Mahamba, Zibele Theophylus2025-12-092025-12-092025https://hdl.handle.net/10566/21536Intellectual property (IP) refers to the fruits of original human creativity and ingenuity that qualifies for legal protection. Types of IP include patents, copyrights, trademarks, designs, and trade secrets and confidential information. Research has shown that effective management of IP improves business performance and competitiveness, more especially for startup companies. Startup companies are newly formed companies with an objective of developing a unique product or service, bringing it to the market, and making it irresistible and irreplaceable for customers. It is even more crucial for technology focused startup companies to effectively manage their IP portfolios because of the competitiveness of the technology market. Literature reveals that there is consensus amongst researchers about the impact of IP management on performance of business entities. It has also been suggested that larger businesses tend to use formal ways of IP protection than startup or smaller businesses due to various constraints which smaller business are subjected. Research have shown that smaller businesses opt for informal ways of protecting their IP such as trade secrecy but according to the researchers, evidence shows that this approach yields below average business performance. This research studied the challenges to, and strategies of IP management in technology startup companies in South Africa. The research sought to determine how best technology startup companies in South Africa can manage their IP in order to get the best value out of their intangible assets. The study utilised doctrinal research methodology, it analysed primary and secondary sources of law. It was found that South African technology startup companies lack the understanding of IP and the benefits associated with it. Furthermore, they do not have sufficient financial resources to invest in the protection of IP. The study recommends that South African technology startup companies should use cost control strategy to manage IP in order to get the best value.enIntellectual propertyIntellectual property managementIntangible assetsInformation and communication technologyTechnology startupThesis