Protecting Innovation: Campaign Compass’ Journey with ElevateIP

A Trademark Shock in Texas

When Nancy Cooke, founder of Campaign Compass, took her innovative election campaigning platform to a U.S. conference in December 2023, she never anticipated the challenge awaiting her just a few months later. 

“We went to the U.S. and introduced [the product] in December of ‘23 and by February of ‘24, somebody else had tried to register [our name and the exact description of our business] in the state of Texas,” she recalls.

The realization was a mix of emotions. 

“First of all, it was like, ‘Oh no, now what?’ But the second piece was, ‘Well, we must have a good product because we made them nervous.’” 

While it was flattering to know her product had made waves, the registration posed a significant roadblock to expanding into the U.S. market.

Fortunately, by January 2024, Nancy had entered North Forge’s Founders Program and, subsequently, the ElevateIP program. This fortuitous timing helped uncover the trademark issue when her team began filing intellectual property paperwork in the U.S. 

“Had I had ElevateIP earlier, my strategy earlier, and had this level of knowledge that I have now, we probably would have approached [the conference] a little bit differently,” Cooke said. “I think we’re going to be OK though, it's not going to prevent us from going to the U.S., but now we are in a heightened state of making sure we do the right thing going forward.”

The Role of ElevateIP in Building a Strong IP Strategy

Before engaging with ElevateIP, Cooke had a basic understanding of intellectual property but lacked the resources to develop a comprehensive strategy. Not only did the program provide her with financial support, but also the tools to protect her innovation.

“Coming up with a hundred thousand dollars or more to do a proper intellectual property program just wasn’t in the cards for me until ElevateIP came along, so it’s been fabulous,” she said. “Having the strategy, working on the strategy, and understanding all the different pieces specific to being a SaaS platform—which is different from manufacturing—has been really helpful.”

From filing trademarks and patents to learning about the nuances of contracts, agreements, and NDAs, ElevateIP helped Nancy navigate the complexities of intellectual property.

“Learning all of that and having a lot of those in place already makes me feel better as a business owner that we can move forward and not be constantly at risk or overlooking something.”

The Competitive Edge and a Sense of Security

The experience has provided Nancy with a newfound confidence in scaling her business. 

“The law firm we work with has worked well through the Elevate program to communicate what needs to be communicated,” she said. “It really brings your focus to [IP]. Patents, trademarks, copyright—these are things you need to pay attention to.”

Nancy’s case also highlights a larger systemic need. 

“I don’t believe the government realized just how hungry businesses were for this and what the gap was,” she said. “ElevateIP has been a game-changer. Without the program, for a lot of people, I think [IP] would be something that just goes into the background because you’re so busy getting your business up and running.”

The Path Forward

Nancy remains hopeful as she continues to grow Campaign Compass and expand its reach. From securing trademarks to learning about the finer details of IP management, ElevateIP has equipped her with the tools and confidence to scale her business.

“With this program, it just took all of that [overwhelm] away, and you feel like you’re in the hands of professionals,” she said. “I can’t imagine what it would be like navigating that without the professionals we’ve had helping us.”

Thanks to ElevateIP, Campaign Compass is not just a groundbreaking platform but also a protected one, ready to make its mark in both Canada and beyond.

North Forge is an ElevateIP Recipient: a national program of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, leading in intellectual property support for startups in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.