When you have an invention idea, where do you find an engineer?

Hey Brad,

the invention space is a shark tank. I have done a couple, in the middle of one right now for the music business.

Best to work it through with people you know/trust. Too many have been ripped off by engineers, patent office workers, etc., including the guy that invented the HotWheels toy, as well as other for the Jet Ski, the Skidoo, etc. One of my buds invented the black/green tapered compost bins you see everywhere, and another in the group did the little Pine Tree car air freshener. He lives near us as well.

I would be happy to help you, though time tight as take my current company public. Final SEC going on right now.

Anyway, you can cover 80% of the ground work, or have it done for you. I even use Fiverr quite a bit, not to get the main work done, but to get research done. You need to get to a working prototype for it to have any real value.

Drop me a note if you like. Been there.

Cheers,

Ron

Quirky: The Invention Platform

I heard about Quirky on TV somewhere. From my understanding, they can basically turn your idea into reality.

The catch (?) is that I believe they would technically own the patent, but you get a percentage of sales, etc., for life. This is because they are the ones putting up most, if not all, of the money to cover the costs of launching a physical product (risk, legal fees, R&D, etc).

I don't know of any websites for the process, but you might want to consider going to a university in Indiana that has both an Entrepreneur program and Engineering courses and talk to professors in both departments.

Have an NDA for them to sign before you start the meeting.

They can either point you in the right direction, or they may want to work with you as a project with their students for a percentage of potential profits.

Just an off the wall idea....

ONE- take Ron Davies up on his most generous offer.

TWO- DON'T go to an engineer or a Inventor's help of any kind. Not yet.

THREE- Start with the market...who is going to buy your creation? Where? How much?

You want to start with a simple feasibility study, and the answers to the questions above give you a good start.

I'll share my recent experiences (last two months).

My baby is a multi-use kitchen appliance, a George Forman/Joe Namath on steroids.

I've been given the chance to spend up to 30,000 to make it a reality, that is a prototype. Lowest cost of working prototype, about 7500.00

Some will "show" this to stores, and/or direct marketers.

Electrical engineers with this background of product development, have a low range of 3k t over 10 k to deliver you a spec sketch.

You then need materials sourcing, and if going off shore, where most (but not all) of this type of work is done, a reliable manufacturer, preferably 9001 compliant...

The SECRET is distribution. The problem with retail is the "float" between an order and payment, some terms are for 90-120 days minus returns.

Your mfgr wants paid up front, so it helps to have a "shark tank" type investor involved, who also has the distribution channels in place.

If your invention is simple. and can be quickly and easily made, then start building a wall of protection via trademarks, copyrights and patents applied for, but most importantly, via BRANDING and first to market.

Make sure your "engineer" has experience in the area you need it.

But first thing, answer the basic questions of Who wants it?

How do they find out about it? Where can they get it? For how much?

What else is out there, and be very careful, you are swimming in shark infested waters.

gjabiz