Inventors Archives

7 Tips for Getting a Product on Shark Tank

Growing up in San Diego, California, I was unprepared for how mosquitos would impact my family’s quality of life when we relocated to South Florida. My young daughter and I were constantly suffering from mosquito...

byKelley Higney

February 18, 2020

10 Reasons to Patent Your Startup’s New Invention

What would you do if your biggest competitor said your startup’s product infringes on its patent? What if you learned that the process your competitor uses to make its product infringes on a patent you...

byDoug Robinson

February 5, 2020

How to Future-Proof Your Innovation

It’s not that I believe that there’s nothing new under the sun. But, when I hear entrepreneurs in the startup community say, “we don’t have any competitors,” I can’t help but be skeptical. Everybody is...

byRyan Vanni

January 13, 2020

A Typical Day in the Life of an Entrepreneur? There’s No Such Thing

The following is excerpted and reprinted from "Unleash the Girls: The Untold Story of the Invention of the Sports Bra and How It Changed the World (And Me)" by Lisa Lindahl with permission from EZL Enterprises. Someone asked...

byLisa Lindahl

December 24, 2019

5 Essentials of User Testing to Ensure a Successful Product

No matter how innovative, a product isn’t successful unless its users deem it so. This is why user testing is such an important part of the product development process. User testing is a method to...

byKeith Shields

July 28, 2019

5 Steps to Plan a Product Testing Event

Whether your startup is re-launching a new version of an existing product or bringing a new invention to the market, consumer testing is a critical step in developing and perfecting your product. A product testing...

byDawn Ellis

July 26, 2019

What You Need to Know Before Applying for a Patent

What should an inventor do almost immediately upon creating a new invention? They must file a patent application. A patent, according to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is the grant of a...

byMyCorporation

July 22, 2019

5 Common Obstacles to Overcome When Launching a New Product

Launching a new, physical product is definitely challenging. You probably know there are a lot of obstacles to bringing a new product to market, but what are they exactly? And more importantly, how do you...

byJohn Teel

July 17, 2019

Which 3 Types Of Patents Are Recognized by the USPTO?

If you have an idea for an invention, do you know what a patent is? How about the different types of patents? Patents protect the mechanisms, principles and components of an invention. According to the...

byDeborah Sweeney

July 16, 2019

How to Determine if Your Product Idea is Business Worthy

Every new product or business starts with an idea. Hopefully, this idea will be the seed for success and given the proper care and maintenance to bloom. But how do entrepreneurs determine if their idea...

byAlex Song

July 9, 2019

Where Do Great Ideas Come From? Examining the Design Thinking Behind Fitbit

The following is excerpted from "How We Make Stuff Now: Turn Ideas into Products That Build Successful Businesses" by Jules Pieri, p. 13-17 (McGraw-Hill Education April 23, 2019). No company or client wants to produce products...

byJules Pieri

April 23, 2019

Identify E-Commerce Market Gaps to Forge Success in a Digital World

When most people think of e-commerce, they imagine selling a physical product through an online platform. While many aspiring entrepreneurs find success doing just that, a growing number of companies are using e-commerce to deliver...

byBrian Hughes

April 20, 2019

Start with a Purpose: Jules Pieri on Building Great Consumer Product Companies

Industrial-designer-turned-entrepreneur Jules Pieri co-founded product launch platform, The Grommet, in 2008. Over the past 11 years, Grommet has helped launch thousands of consumer products, including now-famous brands like SodaStream, FitBit and GoldieBlox. A former entrepreneur-in-residence...

bySusan Johnston Taylor

April 16, 2019

How to Have a Standout Product Launch

Launching a new product is an exciting, adrenaline-filled time for entrepreneurs. Though a product launch varies in size and scope depending on the business, each one strives to create a splash, generate buzz and get...

byAnnabel Maw

December 27, 2018

How This Mom’s Ever-Growing Laundry Pile Inspired a Business

Any parent of young children can relate to the constant struggle of staying on top of laundry. Angelyn Myers, founder of My "Buddy" Towel, is no different. The mom of six was especially frustrated when...

byNav

December 15, 2018

Developing a New Product? Get an Outsider’s Opinion First

Startups and entrepreneurs creating innovative technologies are understandably protective of their processes and soon-to-be-released products. Giving away their competitive advantage would have devastating effects on their business. This secretive nature can result in a very...

byAmy Shim

October 5, 2018

To Patent or Not to Patent: A Guide to Protecting Your Products

Every company that is inventing new products faces one all-important question: should you patent your idea? Unauthorized use of your business’s intellectual property can seriously undercut your profits, which is why many entrepreneurs believe they...

byAmy Shim

August 7, 2018

Make it Minimal and Marketable: How Startups Can Build Better Products

We’ve all heard the saying: faster, better or cheaper - pick two. It’s an unfortunate reality of every business, from startups to large enterprises. You can’t have it all. Especially when it comes to product...

byMing Chan

July 27, 2018

Intellectual Property Considerations for Your Startup

Starting your own business is a new and exciting challenge that can be rewarding, but overwhelming. From the beginning, it’s important to consider the intellectual property associated with your business and ensure its protection and...

byDeepa Tailor

July 19, 2018

Securing Your Startup’s Intellectual Property Rights: Patent vs. Trade Secret

Entrepreneurs and emerging companies often look for ways to protect their valuable assets. They want to secure their ideas and ultimately enforce their rights around them. Traditionally, there are four types of intellectual property rights:...

byMichael S Melfi

June 21, 2018