Excellent prospects for Brillianze – Going for patents from the start
— Patents always have and always will be very important to us. Patent protection is something investors demand and appreciate. The protection provides security at early stages, and without that positive advance notice we would not have gone ahead. So far, we have launched our RolloGuard equipped walker, which reduces the risk of falling for users. RolloGuard is developed by Brillianze and based on their unique and innovative transversor technology. Patrik Zander, the CEO of Brillianze, explains that RolloGuard is said to be the first real innovation within the walker industry in over 30 years.
RolloGuard prevents overrun and shortens stopping distances. Simply put, this is what Brillianze’s patented Transversor does.
– RolloGuard fall protection is mounted on the walker’s wheels, but does not alter how the walker is manufactured or certified. Our invention is completely mechanical and stops the walking frame instantly if it starts to accelerate in an uncontrolled manner. As well as making existing products far safer and more efficient, our patented technology opens a path for completely new products, says Patrik Zander, who singles out some of the strengths of the invention.
– The Transversor is the only autonomous technology that can prevent accidents and control movement by tackling the cause of the problem instead of the symptoms. All this, without increasing power consumption and without any loss of performance.
In 2016, Patrik Zander felt it was the right time to start a company together with his father, Sten-Thore Zander, and Brillianze was founded. Sten-Thore Zander is the man behind the completely mechanical invention of the Transversor, which was initially intended for fishing reels as a simple way to prevent tangles on the fishing line.
– My father was a watchmaker and extremely good at precision mechanics, he was already in the 1980s privately making prototypes of the Transversor. My strengths are related to business management and strategy, although I have inherited some of his technical aptitude. The possibility of applying for a patent was actually the first thing I looked into. Was our technology unique? The first step was to bring in a patent agency to assist us with a novelty search, says Patrik, who has a background in software, product marketing, and start-ups.
When finding a suitable patent agency it is important to find an agency with the right competence that you can easily work and collaborate with.
– We’re a small company and used to being in control. I opted for Filip Skarp and Ström & Gulliksson because I had a good feeling about the company and especially Filip. It’s fun, working with someone who’s passionate about their work. Him understanding the technology is a must, but having the right match in personality matters too. There are many aspects involved in finding the right basis for a collaboration, Patrik says. Patrik goes on to say that he has the paralegal Helen Tåstmark to thank for their smooth collaboration.
– Communication has to be swift and smooth, and it has to feel safe. Communication with Helen works really well, and these days I’ve loosened the reins and now I rely far more on Ström & Gulliksson.
Creative company, strategic investment, strong product
– Brillianze is a really creative company with notable competence in mechanical design, something quite unusual these days. Plus, they have continually invested in new technologies, machines and equipment to produce their own prototypes, says European patent attorney Filip Skarp, who tells a story about a company with real know-how and resilience.
– But they also have the openness and flexibility to refocus, to apply their patented technology to other products in other industries than they initially intended. Their success is made possible by their patents which have significantly helped reach and convince investors of their technology.
Patience, trust, important choices
As a company, Brillianze thinks long-term and strategically, and they don’t rush processes needed to achieve results, says Filip, who together with the paralegal Helen Tåstmark is working closely with Brillianze.
– Their first patent application was quite structural and mechanical. But the subsequent ones, and especially the third one currently under prosecution, have been very functional and will provide superb protection. One objective of their growing patent portfolio is profitable licensing.
As for the patent process, Patrik Zander reckons it is what it is. Yes, it takes time. Yes, sometimes it’s complicated. And yes, it’s a relief when a patent is granted.
– The patent applications have definitely caused me many sleepless nights. The patent applications are at the heart of our business! I’ve learnt just how crucial wording of the application is. It has to be clear and instructive in the extreme. We have to explain it exhaustively, but also say how the patent examiner should interpret what we’ve invented, says Patrik, whose personality seems a mix of stubbornness and patience with a determination to prove what he knows really does work.
– If I know I’m right, I will never give up. I realized early on that our invention works, and I’ve seen the reactions of everyone else who has realized it.
With only a handful of employees, Brillianze has chosen to invest in premises and equipment that enables it to design, develop, and produce in-house.
– Our premises are large enough for manufacturing, stock, and some logistics. It’s a special feeling, seeing ideas drafted on a whiteboard in the morning and then holding the product prototype that same afternoon. It means it’s easy for us to show the possibilities to our customers, who really like the fact that all manufacturing and assembly is done in Sweden.