Whether it’s “French girl” minimalism or 10-step Korean skincare routines, beauty and skincare have always been trending topics. At Vancouver-based BryoSphere Biotechnologies, a team of scientists and innovators are working on harnessing nature to develop bioactive skincare products.
BryoSphere was founded in 2022 to pioneer the use of genetically engineered moss in skincare and cosmetics, focusing on bioactive compounds with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, sun protecting and skin-brightening properties.
The company is currently scaling production from lab-scale to pilot-scale levels, refining formulations, and conducting safety and efficacy testing. The team at BryoSphere is in discussions with both small and large skincare brands, targeting a variety of contracts.
We met with co-founder and chief technology officer Hila Behar to discuss how AccelerateIP’s intellectual property guidance and support is helping the company as it strives for its goal of bringing its products to market within the next two years, at a competitive price and with scientific validation and regulatory compliance.
How far along in the IP journey were you before joining AccelerateIP?
We had identified the novelty and commercial potential of our engineered moss-derived compounds but lacked a structured IP strategy. We had preliminary discussions about patents through IRAP IP Assist, but hadn’t yet filed any applications or conducted freedom-to-operate assessments.
Our experience with IP was limited, and our focus had been on R&D, proof-of-concept, and early commercialization. While we recognized the importance of protecting our innovations, we needed guidance on patent landscapes, trademarks, and licensing strategies to position BryoSphere competitively in the market.
What made you decide to take part in the AccelerateIP program?
We joined AccelerateIP because we needed a comprehensive strategy to protect our engineered moss strains and bioactive compounds. The biggest challenge was understanding how to structure our patents to cover both the biological innovations (genetic modifications in moss) and the final skincare applications.
Additionally, we needed clarity on trademarking our key ingredients, navigating potential patent conflicts, and ensuring freedom to operate as we moved towards commercial production.
Without a clear IP roadmap, there was a risk of competitive duplication or barriers to market entry, making the AccelerateIP program an essential step for BryoSphere.
We’re thankful to have participated in all of the AccelerateIP program streams:
What impact did the program have on your business?
The program had a significant impact, providing concrete steps to secure our intellectual property and avoid potential missteps. Through AccelerateIP, we conducted a patent landscape analysis, identifying key areas of patentability and potential conflicts before filing.
We also refined our claims for patent applications and filed two provisional patents, and conducted a trademark search for BryoSphere Biotechnologies. This strengthened our position in our discussion with potential partners and investors.
Without AccelerateIP, our patent filing and IP protection strategy would have been disorganized and reactive rather than structured and proactive. The program gave us a clear path to allow us to file key patents early, start our path to protect our brand through trademarking, and enhance our negotiating position with potential partners and investors.
Most importantly, without a strong patent portfolio, we would not be able to commercialize our technology or secure strategic partnerships. Investors and corporate partners require clear IP protection to justify large-scale investments, and AccelerateIP has given us the foundation needed to confidently enter the market with protected, proprietary innovations.
What are your next steps going forward when it comes to IP?
Our immediate priority is to finalize our two pending patents. We also plan to expand our patent coverage to key international markets, including the U.S., select countries in Asia, and the EU, to strengthen our global position.
In addition to patents, we are moving forward with trademarking our ingredient brand name to build strong brand recognition and market differentiation. As we continue innovating, we will submit additional patent applications to protect new ingredients. Lastly, we aim to establish licensing agreements with future partners, allowing for strategic collaborations while maintaining control over our proprietary technology.
What would you tell anyone thinking about taking part in one of AccelerateIP’s streams?
If you’re a biotech startup with novel technology, AccelerateIP is an invaluable resource. It provides structured guidance to help you navigate complex IP challenges, ensuring you protect your innovations early and effectively.
The program not only clarifies the patenting process but also helps align IP strategy with business goals, making your technology more attractive to investors and partners. Without a solid IP foundation, even the most promising innovations can face roadblocks—so taking part in AccelerateIP is a smart move for any company looking to scale. Further, the program lowers the associated costs and enables early implementation of said IP strategy.
