BEFORE YOU SHARE
Showing your idea to people — NDAs and what to hold back
Founders commonly share what their product does, not how it works.
An NDA (non-disclosure agreement) is a contract where someone agrees to keep information confidential. It's only as good as its terms, and as the ability to enforce them. Many investors don't sign NDAs at all, so founders commonly plan what to say without one.
Public disclosure can affect patent rights, and the grace period in the US is limited. A trade secret can be lost if it's shared without an agreement to keep it confidential.
Many founders keep a note of who was told what, and when. Pathset never asks how anything works, so nothing here needs those details.
Why this matters to your business
Investors, partners and early customers are how a business grows, so sharing is part of the job. Deciding in advance what stays private keeps options open, including patents and trade secrets that depend on how things were shared.
What an attorney will want to know
- Who has seen the product or idea so far, and when
- Anything shared in public, such as a pitch, a post or a demo
- Any NDAs already signed, and with whom
Ask your attorney
What should I hold back before I show this to anyone?
Would an NDA help in my situation?
General information, not legal advice. An attorney confirms how this applies to you.