SWTCH Energy Inc. is on a mission to make EV charging accessible for everyone—especially in places where it’s often overlooked: multi-unit residential buildings.

The idea started with a personal frustration. In 2015, SWTCH co-founder and CEO Carter Li tried to install an EV charger in his downtown Toronto apartment. It was nearly impossible. That experience exposed a huge infrastructure gap for electric vehicle adoption in dense urban environments—and Carter saw the opportunity to fix it.

Today, SWTCH is a North American leader in multi-residential EV charging, with over 19,000 charge ports across 1,500 locations and a growing team of 100+ employees. But behind this success story lies something less visible—but just as important: a strategic shift in how the company thinks about intellectual property.

Why IP matters when you’re building first-of-its-kind tech

As SWTCH began scaling, it became clear their innovation wasn’t just in the hardware—but in the systems that made their tech work inside complex, shared spaces. Their platform helps buildings manage shared electrical loads, integrates with existing infrastructure, and enables a seamless charging experience for tenants and building operators alike.

But like many startups, their first attempt at patenting was rocky—and expensive.

“We submitted for a patent but we quite didn’t know what we were doing... and we had spent like 20 or 30 thousand dollars and we’re like, whoa,” Carter said. “So, we were kind of hesitant to go more into it, even though we knew that it was probably good to have some patents.”

The turning point came when SWTCH received a letter suggesting they might be infringing on another company’s patent. The claim wasn’t valid, but it was a wake-up call.

“Usually what you do is show them one of your patents… but we didn’t have any patents,” Carter explained. “A lot of the time they’re just doing it to make people nervous—to see if you bite.”

It was time to rethink their approach to IP—not as a checkbox, but as a strategic tool.

How SWTCH used ElevateIP to strengthen its foundation

After consulting with their legal team, SWTCH discovered the ElevateIP program. The timing was perfect. Rather than start with the educational components, they jumped straight into Stage 2 and Stage 3, diving into the discovery and implementation phases.

Through ElevateIP, SWTCH was able to:

• Identify which innovations were patentable, including operational processes and communication systems they hadn’t previously considered
• Map out overlapping patents in their space to avoid infringement
• Translate technical advancements into business-aligned legal language
• Successfully file and secure three new patents, with an additional one filed independently afterward

“We built a lot of really cool tech, but I didn’t know which ones were actually patentable,” Carter said. “Stage 2 made me realize you don’t have to have something so novel… it could be just a change in how you operate or a business process.”

This mindset shift was one of the biggest takeaways. Suddenly, IP wasn’t just about protecting inventions—it was about unlocking new business value from innovations the team had already developed.

Scaling with speed, confidence, and clarity

With new patents in hand and a much clearer IP strategy, SWTCH was able to scale without the looming fear of future IP conflicts. That sense of security was crucial as they expanded into new markets and continued rolling out their technology.

“It does a great job of one—highlighting the development of our IP—but also potentially protecting us from future scenarios,” Carter said.

More importantly, ElevateIP removed one of the biggest barriers for startups trying to protect what they’ve built: cost and complexity.

“Being more comfortable with going through the patent process—that was one thing,” said Carter. “The program made the process smoother, and the funding made it possible.”

Having a formal IP strategy in place has helped SWTCH:

• Protect its competitive edge in a fast-evolving industry
• De-risk expansion into new markets and partnerships
• Continue filing patents beyond the program—with confidence and clarity
• Position the company as an innovation leader, not just a service provider

Why SWTCH recommends ElevateIP

Carter strongly encourages other founders to explore ElevateIP—especially if they’re unsure where to begin or feel overwhelmed by the cost.

“I was really appreciative of how quickly everything moved,” he said. “A lot of these programs take months and months… but ElevateIP moved quickly, which was so important because this stuff is time-sensitive.”

He also praised the structure of the program, which felt founder-friendly rather than bureaucratic.

“They try to make it as non-onerous as possible,” Carter said. “The reporting was straightforward and aligned with what we were already doing. That’s not always the case with other government-funded programs.”

In the end, ElevateIP helped SWTCH do more than just protect its tech—it helped them build a foundation for growth.

“It kind of de-risks the investment,” Carter said. “And once you have it, it brings so much value to the company.”