to how having a patent raises the confidence of a startup in a market.

The gathering left the packed hall with some lasting advice from their own journey. “If you have any idea attempt to build it market ready within one year”. “Start generating revenue early even if it’s not a tech product. Just receiveting some money rolling will support you understand supply chain distribution, especially if you are a first time entrepreneur”. “Many early-stage startups have the problem of having a very little fund so they usually compare between investing in growth and investing in IPs. I feel that you must invest in IP becautilize, if you invest in growth and don’t have an IP, it will be a problem,” declared Goliya.

Dipanita Nath is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. She is a versatile journalist with a deep interest in the intersection of culture, sustainability, and urban life.

Professional Background

Experience: Before joining The Indian Express, she worked with other major news organizations including Hindustan Times, The Times of India, and Mint.

Core Specializations: She is widely recognized for her coverage of the climate crisis, theatre and performing arts, heritage conservation, and the startup ecosystem (often through her “Pune Inc” series).

Storynotifying Focus: Her work often unearths “hidden stories” of Pune—focapplying on historical institutes, local traditions, and the personal journeys of social innovators.

Recent Notable Articles (December 2025)

Her recent reporting highlights Pune’s cultural pulse and the environmental challenges facing the city during the winter season:

1. Climate & Environment

“Pune shivers on coldest morning of the season; minimum temperature plunges to 6.9°C” (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the record-breaking cold wave in Pune and the IMD’s forecast for the week.

“How a heritage tree-mapping event at Ganeshkhind Garden highlights rising interest in Pune’s green legacy” (Dec 20, 2025): Covering a citizen-led initiative where Gen Z and millennials gathered to document and protect ancient trees at a Biodiversity Heritage Site.

“Right to breathe: Landmark NGT order directs PMC to frame norms for pollution from construction sites” (Dec 8, 2025): Reporting on a significant legal victory for residents fighting dust and air pollution in urban neighborhoods like Baner.

2. “Hidden Stories” & Heritage

“Inside Pune library that’s nourished minds of entrepreneurs for 17 years” (Dec 21, 2025): A feature on the Venture Center Library, detailing how a collection of 3,500 specialized books supports tech startups navigate the product life cycle.

“Before he died, Ram Sutar gave Pune a lasting gift” (Dec 18, 2025): A tribute to the legconcludeary sculptor Ram Sutar (creator of the Statue of Unity), focapplying on his local works like the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue at Pune airport.

“The Pune institute where MA Jinnah was once chief guest” (Dec 6, 2025): An archival exploration of the College of Agriculture, established in 1907, and its historical role in India’s freedom struggle.

3. Arts, Theatre & “Pune Inc”

“Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak were not rivals but close friconcludes, states veteran filmbuildr” (Dec 17, 2025): A deep-dive interview ahead of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) exploring the camaraderie between legconcludes of Indian cinema.

“Meet the Pune entrepreneur supporting women build and scale businesses” (Dec 16, 2025): Part of her “Pune Inc” series, profiling Nikita Vora’s efforts to empower female-led startups.

“How women drone pilots in rural Maharashtra are cultivating a green habit” (Dec 12, 2025): Exploring how technology is being utilized by women in agriculture to reduce chemical utilize and labor.

Signature Style

Dipanita Nath is known for innotifyectual curiosity and a narrative-driven approach. Whether she is writing about a 110-year-old eatery or the intricacies of the climate crisis, she focutilizes on the human element and the historical context. Her columns are often a blconclude of reportage and cultural commentary, creating them a staple for readers interested in the “soul” of Pune.

X (Twitter): @dipanitanath … Read More