According to a new paper published by MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology):

• “the likelihood of growth [of a startup] is five times higher for firms with trademarks and 35 times higher for firms that apply for patents”
• “firms with short names are 2.5 times more likely to grow”
• “High-growth startups contribute disproportionately to net job creation and to impactful innovation, laying a crucial foundation for economic dynamism and prosperity. Fostering these firms is a strategic priority.”

While patents and trademarks don’t guarantee success, a business that lacks patents and trademarks is much more likely to fail.

The paper, entitled “A New View of the Skew: A Quantitative Assessment of the Quality of American Entrepreneurship,” is here: https://innovation.mit.edu/sites/default/files/images/A%20New%20View_Final%20Report_3.3.16.pdf