In every third startup presentation, patenting flashes as a separate slide. And from the founder's perspective, it definitely adds value to the product and increases investment attractiveness, and also requires respectful nods from the big minds at the expert table.
But this is not the case; a patent does not provide value to a startup in the early stages. A patent has only two roles: you show it to your mom and grandma, and they praise you, and your friends like it in stories; you make it hoping to protect your technology from copying. That is, it is protection, an obstacle you build for competitors, but it is not value. Because even for investors, who ideally care about the investment being protected, it is much more important that it is profitable. If you have no sales yet but 6 patents, this can be a red flag for an investor: you are pouring money into protecting something that no one even needs yet.

Believe me, I know what I'm talking about: I myself have a number of certificates for software registration, databases, and algorithms without sales.