New Invention How To's - Need Advice

[Mywifes335]

I was wondering if any of you guys are entrepreneurs whom have invented your own products and:

1. Have applied or received patents
2. Had the product prototyped or manufactured in small batches
3. Have received seed capital as a result
4. Successfully marketed and or sold your product commercially

Thanks Y'all. I appreciate your input.

[The Wind Breezes]

What's your question? I've got a lot of experience with everything except #3--I'm not personally the inventor but I've spent god knows how much time at the patent attorney's office and quite a bit of time in China.

[TheYoungConnoisseur]

I make a bunch of things over seas. I have the manufacturing down pat just need experts for bringing to retail

[BMW F22]

Subscribed. Curious whether copyrighting a website/idea is possible.

[Mywifes335]

Originally Posted by The Wind Breezes

What's your question? I've got a lot of experience with everything except #3--I'm not personally the inventor but I've spent god knows how much time at the patent attorney's office and quite a bit of time in China.

How would I go about getting something patented successfully? Does it really require a good patent attorney?

As far as your time in China, was that for manufacturing/production?

[Mywifes335]

Originally Posted by TheYoungConnoisseur

I make a bunch of things over seas. I have the manufacturing down pat just need experts for bringing to retail

What type of manufacturing?

[Alvinized52]

Originally Posted by Mywifes335

I was wondering if any of you guys are entrepreneurs whom have invented your own products and:

1. Have applied or received patents
2. Had the product prototyped or manufactured in small batches
3. Have received seed capital as a result
4. Successfully marketed and or sold your product commercially

Thanks Y'all. I appreciate your input.

I own a design agency and have developed products for large known companies... Recently decided to launch my own stuff. So Yes, to all of the above.... but there is no real road map.... Every product will have its own unique challenge so there is no blanket answer for success.

1. Make sure to use the best patent attorney you can find and afford. This is crucial if you dont want to get knocked off. Start with Provisional Patent... Then apply for the Utility patent when you have a better idea of where u want to go... But just keep in mind, its just a deterent... And can be very expensive. Just know that even Apple gets knocked off. IMO, The real defense is a strong offense... Meaning saturate the market and leave no room for knock offs..
even if you receive your patent like I did.

2. You will always need prototypes!!! I would recommend testing the market first... Kickstarter is a good platform. It will offer a good indication whether your product is viable.

3. IMO self fund as much as you can if dont want to give up equity. Having partners can be very challenging if you dont have enough control. But sometimes you have to do what you must. Just make sure you are strategic in this matter and your seed partners have more to offer than just $$$. Crowd funding sources like Kickstarter is a good starting point for seed money without giving up equity.

4. This is a tough one! Its a never ending battle but if you make the right moves, you will open the right doors... My product is now in 19countries. Over 1900 stores nationally including Sam's Club, Target, Walmart to name a few. I've just partnered with Disney as part of my offensive strategy to saturate the market even more.

Here's me on SharkTank (im the asian dude).

Good luck!

[TheYoungConnoisseur]

I make carbon fiber car/crazy parts as well as injection mold plastics for household items and cnc metal parts


I want to launch a new motorcycle/car exhaust line but we all know that companies success it purely based on its marketing prowess.... Dispite what people call a "black art" or exhaust tuning and sound, it's easy to make something perform and sound great, manufacturing even for the crazy $$$ akra ti systems is cheap to make

[Mywifes335]

Originally Posted by Alvinized52

I own a design agency and have developed products for large known companies... Recently decided to launch my own stuff. So Yes, to all of the above.... but there is no real road map.... Every product will have its own unique challenge so there is no blanket answer for success.

1. Make sure to use the best patent attorney you can find and afford. This is crucial if you dont want to get knocked off. Start with Provisional Patent... Then apply for the Utility patent when you have a better idea of where u want to go... But just keep in mind, its just a deterent... And can be very expensive. Just know that even Apple gets knocked off. IMO, The real defense is a strong offense... Meaning saturate the market and leave no room for knock offs..
even if you receive your patent like I did.

2. You will always need prototypes!!! I would recommend testing the market first... Kickstarter is a good platform. It will offer a good indication whether your product is viable.

3. IMO self fund as much as you can if dont want to give up equity. Having partners can be very challenging if you dont have enough control. But sometimes you have to do what you must. Just make sure you are strategic in this matter and your seed partners have more to offer than just $$$. Crowd funding sources like Kickstarter is a good starting point for seed money without giving up equity.

4. This is a tough one! Its a never ending battle but if you make the right moves, you will open the right doors... My product is now in 19countries. Over 1900 stores nationally including Sam's Club, Target, Walmart to name a few. I've just partnered with Disney as part of my offensive strategy to saturate the market even more.

Here's me on SharkTank (im the asian dude).

Good luck!

Thanks! Was this really you?

How did you find a prototype manufacturer? How long/much did you test the product before Shark Tank?

[BMW F22]

Originally Posted by Alvinized52

I own a design agency and have developed products for large known companies... Recently decided to launch my own stuff. So Yes, to all of the above.... but there is no real road map.... Every product will have its own unique challenge so there is no blanket answer for success.

1. Make sure to use the best patent attorney you can find and afford. This is crucial if you dont want to get knocked off. Start with Provisional Patent... Then apply for the Utility patent when you have a better idea of where u want to go... But just keep in mind, its just a deterent... And can be very expensive. Just know that even Apple gets knocked off. IMO, The real defense is a strong offense... Meaning saturate the market and leave no room for knock offs..
even if you receive your patent like I did.

2. You will always need prototypes!!! I would recommend testing the market first... Kickstarter is a good platform. It will offer a good indication whether your product is viable.

3. IMO self fund as much as you can if dont want to give up equity. Having partners can be very challenging if you dont have enough control. But sometimes you have to do what you must. Just make sure you are strategic in this matter and your seed partners have more to offer than just $$$. Crowd funding sources like Kickstarter is a good starting point for seed money without giving up equity.

4. This is a tough one! Its a never ending battle but if you make the right moves, you will open the right doors... My product is now in 19countries. Over 1900 stores nationally including Sam's Club, Target, Walmart to name a few. I've just partnered with Disney as part of my offensive strategy to saturate the market even more.

Here's me on SharkTank (im the asian dude).

Good luck!

Ahh that is sooo cool! I watched that episode of Shark Tank. When I read your post about owning a design agency it brought me back to that episode. lol

[bimmette]

Originally Posted by Alvinized52

My product is now in 19countries. Over 1900 stores nationally including Sam's Club, Target, Walmart to name a few. I've just partnered with Disney as part of my offensive strategy to saturate the market even more.

Here's me on SharkTank (im the asian dude).

Very cool. Congrats on your perseverance and success!

[BMW F22]

Between me with rubber manufacturing, Theyounconneoisseur with cf, and Alvin with designing, we could come up with a kick-ass product and go back to Shark Tank!!

[Alvinized52]

Originally Posted by Mywifes335

Thanks! Was this really you?

How did you find a prototype manufacturer? How long/much did you test the product before Shark Tank?

It was evil twin brother! Editing was viscious... Made me look like such an arrogant cocky douchebag. Lol!

We were almost a year into the business before we got on Shark Tank. A sourcing agent will be a good start to find manufacturers... Found ours at a tradeshow. Yes, we were already in Nordstrom and Amazon so we had proof of sales before entering the tank. Tested it on Kickstarter before we launched.

[Mywifes335]

Originally Posted by TheYoungConnoisseur

I make carbon fiber car/crazy parts as well as injection mold plastics for household items and cnc metal parts


I want to launch a new motorcycle/car exhaust line but we all know that companies success it purely based on its marketing prowess.... Dispite what people call a "black art" or exhaust tuning and sound, it's easy to make something perform and sound great, manufacturing even for the crazy $$$ akra ti systems is cheap to make

Do you have your own CAD design and CNC build equipment?

[Mywifes335]

Originally Posted by Alvinized52

It was evil twin brother! Editing was viscious... Made me look like such an arrogant cocky douchebag. Lol!

We were almost a year into the business before we got on Shark Tank. A sourcing agent will be a good start to find manufacturers... Found ours at a tradeshow. Yes, we were already in Nordstrom and Amazon so we had proof of sales before entering the tank. Tested it on Kickstarter before we launched.

That is incredibly awesome. And you started from scratch?

[Alvinized52]

Originally Posted by bimmette

Very cool. Congrats on your perseverance and success!

Thanks. But success is sometimes a myth and a matter of perspective
Being an entreprenuer is not for the faint of heart... Its a constant challenge every day.

[Alvinized52]

Originally Posted by Mywifes335

That is incredibly awesome. And you started from scratch?

Yes... From scratch. If you really want to know the full back story you can check out our Kickstarter campaign.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...?ref=discovery

[Mywifes335]

Originally Posted by Alvinized52

Thanks. But success is sometimes a myth and a matter of perspective
Being an entreprenuer is not for the faint of heart... Its a constant challenge every day.

I believe it. But so was working in IB 80-100 hours a week and eating shit sandwich every day. Eventually got to run my own team...then my world imploded.

Now I'm working in corporate. The pay is like my 2004-2005.

Was a business owner at one point but was too immature at the time.

Congratulations though. Your success is inspiring.

[Mywifes335]

Originally Posted by Alvinized52

Yes... From scratch. If you really want to know the full back story you can check out our Kickstarter campaign.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...?ref=discovery

I do and I thank you for the info.

[Alvinized52]

Originally Posted by TheYoungConnoisseur

I make carbon fiber car/crazy parts as well as injection mold plastics for household items and cnc metal parts


I want to launch a new motorcycle/car exhaust line but we all know that companies success it purely based on its marketing prowess.... Dispite what people call a "black art" or exhaust tuning and sound, it's easy to make something perform and sound great, manufacturing even for the crazy $$$ akra ti systems is cheap to make

^^ This!!

I completely agree that marketing and sales is key component. Ideas are a dime a dozen. Its all about execution from concept to finish.... And lets not forget $$$ the money to make it all happen.

[PoorLurker]

Awesome thread! Will be checking this out...