10 Minutes with… Nate Cavanaugh, Co-Founder and CEO, Brainbase

With Licensing Week Virtual quickly approaching, licensing industry professionals are preparing to virtually meet one another in the first online licensing trade show since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis. Like many in the licensing industry, Nate Cavanaugh, co-founder and chief executive officer, Brainbase, is excited to move forward with this new licensing event, so much so that Brainbase has signed on to be a platinum sponsor for Licensing Week Virtual.

License Global caught up with Cavanaugh to discuss Brainbase’s role in the licensing industry, the new normal working from home and how trade shows like Licensing Week Virtual can benefit the industry.

LG: What role have trade shows played in your strategy for licensees/licensors?

Cavanaugh: Trade shows help Brainbase connect with new and existing customers in a condensed period of time.

How do you see the licensing industry changing in the next five years?

The major change we expect in the next five years is that more licensing and partnership deals will originate online rather than at in-person trade shows. Or, in a more prescient way, something like Virtual Licensing Week will be more popular than in-person trade shows.

What would you say is the next biggest trend in brand licensing, and how can licensees and licensors prepare for that trend?

A diversification from purely traditional consumer product licensing deals to digital content licensing, brand collaborations, brand partnerships and sponsorships.

How do you think Licensing Week Virtual will help those in the licensing industry during the COVID-19 pandemic?

We hope Licensing Week Virtual helps prove to industry executives that new licensing business can be conducted more efficiently online at a significantly lower cost than in-person events.

What do you see as the most beneficial habit those in the licensing industry should implement while working from home?

We may be a bit biased, but using apps and technology on a daily basis should be in everyone’s routines. Whether it’s Slack for communication, Asana to help your team stay organized or a tool like Brainbase to collaborate with your own team and third-party partners, teams will benefit from habitually using the best tech to manage their business.