The Institute for Digital Transformation is a small business that fought hard to reclaim our own intellectual property after a large partner walked away. We got back everything that mattered. That victory came with heavy legal and operational costs that now approach six figures. If our story or our mission resonates with you, please chip in.
Our Story
In 2023, the Institute signed what looked like a dream partnership for our Digital Transformation tool. Early progress never materialized. In January 2025, the partner formally stepped away. We retained counsel, pressed for a clean exit, and in July 2025, we secured a Termination and Mutual Release Agreement that returned all our IP. That includes every asset, file, and derivative. It gave the Institute the freedom to chart our own course again.
That freedom was not free. The legal process and the operational work to unwind the relationship and stand our product back up consumed significant time and money. We are asking our community to help the Institute recover those costs so we can keep doing the work that helps other small businesses avoid the same pain.
Our setback pushed the Institute to rethink and rebuild. We took the core IP behind our original tool and designed Transformation Accelerator, a practical way to find out why a transformation program has stalled, how to remove the roadblocks, and get it back on track. The goal is simple: help leaders get momentum back.
Based on what we experienced, the Institute has created a checklist of safeguards and lessons learned for any small business entering a major deal. Just practical help so others can protect what they worked so hard to build.
What we learned (and will share)
- Sometimes the most valuable outcome is not a courtroom win. It is regaining control and moving forward with clarity.
- Protecting your IP like your company depends on it, because it does.
- When the lights get bright, do the hard due diligence anyway. We will show others how.
LinkedIn Newsletter: Comeback Playbook
FAQ
Who is behind this campaign?
The Institute for Digital Transformation. Our mission is to help leaders navigate complex change with clarity and confidence.
Why not pursue damages instead of fundraising?
After months of negotiations, we chose the outcome that put our future back in our hands. That choice restored our IP and ended the distraction. It also conserved time and risk compared with extended litigation.
Is my donation tax-deductible?
This campaign is to recover legal fees. Please consult your advisor about deductibility. We will provide updates and documentation on how funds are used.
How can you help
1. Donate any amount. Truly, no contribution is too small. Every little bit helps.
2. Share this page with a note about why you care. Your voice expands our reach.
Suggested support levels if it helps you decide:
$10 Spark, $25 Ember, $50 Kindling, $100 Flame, $250 Torch, $1,000 Beacon.
What you are making possible
Your gift directly offsets the real costs of winning our IP back and getting back to building. Here is where your support goes:
- Legal fees for counsel, contract analysis, negotiation, and the final release that returned our IP.
- Operational recovery to extract, secure, redesign, and to relaunch our solution under its new name, Transformation Accelerator.
- Small-business giveback in the form of practical tools, advisory services, and a checklist that shares what we learned the hard way.
Our promise is transparency
We will post periodic updates on:
- Total funds raised and where they were applied.
- Release of the free small-business checklist and office hours schedule.
- Milestones for the Transformation Accelerator launch.
If we raise more than our legal and operational recovery costs, the surplus will fund additional resources and pro-bono sessions for small businesses facing high-stakes contracts.
Thank you
If you have ever poured yourself into building something, you know what it means to fight for it. Thank you for helping us close this chapter and invest in the next one.
With gratitude,
Organizer
