Steel City Growth | AI for Business Growth: Scaling Smartly - Curtis Wadsworth - Steel City Growth

AI for Business Growth: Scaling Smartly - Curtis Wadsworth - Steel City Growth - Episode #16

August 7, 2025 / 37:50/E16

What can you do to protect your brand and ensure business success? Today’s guest is an AI enthusiast and and practicing patent attorney, Curtis Wadsworth, Partner and Chair of Intellectual Property at Jordon Voytek. Curt shares his journey from biology to law, the importance of protecting your brand, and his experiences founding companies in patent consulting and AI solutions for attorneys. The discussion also covers practical uses of AI in business, the significance of good partners and pragmatic legal advice, and the vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem in Pittsburgh. Curt offers valuable tips for new entrepreneurs and highlights the importance of having trustworthy legal support from the outset.

Takeaways:

Consistent Branding: Protect and consistently use your brand to ensure it is recognizable and not being infringed upon. Regularly monitor for potential trademark issues.
Cut Unnecessary Costs: Regularly review your expenses and cut subscriptions or services that are not contributing to your business to save money.
Seek Early Legal Advice: Engage a lawyer early in your business journey to ensure appropriate legal structures, protect intellectual property, and prevent potential legal issues.
Innovation in Business: Look for unique solutions to common problems in your industry. Innovate and stand out by addressing these pain points effectively.
Preparation for Entrepreneurship: Be ready for the challenges and uncertainties that come with starting and running a business. Persistence and adaptability are key.
Evaluation of Partnerships: When founding a company, ensure you have reliable and compatible partners. The right team can make a significant difference in your success.
Adopt AI Tools: Utilize AI for tasks like social media posts and data analysis. Simple tools such as ChatGPT can help streamline these tasks, even for those who are not tech-savvy.

Quote of the Show:

“There’s nothing more rewarding than starting your own thing.” - Curtis Wadsworth

What problem can the listeners help you solve?