Don't think I've ever worked for a startup that had any patents whatsoever. I think I consulted with one IIRC, and they folded largely due to their hyperfocus on tech to the detriment of building something people actually wanted to pay for. Filing a patent was probably a symptom of that problem.
Its more like smaller public companies trying to keep bigger public companies in check.
Its more like smaller public companies trying to keep bigger public companies in check.