Tracy Hazzard is the Co-founder of Hazz Design, a strategic consulting firm, and the CEO and Co-founder of Podetize, a podcasting platform used by over 550 podcasts with over 37,000 episodes to date. With her husband Tom Hazzard, they have launched over 250 products that have earned over $2 billion in retail sales and obtained over 37 patents.  In addition to being an acclaimed product designer, Tracy is a fantastic speaker who speaks about innovation and intellectual property on stages worldwide. She also hosts several podcasts of her own, including Product Launch Hazzards, WTFFF?! 3D Print Podcast, Feed Your Brand, The New Trust Economy, and The Binge Factor. In this episode… Obtaining multiple patents can be very effective for increasing the value of products and ultimately, your company. It also acts as a barrier to entry for other people who may be thinking of creating a similar product. In addition, a company with a big patent portfolio attracts investors and increases the likelihood of not only successfully selling and exiting the company, but getting a high return on investment from it. However, it is important to know the right time to get intellectual property.  In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein is joined by Tracy Hazzard, the Co-founder of Hazz Design and CEO and Co-Founder of Podetize, to discuss the role of intellectual property during an exit. They also talk about identifying the right time and reasons for getting a patent, how Podetize was started, and Tracy's journey to creating a podcasting microphone. Stay tuned.