About this page: Gyde Balzer Carstensen and

PATENTsmarter™

Hi I am Gyde Balzer Carstensen!

I created PATENTsmarter™ to help you collect the reward of your work!

I started PATENTsmarter™ in 2020 to help life science and biotech startups and spin offs from universities to plan solid protection strategies of their innovation.

With a background as a life science patent specialist from large corporate businesses, growing SMEs and startups, I saw a disconnect bewteen what you think you need to protect and how, when you are new (or a little familiar with) patentsand intellectual property rights – and what you must protect for business security and growth.

I thus created a place where decision-makers, CEOs and business owners could learn to strategize with their business potential, goals and future opportunities in mind – with more than theoretical insights, but offering frameworks, workflows and processes based on tested and proven methods and best practices, that they can’t learn from their patent consultants.

PATENTsmarter™ has since developed into a full fledsged swiss army knife when it comes to intellectial property knowledge on a strategic level.

So today I also help online and solo entrepreneurs, offering all round options for understanding, using and utilizing intellectual property rights to protect their business against copying and abuse in collaborations.

My goal with PATENTsmarter™ is to help you to:

Create better options for success & reward

A 2022 EUIPO revealed that 93% of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that registered their intellectual property rights (IPRs) saw positive impacts on their business.

Specifically, 60% reported improved reputation,
58% noted better IP protection, and
48% experienced enhanced long-term prospects.

Since only ~10% of SMEs in this study registered their IPRs, the remaining 90% potentially miss out on these positive effects. They need to understand how business and IP strategies work together to support their business outlook and get practical help to achieve, utilize, and maintain such rights.

My hands-on experience confirms that SMEs need more strategic IP-knowledge

14+ years of evaluating small business patent portfolios

During my career in strategic and decision-making roles at Novo Nordisk, H. Lundbeck, and Zealand Pharma, I have observed a significant knowledge gap in small businesses’ intellectual property (IP) and patent portfolios during mergers, acquisitions, and collaborations.

In many of these portfolios, valuable innovations were not adequately protected, resulting in fewer or lower offers than what could have been achieved with a more strategic approach focused on business development.

The primary goal of PATENTsmarter™ is to offer structured options that apply logic similar to your business thinking. This allows you to ensure that your innovations and creations receive the recognition and rewards they deserve.

Why i do this

I care because...

When I meet business owners who feel copied or are accused of copying, the stress is tangible, and the overwhelming situation is evident. Conflicts about rights and ownership are part of running a business, but they don’t have to ruin your or your business’s health.

The emotional and financial burden of such conflicts can be dramatically reduced by learning, preventing, and proactively preparing for how to approach and deal with such situations. When you know what to do – it all feels less dangerous.

Think like an investor

Safeguard your investments

Many small businesses have patents that don’t effectively protect their key innovations. Instead of focusing on strategic protection, they often apply rushed and unrealistic practices.

Click here to unfold examples...

Examples of such practices have three things in common: they do not consider the business strategy and potential marketed products, disregard future needs for development and protection, and show a lack of IP-strategic insights in general.

Thus, they result in the following:

Try to secure their rights too early, leading to unclear and weak protections.
Seek overly broad claims that don’t match their actual contributions, which can cause confusion and limit future protection options for new products. This can also lead to costly conflicts.
Reveal their innovations before securing protection, which reduces their competitive edge and protection options.
Wait too long to protect their ideas, allowing competitors to gain patents that block their launches and sales.

As a result, they may find themselves in a merger or acquisition situation where they do not receive fair compensation for their work.

Instead, they deal with reduced business value due to poor patent strategies. Investing becomes risky and limiting when the steps aren’t clear.

You are at risk - statistically speaking

Every 4th European SME is copied

This study from 2022 also showed that about 27% of small and medium-sized entities (SMEs) reported infringement of their intellectual property rights (IPRs).

About 15% of these were infringements of registered IPRs (such as trademarks and/or patents), in contrast to the remaining non-registered IPRs (e.g., copyrights). The number of infringed registered rights varied slightly in the range of 14-16%, depending on the size of the businesses.

The smaller the company, the higher the risk of infringement of your registered IP rights.

Tangible consequences

34% less chance of survival...

The OECD and EUIPO confirmed a rather daunting statistic in a study published in 2023: “Risks of Illicit Trade in Counterfeits to Small and Medium‑Sized Firms”.

According to this study, SMEs (0-250 headcounts), including startups (0-50 headcounts) and micro enterprises (0-10 headcounts) that experienced intellectual property (IP) infringement (aka copying, plagiarism, piracy) have a 34% reduced chance of surviving the following 5 years, compared to those businesses who are not infringed.

In other words, counterfeiting dramatically increases the risk that an SME may exit the market, making continued operations unprofitable and potentially leading to business closure or even bankruptcy.

Before, during & after your patent attorney - or IP-lawyer collaboration

The idealify® approach and principles

The idearlify® approach and its principles form the foundation of everything I (Gyde Balzer Carstensen) do in PATENTsmarter™ – on my own, with partners, for my customers – and even in my employments before I started PATENTsmarter™, the part-time work I do along side it – and possibly future employments acting at IP/patent expert. The approach is what I am – you could call it “my personal brand” in a way.

So, idearlify®, PATENTsmarter™ and GydeBalzer Carstensen stand for the same thing

It represents my commitment to providing knowledge and insights about intellectual property rights (IPR) at various levels – and in human lingo. This includes business-relevant frameworks and tools that are adjustable to your needs and make it easier for you to apply what already works for thousands of businesses worldwide while avoiding repeating mistakes that ruined others…

PATENTsmarter & Gyde Balzer Carstensen (or just; Gyde)

How it started...

There is a lot to say when you have worked in patents and with intellectual property and regulatory exclusivities for over 16 years – so if your want more on my career path and education as well as PATENTsmarter’s™ development over the years, the below timeline is chronological storyline of it all. Not highlighting every little bit – but the high level events throughout the years.

2007-2018

Work history

PATENTsmarter™ (2020-)

I started PATENTsmarter™ in 2020 while working full time while still being committed to my career as an in-house patent specialist.

Larsen & Birkeholm (2021-)

I work at Larsen & Birkeholm as a patent specialist and European patent attorney, mainly supporting biotech and life science startups. The main focus is preparing the patent portfolio for funding applications and/or due diligence processes concerning mergers or acquisitions.

Metaceutic (2021-2021)

I was temporarily helping the CEO at Metaceutic in a 4 months position as head of Operations, Relations and IP working with process implementation, analysis, preparing legal arguments in connection with authorities and more.

H. Lundbeck (2019-2021)

I was responsible for planning and executing long- and short-term protection of potential products from early to late stage. However, my main focus was on late sage products and support to the litigation team, Long-term patent strategies, preparing for patent cliffs, and optimizing Patent Term Extension Strategies.
I also instruct external counsel, follow up, prepare the complete patent portfolio, and secure mitigation of potential third-party patent-related risks.

Zealand Pharma (2018-2019)

I was responsible for planning and executing long- and short-term protection of potential products from early to late stage, instructing external counsel, following up, preparing the complete patent portfolio, and securing mitigation of potential third-party patent-related risks.
I provided and prepared a project and product development-aligned checklist for risk and opportunity capture throughout the pipeline.
I also engaged with regulatory affairs to learn from each other and optimize Patent Term Extension knowledge and processes.

Novo Nordisk A/S (2011-2017)

I spent almost 7 years at Novo Nordisk in different positions, from temp to principal patent attorney and project manager, focusing on patent litigation readiness projects.
Most of my positions included global strategic and executive responsibility for the patent strategy (exclusivity and freedom to operate), instructing internal patent team members and external local counsel, and preparing for oppositions and other patent conflicts with external local support, including Europe, Denmark, and the US.

Budde Schou (2009-2010)

My first years of training as a patent attorney were spent in a small patent law firm in Copenhagen.
After a short while, I was offered to represent Budde Schou at satellite offices (on my own) and thus spent 1-2 days per week in Sønderborg and Odense for a longer period, supporting the local innovation hubs with patent knowledge and gave my first patent lectures at the University (Alsion).

Education

EUROPEAN PATENT ATTORNEY (2014)

After years of working full-time at one other Novo Nordisk and studying for the European Qualifying Exams, I passed in 2014 and am now a member of Professional Representatives at the European Patent Office.
Currently (in 2025), there are 332 representatives on the list from Denmark and 10.000 across Europe. The certification can be taken by professionals trained under European Patent Attorneys by signing up for over 20 hours of examinations in 4 main categories of work-related tests.
The certifications prove a minimum skill set and training in the European patent framework; however, they can never stand alone. I believe that my experience from in-house positions, in combination with this Exam, helps me understand your strategic needs and options from your standpoint compared to other colleagues who have always worked as external advisors.

DANISH CERTIFIED PATENT AGENT (2012)

The Danish certificate is a broader patent exam than the European Patent Attorney certification above. The course and Exams are available for qualification after 3 years working with patents and other IPs and provide insights into Danish and European competition law, trademark, copyright, patent, utility models, and marketing acts.

MSC. BIOMEDICINE (2008)

I graduated with a Master of Science in Biomedicine in 2008. In 2006 or 2007, I managed to sign up for a patent course, which I expected to be boring but necessary. I was surprised and found my future career path by chance at the University of Southern Denmark.
In 2007, I moved to Copenhagen to do my Masters work at Novo Nordisk Laboratories and graduated in 2008, with two job offers at hand. And that's how it all began.

University of Southern Denmark (2007)

I took my first patent course at the university and got "hooked".

Volunteer & sports

Career mentor & Coach (2007-)

I've spent the last 18+ years voluntarily helping expats (and their spouses) and international students, as well as Danish students, find their first job in Denmark or change careers.
This work has honed my spotting opportunities and special skills, supporting people struggling to find a way forward after a long period of receiving rejections, and has made me a compassionate leader, mentor, and friend. I help 1-2 people per year in their job hunt.

Ida Mentor 1:1 (2016-2019)

For some years, I was a mentor through the career mentor program at IDA (Danish Engineers Society), helping newly graduated students (Danish and international) find their career paths and land their first jobs.

Foreningen nydansker (2013-2019)

I was a career mentor at FORENINGEN NYDANSKER for some years, helping ex-pats and their spouses to write applications and CVs that speak to the Danish employees. I helped 1-2 expats per year in this period.

Greater Copenhagen Career Programme (2014-2015)

After helping many students and friends find and apply for jobs I started my official volunteer career mentor career in 2014.

Indor cycling instructor at sats, Novo fitness and more (2007-2019)

I enjoyed helping many people get into shape, from beginners to triathletes. I taught for up to 15 hours in my peak period, but my usual quota was 2-4 hours per week.

2018 - dreams

Started dreaming big and bought my patentsmarter.com domain

the big dream

After countless analyses of startup patent portfolios related to mergers, acquisitions, and research or service collaborations, I recognized an important truth:

Many startups and university spin-offs have incredible technology but often lack the vital business insight and strategic knowledge to protect their innovations.

When they patent too broadly, too early, or too late, they inadvertently diminish their investment potential.

If these inventors and inexperienced business founders had understood the patent strategies that would make them attractive to large companies in the future, they could have positioned themselves more effectively and secured more significant funding (reward) for their innovative work.

This realization sparked my dream to provide startups with clear and empowering patent strategy insights.

In 2017, I came up with the name PATENTsmarter™, and one day, I checked if the domain name was available. I was thrilled that patentsmarter.com wasn’t taken yet – unbelievable, right?!

2019 - laying foundations

Overcame shyness and laid the foundation for PATENTsmarter™

I did something...

Now, I owned my domain name, started planning, took courses, and realized I was camera shy.

Whoops…

I looked for training and started working towardrd my goal. If others could overcome their shyness, I could do so, too, and my vision of helping entrepreneurs and inventors was significant enough.

2020 - part-time start

Launched part-time, focused on building the brand and courses

the part-time start

I registered my business this year with VAT numbers and everything else. I also started building my homepage and course platform, with translation options, self-hosting, and everything else I considered necessary to ensure that I control my (and your) data.

I learned a lot and created my first version of the brand and homepage.

I also started my Instagram profiles. While I practiced my communication skills, learning how to speak to my audience and not my peers/colleagues in IP, I realized an important thing:

Many entrepreneurs believe patents can protect names and texts and feel that they’ve been copied (although they may not feel this way without the law supporting this allegation). Therefore, I decided to focus on these IPRs briefly since my direct messages were filled with requests and questions.

2021 - "all in"

Going "all in" and building my course platform and home page

"all in"

I never thought that PATENTsmarter™ would turn into a career since the one I had was great, and I loved my patent specialist in-I never imagined that PATENTsmarter™ would evolve into a career, especially since I loved my in-house role as a patent specialist. I worked hard to earn my title as a European Patent Attorney in 2014 and achieved my Danish Certification in 2012.

However, it became increasingly challenging to address all the inquiries from small business owners and digital entrepreneurs. I wanted to produce products and establish my course platform, but balancing that with a demanding job that required 50 to 70 hours per week was difficult.

By the end of 2021, I made the decision to go “all in.” I had successfully produced, marketed, and sold my first online course in Danish, prepared a two-hour live course, and created an online beginners’ patent course for Biomedical Design students at Københavns Universitet in both Danish and English. I also guest-lectured at an MBA program at CBS in Denmark (in person) and ESADE in Spain (online), delivered guest blog posts, and provided bonus courses for other educators who support entrepreneurs.

Financial buffer for PATENTsmarter™ and colleagues fro Gyde

There was simply too much to manage with two jobs. Larsen & Birkeholm noticed my activities and offered me a role working two days a week. I accepted, and since September 15, 2021, I have been supporting life science and biotech startups and SMEs. My work includes drafting patents, developing patent strategies, conducting Freedom to Operate analyses, and much more. This opportunity has given me wonderful colleagues and an office in the heart of Copenhagen.

I am incredibly grateful for this position, as it alleviates the financial pressure on PATENTsmarter™ while allowing me to focus on my vision. More importantly, it enables me to maintain my skills as a patent specialist and make a difference with advice, while I can keep my work at PATENTsmarter™ independent from any conflicting interests of delivering advice at a high hourly rate.

First productions and happy customers

I launched my first online course series that I named StopOnlineCopy™: 1) StopOnlineCopy™ICE-Guide In case of emergency guide for the critical moments, whenyou realize that you’ve been copied 2) The StopOnlineCopy™TOOLKIT the prevention action quick-fix collection and 3) The StopOnlineCopy™TOOLBOX, the comprehensive strategy guide for finding you most valuable assets, and matching them with tools that can prevent and stopp copies. (This series is not available anymore, as such, but has been included in other products).

I also held a 2X3 hours webinar about clinical trial inventions and patent strategies for a senior leader at H. Lundbeck. My previous colleague from H. Lundbeck wanted to bolster their strategic insights to elevate their options for providing input to IPR discussions based on the work in clinical trials.

Clinical Development at H. Lundbeck A/S In my area of responsibility at Lundbeck, clinical development in psychiatry, I always felt that my knowledge about the very important area of IP/patents is too fragmented. So I was extra happy that I got the opportunity to do a test drive with Gyde’s beta version of her newly developed webinar series of 3x2hs on this topic. Gyde is a very competent senior patent attorney and developed an excellent, highly engaging and didactically very thought through curriculum which further shaped my perspective and strategic approach to IP/patent matters. Also newer challenges like use of digital health technologies in drug development were addressed. If you are interested to learn more about IP/patents in a very insightful and entertaining way I can only recommend to attend this course.- reviewing a 2X3 hours webinar about inventions in clinical trials

2022 - promising start and then...

It all started so promising, until Covid hit me harder than expected

great start - sh***y end

In March 2022, after extensive networking, participating in a podcast, lecturing again at Biomedical Design, and creating a Danish plug-and-play course package extending the “Stop Online Copy” series content; “STOP TYVEN”-pakken, which would change name in the future, I received a significant order from Gubra A/S.

This tailor-made solution included a beginner’s patent course for their entire R&D department and a two-day in-depth workshop for their project management and decision-maker team.
The workshops were a great success; however, shortly after, I contracted Covid-19.

This started a series of events that triggered an immune reaction that would give me a fever for the next 2,5 years while the doctors tried to fix me.

Everything was paused, while I struggled to get better.

Presents a complex topic in a fun and engaging way. We had the pleasure to learn about IP and patents from Gyde in a two-day workshop. Gyde facilitated a very nice workshop with a thought through curriculum and managed to communicate a rather complex topic in a highly engaging and fun way.- reviewing 1 3-days patent workshop for project managers in research and development and a 2 hours beginners patent course for the entire research function.

Incredibly competent and really good cooperation Gyde has a very professional and sympathetic approach to advice in the patent world. I have experienced Gyde as a mega knowledgeable and skilled person, and she has helped us both strategically and hands-on, to secure our IPR, FtO, and trademark protection, something that is incredibly important when you are sitting with innovative concepts, prototypes, and inventions. Can highly recommend Gyde and Patentsmarter.- reviewing a collaboration

2023 - back in the game

Bounced back stronger, introduced the game-changing "STOP TYVEN" pakken

game-changing introduction

In 2023 the doctors finally found some medical treatment that reduces the fever and helped me gain strength.

While I was still on my very long path of recovery, I scaled up my working hours.

I hired a mentor to help me streamline my product strategy, marketing, and sales efforts so that I could spend my limited time on my business wisely.

Working with my mentore led to the production of a never-before-seen (at least I had not found it anywhere before I created it) Danish plug-and-play template and online course package for digital entrepreneurs, “STOP TYVEN”-pakken, which took all the good stuff from the StopOnlineCopy™ series and packaged it for even easier use. Our collaboration also kicked off my Danish newsletter for small business owners and entrepreneurs.

I started marketing it and was invited to appear on another Podcast as a guest. I discussed “digital copying” and how to prevent and avoid it, including avoiding making false accusations.

2024 - expansion

Expanded services, crafted new courses, and tackled personal challenges

expanding

In 2024, I formally added 1:1 sparring sessions to my offerings and practiced my online communication on Instagram. I focused on small businesses and provided them with business-critical protection strategies and tools. I continued to offer the Danisg “STOP TYVEN”-pakken, smaller mini-courses, and free webinars.

I have helped several entrepreneurs and startups by offering customized sparring bundle deals that align with their needs (see some examples here).

Simultaneously, I started producing my newest idearlify® IDEA to PATENT course, which is precisely that: A step-by-step guide from idea to patent. It’s more than your regular patent course and is a huge endeavor.

A patent consultant’s surprise and shock after a sneak peak

A patent counsel colleague I trusted with my master plan and initial work products commented something like this after a long pause: “So you are sharing everything that a patent attorney knows and does but never tells their clients in one go (because it’s not the job at hand) and combine it with everything you know from an in-house business strategy perspective?! – That’s smart! But you will never be able to ask what this is worth!“

Oh, and I know that, but I can make a massive difference for startups and SMEs that need to implement solid IP strategies. I also discuss trade secrets and other IPs and offer different levels of insight, ensuring you’re not overwhelmed but can apply what you learned in practice.

Anothoer little break – personal matters need attention too

My work was unfortunately interrupted (again!!!) by a move and renovation project that expanded from 4 months to almost 8 months and thus occupied my attention, followed by surgery in November and another recovery round.

Although this was tough, I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t get back in the saddle. So, by the end of 2024, I was ready to look ahead to the new year 2025, without renovation, and according to the hospital, there was very little activity of the disease.

2025 - refocusing

Refocusing on my mission of empowering startups and SMEs

back to patents

It’s time to serve startups and growing SMEs and to produce patent-focused offers. I will still support solo entrepreneurs and provide offers, but I will not focus my marketing efforts that much on this audience. Why? Small businesses are often unaware of their needs, so I spent too much time on awareness creation compared to what I originally planned for my business.

Remember, I started PATENTsmarter™ with technology and startups with inventions in mind, and I want to deliver on that promise (to myself and them). I am focusing on VIP-days (tailor-made solutions) and strategy workshops, however am currently looking into in which ways I can support start ups in life science and biotech with IPR-insights and strategies

In the fall 2025 I will be joining Dansk Selskab for Toksikologi og Farmakologi (DSTF) for a presentation: “It’s all about the timing: Valuable patent opportunities in toxicology and pre-clinical data.” at their annual meeting 2025.

Although my focus is not on online businessesses anymore, I am always happy to provide insights and 1:1 sparring. In May 2025 I also held a webinar at Dansk Erhvev – Digital Handel. Discussing options ans strategies to prevent, find and stop online copying, e.g. on homepages, in e-commerce settings, service providers, social media etc.

... to be continued

Does it work?

Trust what PATENTsmarter™ customers and followers say...

Gyde explains, so it's easy to understand. Gyde from Patentsmarter gave me precisely what I needed. With her professional insight, she was able to inform me about what was legally possible and correct, and at the same time, she could advise me about what was appropriate to do.Gyde is good at explaining so that you actually understand the technical and legal aspects you are not used to dealing with yourself.- reviewing a free 15 minutes sparring session

Useful advice on trademarks I received very useful advice from this company. my company in matters of rights and trademark. The help was easy to understand and was given in a friendly and educational manner. It has ended up saving me quite a bit of money. I can give my best recommendation to other companies or people who need help finding their way in the jungle of rules regarding rights to their own products and company name.- reviewing a free 15 minutes sparring session

Big recommendation from here Big recommendation from here! Very competent introduction to the patent world.- reviewing a 2 hours lecture and online beginners patent course at Biomedical design (Novo Nordisk Fonden and University of Copenhagen innovaion degree)

Excellent tool which is useful for... Excellent tool which is useful for everyone wishing to understand intellectual property, from individual inventor, start-up to those working in a larger company. Competently presented and easy to follow! - reviewing personal experience

An absolutely HUGE recommendation
Gyde from PATENTsmarter in always made it understandable and motivating to look into this important subject of protecting my company assets. I came to her without any clearance of what exactly I was looking for, and on top of knowledge I got ideas and inputs boosting my creative work with name and concept in my business.

At no point she was focused on sales and business and I have felt helped and guided due to sincere interest in helping me protect my business against copyists. I happily enlisted for a Masterclass PATENTsmarter did on how to stay safe from someone copying you and again insights were useful, straight on and easy to understand.

An absolutely HUGE recommendation to ALL small, medium and large business to contact PATENTsmarter if you need help/advice/input on how to avoid being copied. - reviewing a 2 hours workshop about finding a trademarkable business name for her next project.

Comment on Instagram, shared here with permission from @somelaerkejuhl

"The reason I specifically follow you is that you spell things out, in a super fun way!"

I am completely satisfied!

Gyde was recommended to me to help me review contracts and agreements, and I was already given concrete paths to take within our 15-minute clarification conversation.

I had two cases I needed help with, and I solved one in the 15-minute clearing interview – and thus chose to continue the collaboration, to my great satisfaction.- reviewing a free 15 minutes sparring session

Gyde from PATENTsmarter™ is my go-to person when I need to review new agreements and contracts.

Gyde is a keen observer who skillfully examines agreements to provide an initial assessment and overview. She then advises me impartially, allowing me to make the subsequent important decisions myself. Gyde excels at simplifying complex material and is an excellent help to me.”- reviewing a a 5 hours sparring bundle used to read and discuss a contract and prepare a negotiation strategy.

Start your business-relevant IP protection now!

Learn what you need and use your IP your way

My offers are designed to show you how to use these tools in your business to unlock new opportunities and protect your creations from being copied.I’m excited to help you better understand intellectual property rights, such as patents, trademarks, and copyrights. After all, my business was founded on them.Some of my services will help you find an IP strategy that fits your unique business type or model. Others provide a beginner-friendly introduction to the world of intellectual property, making it easy to decide if and when to explore which areas to apply to next.