The Congo Business Network International Network held an online event on July 6, 2019 on Cisco WebEx from 5pm to 7pm in Kinshasa. The theme of this session was « Strategic Partnerships: How to Build Relationships That Lead to Success for African Entrepreneurs ?« 

The purpose of this conference was to give the floor to Professor Jeff Reuer to talk to Congolese entrepreneurs and those in other African countries about what they need to do to develop strategic partnerships that lead to success in the business world.

In the business world, relationships are the most important benefit an entrepreneur can have, whether with investors, customers, suppliers or collaborators.

Marc Luanghy, an intellectual property expert and a member of the Congo Business Network, was among the participants at this event, which was organized through LinkedIn Events and Cisco WebEx. He is the founder of IP Stance, an intellectual property consulting firm based in Geneva, Switzerland.

The firm specializes in supporting entrepreneurs, research centers and start-ups in the strategic use of intellectual property to grow the value of their activities. IP Stance helps customers protect their businesses, commercially exploit intellectual property and enforce their rights.

During the event, Marc Luanghy advised participants to know that the majority of entrepreneurs do not know where the value of their activities really lies. Nowadays, intangible assets are by far the most valuable assets that a company can possess.

To gain and maintain a competitive advantage over its competitors, it is imperative to consider a strategic use of its intellectual property. It alone will allow you to enjoy multiple benefits. This is all the more relevant when concluding a strategic partnership; in these situations, any prudent entrepreneur must take into consideration:

1. The valuation of the intellectual property portfolio resulting directly from the trade with exposure risk during the collaboration. In this case, it is important to audit the intellectual property of your company before you engage in a formal strategic partnership. In this way, you will know first and foremost what is in your possession and possibly at risk.
2. Anticipating risks and identifying new intellectual property assets that may arise as a result of the collaboration. Primarily, the contractor needs to evaluate plausible and realistic scenarios from such collaboration, and listing and evaluating them will help you identify new IP assets to consider.
3. Negotiation and protocol around this new asset class. When concluding your partnership agreement, do not neglect the discussion about the control and management of new intellectual property assets directly derived from collaboration.

Congo Business Network is an international network of Congolese professionals and entrepreneurs. The network brings together experienced professionals and entrepreneurs in cities such as Hong Kong, Montreal, New York, Paris and Kinshasa.

Professionals work at companies such as Microsoft, BNP Paribas, Deloitte, Airbnb and Société Générale. The organization is led by a former US Army soldier, Noel K. Tshiani, president of Agere Global, a New York-based investment advisory and trading strategy firm.

The sponsors and partners of this session were Sodeico, led by Djo Moupondo based in Kinshasa; Nzuri Market, chaired by Blaise Biringanine based in Amsterdam; and Ebutelo, under the direction of Pierre Kabamba basé in Kinshasa.

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